Women’s wills and last testaments provide a more nuanced picture of life in the Middle Ages than medieval stereotypes allow, such as that depicted in “Death and the Prostitute” by Master of Philippe of Guelders.
Gallica/Bibliothèque nationale de France/Feminae
European women’s rights expanded in early medieval cities, though they were still limited. Last wills and testaments were some of the few documents women could dictate themselves.
A battle over the superstar’s estate landed in court.
Charles Sykes/Invision/AP
David Campbell, Binghamton University, State University of New York
News about how little income tax some of the richest Americans reportedly pay is adding to questions about the value to society of their massive charitable donations.
The Ford Foundation, under Darren Walker’s leadership, is joining with other foundations to give more money away.
Gonzalo Marroquin/Patrick McMullan/Getty Images
Far fewer Americans include plans for bequests to nonprofits in their wills than give to charity on a regular basis. The pandemic could be a good reason to change that.
Most inheritances go to middle-aged Australians who don’t need help.
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Not only do we not tax inheritances, we actually subsidise them, making the already well off even better off.
Michael Bloomberg, Robert F. Smith and MacKenzie Bezos are among the big givers making headlines.
AP Photo/Elise Amendola; Reuters/Lucy Nicholson; AP Photo/Dennis Van Tine