UltraTrust.com reviewed the tragedy of Phillip Seymour Hoffman and his estate planning blunders. He was 46 years old when a friend found him unresponsive in a rented New York apartment after trying to reach him numerous times. According to the New York Times, Hoffman was found with a syringe sticking out of his arm and surrounded by small bags of heroin (1). He was one of the finest American actors of the 20th and 21st centuries, and he was known to families and friends as a very nice guy who somehow managed to come across as a menacing villain in films such Capote, “Mission: Impossible III,” and “Before the Devil Knows You’re Dead.”

Hoffman was a prolific actor whose net worth was estimated by the Christian Post to be in the range of $35 million (2). He is survived by three young children and his long-time partner Mimi O’Donnell. According to his will that will eventually have to be probated, Hoffman’s assets will be placed in an irrevocable trust for the benefit of his son, Cooper Hoffman, upon his 25th and 30th birthdays. He has placed his life-long partner, Marianne O’Donnell, in the role as trustee of the trust and a backup trustee of Emily Ziff. In the will, he goes on to name Marianne O’Donnell as the guardian of the children and a backup guardian of Suzanne O’Donnell, Marianne’s sister.

“Since wills are public documents, we get this glimpse into the private life of a celebrity when probate petitions are filed,” explains Rocco Beatrice, Managing Director of Estate Street Partners, LLC, parent company of UltraTrust.com. “Wills do not provide the privacy and confidentiality of trusts. More importantly, and the biggest blunder in his planning, Hoffman will be forced to pay $10-12M in Estate Taxes because all of the assets were titled in his name. An Irrevocable trust would have saved the family a lot of money and time avoiding probate and the estate tax.”

According to the Christian Post, although Hoffman has shuffled off this mortal coil, moviegoers have most recently seen him in the long-awaited sequel “Hunger Games” sequel, “The Hunger Games: Mocking Jay Part 2,” and possibly other films (2) such as “God’s Pocket” and “A Most Wanted Man.”

“Though he is no longer with us, Hoffman will certainly continue to earn income through the body of cinematic work he left behind,” explains Mr. Beatrice. “Trusts are not only smart substitutes for wills; they are legal structures that effectively pass more than just wealth and estate to beneficiaries. Trusts make the execution of artist contracts more efficient. In this regard, should Hoffman continue to earn compensation or royalties through the Hunger Games franchise or other films, payments can be easily deposited into a trust – avoiding future gift and estate tax issues if the family is guided in the right direction.”