Wealthy crime novelist Harlan Thrombey invites his family to his Massachusetts mansion for his 85th birthday party. The next morning, Harlan's housekeeper Fran finds him dead, with his throat slit. The police believe it was suicide, but an anonymous party pays private eye Benoit Blanc to investigate.

Blanc learns that Harlan's relationships with his family were strained: he threatened to expose his son-in-law Richard for cheating on his wife, Harlan's daughter Linda; cut off his daughter-in-law Joni's allowance for stealing from him; fired his son Walt from his publishing company; and had an altercation with his grandson Ransom.

Unbeknownst to Blanc, after the party, Harlan's nurse Marta Cabrera apparently administered him an overdose of morphine by accident instead of his usual medication and could not find the antidote, leaving Harlan minutes to live. Knowing that Marta's mother is an undocumented immigrant, Harlan prevented her from calling for help and instead gave her instructions to create a false alibi to save her family from scrutiny. Harlan then slit his own throat. Harlan's elderly mother saw Marta carrying out Harlan's instructions but mistook her for Ransom.

Harlan's will is read by a professional lawyer, hired by Harlan to both pay off debts and manage his affairs if he becomes incapacitated: to everyone's astonishment, he left everything to Marta. There are no trusts or trustees. Ransom helps her escape the family's wrath. Ransom coerces Marta into confessing to him and offers his help in exchange for a share of the inheritance. The other Thrombeys try to persuade Marta to renounce the inheritance; Walt threatens to expose her mother's immigration status.

Who is the beneficiary?

a.Harlan

b.Linda

c.Marta

d.Ransom

Question 2

Who is the decedent?

a.Marta

b.Harlan

c.Linda

d.Blanc

Question 3

Did Harlan experience intestacy?

a.Yes

b.Not enough information

c.No

d.Maybe

Question 4

Harlan's estate does not include:

a.employment contract with Marta

b.mansion

c.book copyrights

d.publishing company

Question 5

Who is the executor?

a.Linda

b.Marta

c.Lawyer

d.Police

Question 6

Who has power of attorney?

a.Linda

b.Lawyer

c.Police

d.Marta

Question 7

Given the three overarching goals of estate planning (from lecture), which did Harlan likely fail to do?

1. Avoid probate
2. Minimize size of estate
3. Care for loved ones

a.1 only

b.2 and 3

c.1, 2, 3

d.3 only

Question 8

Marta, now flush with great wealth, hires you as her CFP. Which service should you NOT do for her?

a.Act as a fiduciary

b.Help Marta draft her own will

c.Determine whether her estate has a tax liability

d.Assist in transferring assets to trusts