Just hours after the news of Anna Nicole Smith’s suspicious death broke, there were already questions about the status of her deceased husband’s estate. The main query was whether the case could proceed. The short answer is yes, that absolutely it can proceed. In fact, the executor of her estate (who many people assume will be her boyfriend and lawyer, Howard Stern, though this has not been confirmed) has an obligation to pursue any outstanding claims on her behalf.
We’ll know within a few days, most likely, who has been appointed to administer her estate and what the distribution of her potentially sizable estate will be. If the majority of her estate is payable to Howard Stern, expect an investigation.