BLACK FAMILY WEALTH MATTERS: Click here to learn how we are working to support you.
Proteja Su Hogar Y Su Familia-Se Habla Espanol. Haga clic aquí!
  • Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • Home
  • Our Firm
    • About Our Firm
    • Areas We Serve
      • Los Angeles County
        • Inglewood
        • Malibu
        • Santa Monica
        • Torrance
        • Venice
    • Pre Consultation Form
    • Attorney and Staff Profiles
      • Attorney Caprice Collins
      • Attorney Lioness Ebbay
    • Awards & Recognition
    • Giving Back
    • Our Reviews
    • Staff Events
  • Services
    • Asset & Business Planning
    • Estate And Gift Tax Figures
    • Estate Planning Services
    • Family-Owned Businesses
    • Financial Planning Assistance
    • Incapacity Planning
    • IRA & Retirement Planning
    • Legacy Planning Services
    • LGBTQ Estate Planning
    • Medi-Cal and Elder Law
    • Pet Planning
    • SECURE Act
    • Special Needs Planning
    • Trust Administration & Probate
      • Trust Administration & Probate Definitions
  • SEMINARS/WEBINARS
  • Resources
    • Elder Law
      • Ladera Heights Elder Law
      • Los Angeles County Elder Law
      • Elder Law & Medicaid Definitions
      • Elder Law Reports
      • Medi-Cal Planning Checklist
    • Estate Planning
      • Estate Planning Checkup
      • Estate Planning Reports
        • Advanced Estate Planning
        • Basic Estate Planning
        • Estate Planning For Niches
        • Trust Administration
      • Estate Planning Definitions
      • Estate and Gift Tax Figures
      • Incapacity Planning Definitions
      • Is Your Estate Plan Outdated?
      • Top 10 Estate and Legacy Planning Techniques
    • Free Estate Planning Worksheet
    • Free Seminars
    • Frequently Asked Questions
      • Business Succession Planning
      • Elder Law
        • Medi-Cal
        • Nursing Home Planning
        • Understanding Dementia
      • Estate Planning
        • Charitable Gifting
        • Estate Planning for Women
        • Frequently Asked Questions for Families Without an Estate Plan
        • LGBTQ Estate Planning
      • Financial Planning
        • Tax Planning in Your Estate Plan
      • Incapacity Planning
        • Veteran’s Benefits
      • Legacy Wealth Planning
      • Pet Planning
      • Power of Attorney
      • Probate
        • Serving as Executor
        • Small Estate Administration
      • Trust Administration & Probate
      • Trusts
        • Living Trusts
      • Understanding Estate Taxes and How They Impact Your Estate Plan
    • Legacy Wealth Planning Pre-Consultation Form
    • Newsletters
    • Probate and Trust Administration
      • Bereavement Resources
      • How to Know if You Need Extra Help With Your Grieving
      • Loss of a Loved One
      • The Mourner’s Bill of Rights
      • Things You Need To Do When a Loved One Passes Away With a Trust
      • Things You Need To Do When a Loved One Passes Away With a Will
      • Trust Administration & Probate Definitions
    • Published Books
    • The Ultimate Caregiver Guide
    • Caregiver’s Worksheets and Checklists
  • Videos
  • Reviews
    • Our Reviews
    • Review Us
  • Women’s Planning
    • A Guide to Estate Planning for Women
    • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Trust Administration
  • Blog
  • Contact Us

Collins Law Group

Los Angeles Estate Planning Attorney

powered by BirdEye

Connect with us today(310) 677-9787

Attend a Free Seminar/Webinar
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Linkdin
  • Youtube
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
x

What to Do When a Loved One Dies

During our webinar, we discuss family home protection, avoiding nursing home poverty, preventing family feuds, protecting your kids' inheritance, and how you can keep the government out of your affairs.

Watch our webinar now
Home » Estate Planning » Sager Family Shows Perils of Blended Families

Sager Family Shows Perils of Blended Families

March 15, 2018Legacy Planning, legal education, Estate Planning, General

Reporter-interviews-Craig-Sager

Presented by Attorney Caprice L. Collins

Blended families require special planning. Sometimes, the children from the prior marriage bond with the new spouse and the family moves forward in a happy, newly modified form. However, frequently, the new marriage brings conflict between the new spouse and the children of the prior marriage. Such is the case with the Sagers.

