We are discussing the problems that inevitably arise when a world leader dies without a will. The leader in this case is Martin Luther King Jr. After his death in 1968, it took a while for his children to figure out how to manage his estate. Eventually, they formed a corporation that has worked hard to protect Dr. King's legacy, in part by gathering his papers in one place.

It's a hard job, certainly, and it may be harder yet on the people who have papers that the corporation believes the estate should have. The most recent instance involves the woman who served as the civil rights leader's personal secretary in the 1950s. Also a lifelong friend to the Kings, she says Dr. King gave her important documents over the years as gifts.

The corporation would like proof. As it always seems to happen in cases like this, she has only her word to back up her claim. She says he handed her the documents at random times, telling her, "This is for you."

These documents had actually disappeared for years. Shortly after Dr. King's assassination, this woman's husband, also a friend of the family, asked his employer, a university, to store them. They remained there until 2007, when a university worker stumbled across them. The university handed them over to the couple's son, and a local paper ran a story about the find.

That article tipped off the estate that some important documents were out there. (One is a letter to Dr. King from Rosa Parks.) The estate sued to get them back.

We'll finish this up in our next post.

Source: Forbes, "MLK Heirs Challenge Gifts To His 86-Year-Old Former Secretary," Danielle and Andy Mayoras, Dec. 12, 2011