Can Hulk Hogan’s Daughter Be Sure She’s Disinherited?

Can Hulk Hogan’s Daughter Be Sure She’s Disinherited?- When Hulk Hogan died in July, he left behind a widow, two ex-wives, two children, two grandchildren and a $25 million fortune. However, one of his children, Brooke Hogan, didn’t attend the funeral. A recent article from The Conversation, “Hulk Hogan’s daughter can’t write herself out of the wrestler’s will–but she can refuse to take his money,” reported that Brooke said she feared the fighting she expected to follow his death, especially fights between her own mother and her father’s third wife. Her wishes may or may not be honored. Here’s why.

A last will and testament details how money and other property are to be distributed upon death. The person signing the will, known as the “testator,” is the only one who can make changes to the will. They don’t have to disclose to anyone what’s in the will or if they make changes, whether large or small. Even the witnesses who sign the will may not be aware of its contents. In some states, witnesses don’t even need to know they are signing a will. Hulk Hogan is the only person to know what was in the will when it was signed, and he may or may not have followed his daughter’s request.

Provisions in a will are only final when the testator has died. Until their death, they can change their will as many times as they wish. And anyone who wants to can refuse their inheritance, which is known as “disclaiming.”

When one person disclaims, the inheritance is passed to the next person by kinship. This is usually children or grandchildren. If there are no children, the assets may be distributed to siblings, parents, or other relatives.

Why wouldn’t someone want an inheritance?

Can Hulk Hogan’s Daughter Be Sure She’s Disinherited?

If someone is deeply in debt and wants another family member to receive the inheritance, they might disclaim. If the person is in bankruptcy, they may not have this option, check with a local estate planning attorney.

If the person in debt accepts the inheritance, creditors will be able to seize it. However, if there’s another person in the family, the inheritance could pass to that person instead. The initial heir doesn’t gain access to the funds, but neither do their creditors.

Refusing an estate tax can also be a good idea if someone is concerned about their own estate tax burden. If a person’s estate is already more than $15 million in 2026 (twice this amount for married couples), an inheritance could be subject to the 40% estate tax. A grandchild might be a better recipient than a parent who has already amassed a large estate.

If someone inherits $100 million, they’ll need to pay 40% tax on any amount over $15 million (in 2026). If that person leaves more than $15 million to their own heirs without taking any steps to shield the inheritance, another 40% estate tax could be levied when it passes to the next generation.

Because Brooke Hogan asked to be disinherited, it doesn’t mean she has formally filed to disclaim. If she were left out of her father’s will, there wouldn’t be anything to disclaim. Estate planning attorneys believe that if Brooke is named in the will and disclaims, it is likely that her twin children, born in January 2025, will receive their mother’s inheritance.

Family disputes and estrangements make estate battles almost inevitable. It’s usually the testator who takes action to avoid litigation. For this reason, nearly 70% of wills contain a no-contest provision stating that anyone who contests the will is completely disinherited. The penalty is imposed to discourage heirs from filing lawsuits.

Even if there are no professional wrestlers in your family, if there are estrangements and quarrels, a comprehensive estate plan created by an experienced estate planning attorney will be the best means of preventing an estate battle, in or outside of the wrestling ring.

Schedule your phone consultation: THE LAW OFFICES OF CLAUDE S. SMITH, III

Can Hulk Hogan’s Daughter Be Sure She’s Disinherited?

Reference: The Conversation (Aug. 21, 2025) “Hulk Hogan’s daughter can’t write herself out of the wrestler’s will – but she can refuse to take his money”