Even the best-laid succession plans aren’t immune to the whims of fate. The unexpected death of a beneficiary or fiduciary is a challenge that any plan must be prepared to weather, be it through the naming of contingent beneficiaries or swift redrafting of the plan itself after the unfortunate occurrence (which is much easier said than done when it comes to motivating grieving clients). Although, with the Frank Gathers situation looming over the Lyon family, it may no longer be fair to characterize any future deaths in the Lyon family as “unexpected.”

We’ve saved the most fun (and craziest) prediction for last:

Andre and Rhonda reconcile due to her pregnancy.  Before the baby is born, the investigation into Vernon Turner's death (perpetrated inadvertently by Andre) heats up and Andre can’t handle the pressure.  Rhonda kills Andre in an attempt to save her secret. Lucious and Cookie have never trusted Rhonda and doubt the paternity of her child. Lucious wants to disinherit Rhonda but is indifferent toward the baby. Cookie secretly gets a paternity/DNA sample - only to learn that Lucious is the father.  

If the estate, including the business, passes to the lineal descendants of Lucious, how does Lucious keep the mother of his new baby from benefiting?