Fact vs. Fiction: How Accurate Is Media’s Portrayal of Estate Planning?

If you’ve ever watched a movie or TV show with a “reading of the will” scene, you know the drill: the family gathers in a stuffy living room, the lawyer clears their throat dramatically, and then—boom—chaos. Gasps, tears, surprise inheritances. Maybe even a secret child shows up.

It makes for great drama, but here’s the truth: real estate planning is way less glamorous. Important? Absolutely. Full of shocking twists and betrayals? Not so much. Let’s take a look at what Hollywood gets wrong—and where they accidentally get it right.

The Famous Will Reading Scene Movies love this moment. But in reality, no one’s sitting around waiting for a dramatic envelope reveal. Executors usually go over the will privately with an attorney, and beneficiaries are notified—quietly. Sometimes by mail, sometimes over coffee, but rarely in a scene worthy of popcorn.

Courtroom Drama (Or Lack Thereof) Think Succession or any number of TV dramas where families practically tear each other apart in court. In real life, most estates move through probate without fireworks. Sure, disputes happen, but instead of fiery courtroom speeches, it’s often lawyers emailing back and forth or sitting in mediation rooms. Probate isn’t just less dramatic than TV, it’s also long and expensive. Families often face ongoing costs (property taxes, utilities, maintenance, insurance, etc.) while waiting for the court to approve distributions. It can feel drawn-out and frustrating—especially compared to how trusts can bypass much of that hassle. Not nearly as binge-worthy, but a whole lot less stressful for the people involved.

The Myth of Instant Money Movies make it look like the moment someone passes away, the heir is suddenly shopping for yachts. In reality, inheritances can take months—or even years—to sort out. Debts have to be paid, taxes settled, and the court has to give the green light. Definitely not as quick as the movies make it seem. It’s worth it also note that heirs sometimes even have to pay expenses out-of-pocket until funds are released, which is the opposite of what movies show.

What the Movies Got Right (and Wrong)

●     Knives Out: The dramatic will reading where Harlan leaves everything to Marta makes for great theater, but in real life, a single-page will like that would have caused endless confusion and litigation.

●     Mr. Deeds: Longfellow Deeds inherits $40 billion overnight and suddenly owns a skyscraper empire. In reality, an estate of that size would involve countless trusts, tax planning documents, and court proceedings — not a quick signature and a press conference. Pure fantasy. Multi-billion-dollar estates come with binders of planning documents.

●     The Aristocats: Madame Bonfamille leaves her fortune to her cats, Duchess and the kittens. Sweet idea, but in reality pets can’t inherit directly; a properly drafted pet trust would have been the only way to provide for them. Look into creating a pet trust to make sure your furry friends are taken care of.

●     The Descendants: Finally, a film that nods to real legal issues! Boring to some, sure—but accurate. George Clooney’s character is a trustee managing 25,000 acres of family land. The film accurately touches on the real legal and emotional complexities of trusts and property rights in Hawaii — and how beneficiaries often disagree about whether to sell or preserve family assets.

●     Downton Abbey: The whole first season revolves around the estate being “entailed” to a distant male heir. It’s a great reminder that without proper planning, the law decides what happens—not you. While we don’t deal with strict entails anymore, modern estate laws can still lead to outcomes you might not want. Planning today gives you flexibility, control, and peace of mind—without the drama of a full Downton Abbey season.

●     The Simpsons: (Mr. Burns’ Will episode) – Mr. Burns leaves his fortune to a canary, leading to total chaos when the bird dies. Funny, but a great way to highlight how absurd things can get without proper planning.

●     The Sopranos: Tony talks about who will inherit the family’s businesses and assets, but you never see anyone deal with probate, taxes, or paperwork. A good reminder that Hollywood ignores the real-world steps

Why Hollywood Can’t Help It Simple: drama sells. Nobody’s paying to watch a movie about an executor calmly filing paperwork and paying estate taxes. That said, the real process is way more about protection, planning, and giving your loved ones peace of mind than it is about shocking twists.

The Real Takeaway Here’s the bottom line: movies and TV are fun, but they don’t give you the full picture. Estate planning isn’t about drama; it’s about making sure your wishes are honored and your family doesn’t have to untangle a mess. If you want less stress (and fewer family feuds), the best thing you can do is plan ahead—no Hollywood lawyer required. Planning with trusts and other tools makes the process less stressful, quicker, and more predictable. Hollywood leaves that part out because it’s not “good TV,” but it’s the part that matters most in real life.