--- title: "Top Reasons to Have a Living Will: Lessons Learned from \"America’s Top 40\" Casey Kasem" description: If you have not heard by now, long-time radio personality and “America’s Top 40” superstar, Casey Kasem passed away this past weekend at the age of 82. What you may not have heard about though, was the family battle that ensued before he passed away between his daughter, Kerri Kasem, and Casey’s wife, Jean. --- [![Goosman Lawfirm](https://blog.goosmannlaw.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Goosmannlaw%20October2017/images/Goosmann_Law_Firm_logo_4C-white.png?width=1250&name=Goosmann_Law_Firm_logo_4C-white.png "Goosman Lawfirm")](http://goosmannlaw.com/) - [COVID-19 Toolbox](https://goosmannlaw.com/covid-19-resource-toolbox/) - Our Team - [Attorneys](https://goosmannlaw.com/attorneys/) - [Non-Attorney Staff](https://http://goosmannlaw.com/non-attorney-staff/) - Practices & Industries - [Practices](https://goosmannlaw.com/practices/) - [Banking & Finance](https://goosmannlaw.com/banking-finance/) - [Bankruptcy, Restructuring & Workouts](https://goosmannlaw.com/bankruptcy-restructuring-workouts/) - [Business](https://goosmannlaw.com/business/) - [Divorce & Family Law](https://goosmannlaw.com/divorce-family-law/) - [Employment](https://goosmannlaw.com/employment-law/) - 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If you have not heard by now, long-time radio personality and “America’s Top 40” superstar,[Casey Kasem](http://www.cnn.com/2014/06/15/showbiz/casey-kasem-obit/) passed away this past weekend at the age of 82. What you may not have heard about though, was the family battle that ensued before he passed away between his daughter, Kerri Kasem, and Casey’s wife, Jean. The court battle was regarding medical care and stopping nutrition, hydration, and some medications. A spokesman for Kerri Kasem said that her father couldn’t eat on his own and his body was rejecting food. Jean Kasem accused her of trying to hasten her father's death to expedite distribution of $2 million that will be split between his children. You can read more of the details to this story on the American Bar Association website [HERE:](http://www.abajournal.com/news/article/judge_says_top_40_radio_personality_casey_kasem_must_be_fed_hydrated_and_me/?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter&utm_campaign=daily_rss) Although there were some additional complications to Casey Kasem’s matter due to a battle over his Health Care Power of Attorney /Conservator and who would make his health care decisions, the lesson we can all take away is—**do you have your Living Will and Power of Attorney Agents in place and have you communicated your wishes to your family?** What are these? Read these previous Trust Law Counsel blogs to understand more about the reasons why they are necessary and how these documents work: - [Health Care Power of Attorney and Financial Power of Attorney](http://trustlawcounsel.com/blog-60-Your+Powers+of+Attorney) - [Living Will](http://trustlawcounsel.com/blog-62-What+is+a+Living+Will) Do you have these three essential documents in place today? Are they current? Have you communicated to your family who you have named as your Power of Attorneys and explained your wishes? Establishing these may be critical, but also sharing how you want to be treated when incapacitated or disabled and at the end of your life is just as important. No guarantees, but at least providing your family with directions may prevent a battle like the one that occurred between Casey Kasem’s daughter and second wife. 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