In 1980, sports reporter Craig Sager married Lisa Gabel. They had three children, Craig, Jr., Kacy, and Krista. But, over the years, the couple’s differences increased. After two decades, they split and Craig married Stacey Strebel. Stacey was a little older than Craig’s children from the prior marriage. Craig and Stacey then had children of their own, Ryan and Riley.

Nearly from the outset, there was friction between Craig’s children from the first marriage and Stacey. This continued when Craig developed leukemia. Craig, Jr. helped his father live longer through two very painful bone marrow transplants. However, Stacey publicly opined that the son was doing the bone marrow donations merely for publicity.

Craig died in December 2016, leaving a Will which disinherited Craig, Jr., Kacy, and Krista, his three children from his first marriage. The three children are not seeking to contest the Will. However, Craig’s (second) wife, Stacey, is suing the children from Craig’s first marriage to make sure they will not contest Craig’s Will, further escalating the conflict and bitterness in the family.

There are at least two lessons to be learned from this sad tale.

  • First, it’s always best to communicate your plans and minimize surprises. Craig’s disinheritance of the children from his first marriage was a surprise to them. Surprises often result in bitter feelings and potential litigation.
  • Second, Wills are subject to probate proceedings and are open to the public. If Craig wanted to disinherit his children from the first marriage, he could have left a Will which left everything to his trust. Then, in the trust, Craig could have disinherited the children from his first marriage privately. If he had proceeded in that manner, the tabloids may never have known of the disinheritance and the flames of the family discord would not have been fanned by the tabloids.

Blended families take careful planning even in the best of circumstances. Communication and privacy can help dampen family tensions.

  • Author
  • Recent Posts
Caprice Collins
Caprice Collins
Attorney Caprice L. Collins is a top rated Harvard Law School graduate. She has 34 years of legal experience with a successful law practice devoted exclusively to Estate/Business Planning and Trust Administration. Attorney Collins is a well-respected keynote speaker on Wills, Living Trusts, Estate Planning, Business Planning and Trust Administration. She has appeared on California’s Real Estate Radio Station KTLK AM 1150 as a legal expert on Estate Planning and Living Trusts among many other notable media appearances.
Caprice Collins
Latest posts by Caprice Collins (see all)
  • Debunking Inheritance Planning Myths - January 26, 2023
  • Tips for Alzheimer’s Caregivers - January 22, 2023
  • Power of Attorney Problems — Gifts - January 19, 2023

Other Articles You May Find Useful

legacy planning
What Is Legacy Planning?
Estate Planning Can Pass Down More than Just Assets
Collins Law Group
What Is Legacy Planning?
What Is California Legacy Planning
Free Report: What Is California Legacy Planning
Collins Law Group
What Steps Can I Take to Preserve My Legacy?
Collins Law Group
What Is the Difference Between Estate Planning and Legacy Planning?

Primary Sidebar

Collins Law Group

Blog Subscription

Sign up to our blog to receive the latest estate planning news and updates!
  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Our Attorneys

Attorney Caprice Collins

Get to Know Attorney Caprice Collins


Attorney Lioness Ebbay

Get to Know Attorney Lioness Ebbay

Follow Us

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Linkdin
  • Youtube
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest

Testimonials

Client Review
August 19, 2020
    

“My mother told me about the Collins Law Group and I must say, the entire experience has been a real pleasure. Although I was nervous at first, the Collins Law Group staff put me at ease with their friendliness and knowledge. I didn’t realize how hard it could be on your family and loved ones left behind if you die without any planning or directions in place for them. My biggest concern was making sure my elderly mother would be provided for and taken care of if something happened to me. I have been a caregiver for her for 12 years, so this planning was crucially important. I had previously made a living trust for myself on Legal Zoom but there is no comparison to the level of service and professionalism that Collins Law Group embodies. Attorney Collins and her staff provides excellent service and it will take a large burden off of my family when they need guidance at the time of my passing.”

default image
-Ms. Jones

Where We Are

Collins Law Group
3330 West Manchester Boulevard
Inglewood, CA 90305
Phone: (310) 677-9787
Fax: (310) 677-6742
Email: clcfirm@aol.com

See Larger Map Get Directions

Office Hours

Monday9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Tuesday9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Wednesday9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Thursday9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Friday9:00 AM - 5:00 PM

Map

Collins Law Group Google Map

Footer

  • About Our Firm
  • Advantages of Working With Our Firm
  • Services
  • Sitemap
  • Resources
  • Blog
  • Contact Us

Connect with Us

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Linkdin
  • Youtube
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
Collins Law Group footer logo

Attorney Advertisement

© 2023 American Academy of Estate Planning Attorneys, Inc.