• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • Home
  • Who We Are
    • About Our Firm
    • Meet Our Team
    • News and Events
    • Seniors Rock Radio
  • Estate Planning
    • Elder Law & Medicaid Planning
    • Estate Planning Services
    • Estate and Gift Tax Figures
    • Family Farm Succession Planning
    • Family-Owned Businesses & Farms
    • IRA Planning
      • Planning With An IRA
      • IRA & Retirement Planning
    • Legacy Planning Services
    • LGBTQ Estate Planning
    • Pet Planning
    • SECURE Act
    • Special Needs Planning
    • Trust Administration & Probate
    • Young Families
  • Elder Law
    • Coping With Alzheimer’s
    • Elder Law Resources
      • Elder Law Reports
    • Guardianship & Conservatorship
    • Hospice Care
    • Veteran’s Benefits
  • Resources
    • Definitions
    • FREE Estate Planning Worksheet
    • FREE Webinars
    • Estate Administration Legal Guide
    • Estate Planning Articles
      • Questions for Your Estate Planning Attorney Before Creating Your First Estate Plan
      • How to Create Your First Estate Plan in 2022
      • How to Choose a Guardian for Your Child
      • Address These Three Questions in Your First Estate Plan
    • Estate and Gift Tax Figures
    • Frequently Asked Questions
      • Adult Guardianship
      • Alzheimer’s Care
      • Custodial Accounts for Minors
      • Estate Planning
      • FAQs for Families Without an Estate Plan
      • Elder Law
      • IRA & Retirement Planning
      • Is Your Estate Plan Outdated?
      • Legacy Planning
      • LGBTQ Estate Planning
      • Medicare and Social Security
      • Probate
      • Probate Avoidance
      • Irrevocable Trusts
      • Trust Administration
      • Trusts
      • Veterans’ Benefits
      • Wills
    • Newsletters
    • Reports
      • Advanced Estate Planning
      • Basic Estate Planning
      • Estate Planning for Niches
      • Trust Administration
    • Top Estate Planning Techniques
  • Reviews
    • Our Reviews
    • Review Us
  • Medicaid Planning
    • Medicaid Planning
    • Emergency Medicaid & Nursing Home Planning
    • Medicaid Frequently Asked Questions
    • Medicaid Resources
  • Blog
  • Contact Us

Law Office of Michael Robinson, P.C.

Estate Planning Services in Rochester, New York and the Finger Lakes Area

Connect With Us Today

(585) 374-5210
Law Pay Button
Attend a Free Webinar
Home » Estate Planning » MLK Estate Files New Lawsuit

MLK Estate Files New Lawsuit

January 16, 2012Estate Planning

The perils that can arise from an incomplete, or nonexistent estate plan continue to plague the legacy of one of the most revered figures in American history. After his assassination in 1968, Dr. Martin Luther King’s children struggled with conflicts about how to properly administer their late father’s estate. With no will to direct the inheritance, his heirs formed a corporation, The Estate of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Inc., to protect estate interests. Recently, the corporation filed a lawsuit to recover documents Dr. King gave to a former friend and employee.

 

While working as his secretary in the 1950’s, Maude Williams Ballou, now 86, received numerous documents from the civil rights leader, including handwritten letters, speech transcripts and other materials. These documents have come into the possession of her son, Howard Nelson Ballou, a television news anchor in Mississippi. The estate corporation has filed a lawsuit to recover these documents, claiming they were not intended as gifts and rightfully belong to the estate.

 

Mrs. Ballou’s husband, who had been a fraternity brother of Dr. King, had kept the documents in storage at North Carolina’s Elizabeth City State University, where he worked. After passing away in 2007, he gave the documents to his son.

 

Currently, Mr. Ballou has filed a motion asking the court to dismiss the case, claiming that the documents are gifts and not property of the estate. The judge has yet to rule on the motion, and the case is still ongoing.

  • Author
  • Recent Posts
Michael Robinson, Estate Planning Attorney
Michael Robinson, Estate Planning Attorney
Clients notice Michael Robinson’s unique approach to his estate planning practice the minute they walk through his office doors.
Michael Robinson, Estate Planning Attorney
Latest posts by Michael Robinson, Estate Planning Attorney (see all)
  • Business Succession Planning May Be Easier than You Think - June 1, 2022
  • Estate Planning – Something You Shouldn’t Do Yourself - May 18, 2022
  • Just When You Thought You Understood the 10-Year Rule, Think Again - May 11, 2022

Other Articles You May Find Useful

Business Succession Planning May Be Easier than You Think
Just When You Thought You Understood the 10-Year Rule, Think Again
Let’s Talk about Trusts…and Taxation
What Estate of Marion Levine Means for Life Insurance
Application of the Transfer for Value Rule to the Sale of Life Insurance
estate plan
Estate Planning Basics for Young Parents

Primary Sidebar

Law Office of Michael Robinson, P.C.

Blog Subscription

  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Follow Us

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Linkdin
  • Youtube

TESTIMONIALS

A pleasure as always dealing with the entire staff. Always willing to explain the answers to our questions.

- Joseph and Julie Ann M.

Over the years we have been to many programs regarding Estate Planning. We were most impressed with Mr. Robinson’s presentation - both in subject matter and explanation in an understandable manner. We have put our “trust” in his competent hands. We were not aware of the complexity and the volume of paperwork generated for this undertaking. We found his staff to be most capable and client oriented in their knowledge and delivery.

- F.T. & L.T.

Our overall experience was one of thoughtfulness, clarity and comprehensiveness on the part of Michael Robinson, his staff and associates. We attended Michael’s seminar on legacy wealth, and found him to be clear and well-spoken. He touched on all aspects of Estate Planning in which we were interested. Our first of two visits to his office was timely and helpful enough for us to consider developing a plan. We finalized our document at a necessary meeting. His staff was accommodating and virtually spelled out every aspect of the plan. We highly recommended Michael and his system for developing a trust.

- Sharon T.

“From the first visit I was welcomed (like family). The office & girls have all their ducks in order! Very friendly! Mr. Robinson explained everything in detail. 100% satisfied. Will pass the word on. Great Law Firm. Thank you so much.”

- Geraldine P.

Establishing a Family Wealth Trust through the Law Office has been a positive experience, the staff is congenial, patient, thorough, professional and knowledgeable. Thank you for all your kindness. We certainly are comfortable and confident with our decision.

Beverly L.

<
>

News & Events

Seniors Rock Radio Show Recording 5-1-21

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1U7UkQbEGy-xY7XFAXvX9Qz7pKSVDVV3D/view?usp=drive_web   Author Recent Posts Michael Robinson, Estate Planning AttorneyClients notice Michael Robinson’s unique approach to his estate planning practice the minute they walk through his office doors. Latest posts by Michael Robinson, Estate Planning Attorney (see all) Business Succession Planning May Be Easier than You Think - June 1,... Read more →

Pittsford Office

1163 Pittsford-Victor Road, Suite 120 (Powder Mill Office Park)
Pittsford, NY 14534-3817
Phone: (585) 374-5210
Fax: (585) 485-0394

See Larger Map Get Directions

Map

mrobinson_sidbr_map

Footer

  • Advantages of Working With Our Firm
  • About The American Academy
  • Disclaimer
  • Privacy Policy
  • Sitemap
  • Contact Us

Connect with Us

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Linkdin
  • Youtube
robinson law logo

The Law Office of Michael Robinson, P.C.

Attorney Advertisement


© 2022 American Academy of Estate Planning Attorneys, Inc.