Bob Marley famously sang: “Don’t worry about a thing, ’cause every little thing’s gonna be ok” (Three Little Birds)

Jamaican singer-songwriter, Bob Marley, had 6 children by different ‘baby mothers’ and 3 by his wife, Rita. Despite the singer’s battle with cancer, knowing it was terminal, he did not make a Will. Why not? He left an estimated $30 million, and on-going royalties and dozens of claimants. The squabbles began over his estate at his state funeral which was attended by 30,000 people.

While it may seem surprising that singer/songwriter Bob Marley, who was diagnosed with cancer in the summer of 1977 and died four years later at the young age of 36, didn’t have a will. Apparently his religious beliefs prevented him from making one. That led to an interesting fight over the rights to his estate among his widow, Rita, and some thirteen children, but not before Mr. Marley’s lawyer and accountant convinced Rita to forge some documents after the singer/songwriter’s death that would give control of the entire estate to her. Mr. Marley has been a top earning dead celebrity for many years, earning $20 million between 2013 and 2014 alone. And as recently as 2011, the Marley estate was in a court battle with Mr. Marley’s half-brother.  By not making a Will, and hoping that “every little thing’s gonna be ok” – it seems that, sadly, may not be the case.