house of the dragon blog

HOUSE OF THE DRAGON - Inheriting the Targaryen Estate!

This blog will consist of some spoilers, so if you haven’t seen House of the Dragon yet, go watch it!

Who loves a fantasy drama about dragons and medieval characters fighting to the death on who should rule over the Seven Kingdoms? I know I do. As an avid Game of Thrones fan, House of the Dragon was, without a doubt, a show I knew I would really enjoy. Recently, House of the Dragon’s Instagram page posted that they were officially back in production for season two. They didn’t state when the next season will drop but people are hinting at summer 2024. Despite the gruesome fighting and occasional troublesome love affairs, my attorney brain began to wonder what a Targayen probate case would look like.

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Before I talk about the fun legal logistics of probate law, here’s a little background on House of the DragonHouse of the Dragon is an upcoming television series created by George R.R. Martin and Ryan Condal for HBO. It is a prequel to the popular fantasy drama series Game of Thrones and is based on Martin's novel "Fire & Blood", which details the history of House Targaryen - my favorite house, the family that ruled the Seven Kingdoms of Westeros before the events of Game of Thrones.

For those who aren’t caught up, SPOILER ALERT AHEAD!

Our favorite Targaryen father passed away in season one. I have to say, given the time frame of the show, it seems like he lived a long life despite the limited supply of medicine during that period. Of course, the milk of the poppy could have made him look a lot older than he was, but I digress.

As an estate planning attorney, I understand the importance of having an up-to-date estate plan to ensure your assets are distributed according to your wishes after your passing. When someone passes away without a Will, the laws of intestacy in the state where the individual lived will determine who qualifies as an heir and inherits their assets.

In Massachusetts, if a person is survived by a spouse and children within the marriage, the surviving spouse has priority to receive everything under the law of intestacy. Yet, if a person is survived by their spouse and children outside of the marriage, the estate will pass to the spouse and those children outside of the marriage.

The potential inheritance issues in House of the Dragon arise after King Viserys Targaryen’s death.

Viserys passed away with a spouse, Alicent Hightower, with children of his marriage, Aegon II Targaryen, Aemond Targaryen, Helaena Targaryen, and a child from his first marriage, Rhaenyra Targaryen.

Under the Massachusetts laws, Alicent and all of his children will be considered heirs. To determine who is entitled to what and the percentage of ownership is based on Viserys' total assets, its assessed value, and the Massachusetts Uniform Probate Code. If King Viserys Targaryen had an estate plan, he could have specified how his assets should be distributed among his heirs and specifically detailed his wish to have Rhaenyra Targaryen be Queen of the Seven Kingdoms. All hail the Queen! Am I right?

It's essential to have an estate plan that reflects your wishes and circumstances. All estate plans should include a Will, Power of Attorney, and Health Care Proxy. For advanced planning, Trusts are your strongest tools.

If you have any questions or concerns regarding estate planning, it's best to consult with an experienced estate planning attorney to help you create an estate plan that protects your legacy and loved ones. If you want to get started on your estate planning, schedule a Startegic Planning Session with our firm by calling us at 978-657-7437 or by booking online at www.BookMyPlanningSession.com

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