‘If you haven’t made provisions, do that’
The Public Trustee of Queensland urged Queenslanders to ‘do it Dolly Parton’s way’ when it came to estate planning, as details emerged about the late country music queen’s wishes for her own estate.
The beloved singer died on 25 August at the age of 80, leaving an estate Forbes estimated to be worth $US450 million ($625 million).
Ms Parton made clear in a 2020 interview that she had already undertaken careful estate planning.
“I would not want to leave that mess to somebody else,” she told Billboard in reference to the distribution of her estate.
“A word to all the other artists out there; if you haven’t made those provisions, do that. You don’t want to leave that mess to your family for people to have to fight over. You need to take care of that yourself, even if it’s a pain in the ass – and it is.”
Estate planning is an act of care
Samay Zhouand, the Public Trustee of Queensland, praised Ms Parton’s awareness of the impact dying intestate – that is, without a valid Will – could have on loved ones.
Queensland Public Trustee (QPT) research* found that 51% of Queensland adults have never made a Will.
“Ensuring you have a valid Will isn’t morbid,” Mr Zhouand said. “It’s an act of care that can protect your family and close friends from additional stress in the wake of your loss.”
H2: Reduce the risk of inheritance battles
Family disputes over estate distribution were one common source of stress caused by intestacy, Mr Zhouand said.
“Inheritance battles are definitely not something that occur just over multi-million dollar estates,” he said.
“If you die without a valid Will, your assets are distributed according to the law, not your wishes, and loved ones may feel that the outcome is unfair. This can trigger disputes and in the worst case scenario, legal actions that can end up costing as much or more than the estate is worth.”
In Queensland, if you die without a valid Will, the Succession Act 1981 dictates which family members receive a share of your assets.
See a solicitor for to make a Will
The Public Trustee acknowledged that a valid Will did not guarantee an inheritance dispute would not occur, but said seeking personalised legal advice when making a Will was the best way to reduce that risk.
In contrast to Ms Parton, fellow music icons Aretha Franklin and Prince died without having made a formal Will, which resulted in their families becoming embroiled in lengthy legal actions.
After Ms Franklin died in 2018, some of the Queen of Soul’s sons reportedly went to court to determine which of two handwritten notes found in her home constituted her valid last wishes for her estimated US$80 million estate.
Meanwhile, distribution Prince’s estimated US$156 million estate reportedly occurred six years after the Purple Rain hitmaker’s 2016 death due to lengthy legal wrangling.
Wills not just for the wealthy
Mr Zhouand said that planning the distribution of Ms Parton’s estate would have been complex and time consuming – as she dryly noted in her Billboard interview – but estate planning was much less difficult for most people.
“A solicitor is the best person to help you make a Will and undertake other estate planning,” he said. “Alternatively, QPT offers Will-making services to all Queenslanders.”
He added that having a valid Will was equally important for people with far smaller estates than the country music megastar.
“Even people with relatively few assets can create legal and practical problems for their family if they die without a Will,” the Public Trustee said.
“Their loved ones may still need legal authority to deal with bank accounts, property or other assets, and people on lower incomes may find it harder to meet those administration costs.”
*QPT/Verian survey, February 2025