It may seem like the problems of the rich and famous are completely separate from the everyday problems of the common folk, but within every scandal is a pearl of wisdom that we can use in our own lives. Estate planning and probate litigation are topics where everyone has room for improvement, from the wealthiest baron to the average Florida resident.

One estate attorney, the author of "Probate Wars of the Rich and Famous: An Insider's Guide to Estate Planning and Probate Litigation," said that the most common problem in notorious estate battles is multiple marriages. If the will does not provide adequately for the second or third spouse and any children from the first marriage, then there can quickly be heated litigation.

An example would be the Jerry Garcia, the lead singer for the Grateful Dead, who had just married his third wife when he passed. He also had many children with different mothers. The estate battle that followed ranged from his custom guitars to the flavor of Ben and Jerry's ice cream that was named after him.

When families are involved with business, it often opens up other problems when a parent dies. Often, some children are involved with the business while others are not. Even so, they may feel an emotional entitlement to the family business. The Koch brothers, whose family had the largest family-owned business in the country, feuded for decades over the family business.

One thing that a parent can do is make sure the titles to their assets are in line with their will. If an adult child is a joint owner of an asset, that asset will automatically pass to the co-owner, regardless of what the will says.

Regardless of the value of an estate, probate litigation is on the rise. The issue is often not money, it is family heirlooms and property. When planning an estate, terms need to be clear and any perceived unfairness explained.

Source: Reuters, "The big lessons from celebrity estate wars," Amy Feldman, Jan. 26, 2012