165: When ‘I Wish’ Isn’t Enough: Precatory Clauses and the Mangione Family Estate

Absolute Trust Talk

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If you’ve been following the news lately, chances are you’ve heard of Luigi Mangione, the man at the center of recent headlines for allegedly shooting UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson. While the criminal case has drawn widespread attention, what caught our interest is a surprising detail about Mangione's personal life: he’s reportedly listed as a beneficiary in his wealthy grandmother’s estate. Even more intriguing, the will allegedly includes a precatory clause—or “wish language”—suggesting that beneficiaries charged with a felony could forfeit their inheritance.

In this episode of Absolute Trust Counsel, host Kirsten Howe and attorneys Jessica Colbert and Ariana Flynn dive into the concept of precatory clauses, their potential legal implications, and what this could mean for Mangione. Don’t miss this fascinating discussion!

Time-stamped Show Notes:

0:00 Introduction

1:40 Unpacking Luigi Mangione’s Inheritance: Discover how Luigi Mangione’s grandmother’s estate entered the spotlight and why estate planners like us find it so intriguing.

2:25 Has anyone actually seen a copy of the will? We reveal what sources are saying and why there’s still plenty of missing information.

3:38 A term every estate planner (and beneficiary) should know is Precatory Language. We break down what it means and how it can affect your inheritance.

4:50 If you rely on non-binding language in your will, you could invite costly disputes among your heirs. Next, we explain how to avoid this pitfall.

6:48 With limited information available, we still offer insights into what might happen next with Luigi’s share—and how you can protect your own estate from similar issues.

7:22 Thanks for joining us on this deep dive into estate planning and real-life drama. We hope you enjoyed it and picked up tips for your own estate plan. Stay tuned for our next episode!

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