Celebrity Myths: “Rich Don't Need Wills”

You might think celebrities live a life of no worries because they are rich, and their money can solve all problems. But this belief has been around longer than Bollywood itself. The false idea that the rich, especially those with expensive lawyers and unlimited amounts of money, do not need Wills is one of the oldest.

Reality is that without a clear and valid Will, even billionaires have to deal with nasty family disputes and long, drawn-out court battles that may last for years. Regardless of how much money you have, without a clear Will, your assets get distributed according to Indian laws, creating conflict within your family, prolonged court battles, and keeping your fortune locked away for potentially many years.

Creating a simple, well-written Will allows you to specify exactly who gets what — whether that is property, shares, jewellery — so that your loved ones will not go through emotional turmoil and financial chaos.

Myth 1: Rich People Use Nominees Instead of Writing Wills

Have you ever heard someone say, “I've got the bank nominee to handle things once I pass away”? Well, that’s simply wrong. Nominees are just holding the assets temporarily until the legal heirs figure out the distribution of the assets, using the intestate laws of India.

Here’s an example of what happens without a Will. Picture this: Your savings gets split among your spouse, your children and possibly even your parents — not necessarily in accordance with your wishes, as Class I heirs (spouse and children) automatically receive priority shares. Since nominees have no ownership rights, this mismatch often fuels prolonged court battles over bank accounts, fixed deposits, etc., as nominees cannot transfer or sell the assets.

This was evident in the Sunjay Kapur case, where his children fought in the Delhi High Court in 2025 to challenge a disputed Will, claiming it had been forged, and had to fight for shares, despite nominees being present.

Why risk having to go through all that? Simply draft a Will naming your exact beneficiaries clearly.

Myth 2: Riches Overcome Family Feuds

“Rich people can settle private disputes between family members – no court needed.” Haha! Money actually makes family disputes worse! In the absence of a Will, the intestate laws kicks in, which automatically divide and distribute your assets by default according to class – Class I heirs like spouse and children, followed by Class II (other relatives) leaving no opportunity and room to incorporate your own wishes.

When larger estates are involved, the stakes become much higher and the properties gets froze and held in limbo for years while trying to determine the heirship of your estate under Sections 211-213 of the Indian Succession Act, 1925, as was the case with the Saif Ali Khan’s Pataudi clan’s battles over Bhopal properties worth Rs 15000 crores for several years, due to claims of “enemy property” and disputes over the right heirs.

Your wealth portfolio also gets broken down based on strict rules of succession, regardless of whether you have a blended family or charitable organizations.

The question is, do you want your legacy to be in headlines or do you want to pass it on to your loved ones in peace?

Myth 3: Lawyers Take Care of Everything Automatically

“But, my celebrity lawyer creates these secret agreements!” NOPE! Verbal requests or unsigned notes do not meet the requirements of Section 63 of the Indian Succession Act, as they require a written document, signed and witnessed by at least two people.

Even elite lawyers can’t guarantee that your verbal agreement gets to be recognized either; the court dismisses them automatically, forcing you to undergo a lengthy probate process, where you’ll have to provide attestation proof mandatorily.

Celebrities are also subject to extra scrutiny as well, when certain actions may void your Will, regardless of how much money you have, as was the case with Amrita Singh, where she rushed to file a claim to her uncle’s Rs 50 crore Uttarakhand estate after he passed away in 2025, but since there was no clear Will, there were immediate family conflicts.

In such cases, proper execution of a Will by professional platforms like AasaanWill provides you with an unbreakable protection of your wishes. Have you ever thought about how easy it would be?

Myth 4: Only the Poor Need Wills for Protection

“The ultra-rich rely solely on trusts instead of Wills.” Partially true – trusts do serve a purpose, but a Will covers everything else, and can be revoked until your death.

By skipping a Will, you allow the intestate laws to apply, and your self-acquired property will automatically go to your heirs in a Class-wise manner, which may result in conflicting interests of other heirs.

As per recent Supreme Court 2025 rulings like Metpalli Lasum Bai v. Metpalli Muthaiah, it stresses that challengers bear the burden to prove registered Wills invalid with solid evidence to dodge fraud claims.

Clarity eliminates the possibility of estate battles among rich families – Karisma Kapoor’s children highlighted mistakes made in their father’s Will, including misspelling the names of the intended recipients, turning inheritance into a 2025 courtroom saga to resolve the issue.

Well-planned strategies convert possible family feuds into smooth transitions of the legacy. Are your plans sufficient to protect against potential battles?

Destroying the Big Lie: Wills Equalize the Playing Field

So, why do celebrities fall victim to these myths? It’s straightforward – No Will means no control over your affairs after your death. The Indian Succession Act does not support a comprehensive overhaul.

Even NRIs experience this – when their assets require Indian Wills to be valid, platforms like AasaanWill can easily create them for them with guided drafting and expert review.

So, are you prepared to eliminate the myths? Book a FREE Consultation or Create a customised, compliant Will with AasaanWill today.

Draft early, update regularly. Protect what you’ve worked for; your loved ones deserve to know the truth, not chaos, and your family deserves peaceful futures, not tabloid drama.