Story Of Rosa Park’s Estate In Probate Demonstrates Need For Early Estate Plan

When Rosa Park’s passed away in 2005 at age 92, she had a small estate but left an enormous and indelible mark on history. Before her death, Rosa Park’s created an estate plan that assigned all of her personal belongings to a charitable organization called the Rosa and Raymond Parks Institute for Self-Development.

A close friend and a retired judge were named to oversee the estate. Parks also named her close friend as a beneficiary to receive 90 percent of the estate’s royalties. Parks’ nieces and nephews were assigned the remaining 10 percent.

Parks’ nieces and nephews disagreed with the…