Anton Yelchin, who played Pavel Chekov in the reboot of the Star-Trek franchise, passed away earlier this year after a freak accident. Yelchin was apparently opening the gate to his home when his Jeep Grand Cherokee rolled into him, fatally crushing him. Yelchin was only 27 and was a rising star in Hollywood.
And this should be no surprise to any of you who regularly pay attention to celebrity news, but he dies without a will. His parents, Victor and Irina Yelchin, filed documents with the Superior Court in LA to become administrators of his estate. According to the filings, he left behind $641,000 in personal property and $731,000 in equity in his home – a nearly $1.4 million estate. Given the fact that Yelchin was unmarried, had no children, and was survived by his parents, Victor and Irina will likely be the sole beneficiaries of his estate under the intestacy laws in California.
Yelchin’s parents have indicated that they will be suing Fiat Chrysler, manufacturer of the Jeep that killed him, for wrongful death on behalf of the estate.
Anton is just one of several million 20-somethings in the United States without a will.
Author Bio

Paul Yokabitus
Founder & Estate Planning Lawyer
Paul Yokabitus is the founder of Cary Estate Planning, where he helps North Carolina families protect what matters most through wills, trusts, probate, and special needs planning. Known for his “planning, not paperwork” approach, Paul turns complex legal concepts into clear, practical strategies so clients feel informed and confident at every step. He has been recognized as a Business North Carolina Legal Elite attorney and a Super Lawyers Rising Star, and was named to the Triangle Business Journal’s 40 Under 40. A graduate of Campbell University School of Law, Paul lives in the Triangle with his wife, Alix, and their two sons.
Linkedin | Avvo | SuperLawyers
Schedule a consultation
How We Help North Carolina Families
Paul and his team at Cary Estate Planning are fully committed to creating a personalized experience to develop thorough and comprehensive estate plans. They value their clients and go above and beyond to make sure that no details are missed. I would highly recommend Paul to anyone looking to create an estate plan.
I was referred to Paul by my Real Estate Attorney and I could not say enough about how exceptional the client service has been from everyone I spoke to. The communication is prompt and I feel like they really took the time to answer all my questions and set things up exactly as I wanted, but also recommended things to make it easier on my family down the line.
After attending one of Paul’s estate planning seminars, my husband and I knew we wanted Paul to assist us with our estate planning. His honest, professional approach to this necessary part of life put us at ease with the process. We will continue to recommend Paul and Cary Estate Planning.
We had a great experience working with Paul Yokabitus and the team at Cary Estate Planning to set up our Will and Estate Plan. The process was clear and easy, and in the age of COVID, our signing session was very well done, easy, and safe.
The Cary Estate Planning team will make sure that you have the information you need to be confident in your estate planning decisions. I learned so much from videos, a one-on-one in-person consultation, the website, emails, and a newsletter mailed the old fashioned way. The fee is very reasonable given the importance of estate planning. No matter the size or number of your assets, don’t procrastinate like I did!
Paul is a masterful attorney. He’s very good at taking your intentions and defining that into a durable Trust and Will. Best of all he is as simple and plain-spoken as you like. Or as fast as intellectual as you may be. It’s all about your your speed and your desired outcomes. Would strongly recommend this firm.
Trusted Estate Planning
Attorney Offices in Cary and Raleigh
Capability to meet virtually to help all NC residents
DISCLAIMER: The law firm of Cary Estate Planning cannot and does not represent you until our client intake process is completed. Further, we reserve the right to accept or decline to represent any person or organization in any matter. Nothing on this website should be considered legal advice.