Celebrity Estate Mistakes: The Lost Will of Flo Jo
Florence Griffith Joyner, better known to the world as “Flo Jo” was a track and field icon who dazzled on the world stage as a silver medalist in the 1984 Los Angeles Summer Olympics and a gold medalist in the 1988 Seoul Summer Olympics. With her record-breaking speed, eye-catching style, and Olympic triumphs, Flo Jo became a household name and an enduring inspiration. To this day, she still holds the women’s world records in both the 100-meter and 200-meter sprints.
But behind the glamour of gold medals and world records is a sobering estate planning lesson.
In 1998, Flo Jo died suddenly at just 38 years old. She had reportedly written a will—but tragically, no one knew where the original was stored. Because the will couldn’t be located, her estate was treated as if she had died intestate, meaning without a valid will. The result? A drawn-out and emotionally charged court battle between her husband and her mother, as each sought control over aspects of the estate. Ultimately, a third-party administrator had to be appointed to manage the estate.
This unfortunate situation could have been avoided with one simple step: safekeeping the original will and telling someone where it was.
Estate Planning Lessons from Flo Jo’s Mistake
It’s not enough to have a will—you also need to make sure it’s safe and accessible. A lost will is often treated as if it never existed, which can upend even the most thoughtful planning. Here's how you can avoid the same fate:
The safest place to store your Will is in a Fireproof safe in an accessible location
Consider having your attorney retain the original copy—many law firms offer secure storage for estate planning documents.
Do NOT store your Will in a safety deposit box — Banks often seal the box when the owner dies, and only allow access to someone with proper legal authority, such as an executor after probate is granted. Yet the executor will need the Will in order to be appointed — thus creating a frustrating legal catch-22 that can delay the probate process and cause unnecessary and lengthy complications.
Don’t overlook other important documents. Your Power of Attorney, Health Care Proxy, and Advance Medical Directives also need to be safely stored and accessible in an emergency.
Most importantly: Tell your trusted loved ones where to find your original estate planning documents and how to access them!
At Harris-Pero Law Firm, we help families put proper plans in place—and ensure those plans can be carried out when the time comes.
Need help creating a plan that your loved ones can rely on?
Let’s talk about how to make your wishes clear—and accessible. Click HERE to get started!