This year, the courts helped broker a final decision.
In the early 1900s, lumber baron Wellington Burt wrote his will. It's been at the Saginaw County Courthouse since his death. In the will Burt spelled out that it would be years before his fortune was handed out.
In fact, Burt, who is buried in Saginaw's Forest Lawn Cemetery, decided it wouldn't be until 21 years after his last surviving grandchild's death that the money would be distributed.
That woman died in 1989.
Over the years, there have been court disputes, but his estate remained intact.
Soon, though, 12 heirs will get their share of that money. Most don't even live in Michigan anymore. Their attorneys did not have a comment on the case.
Local historic preservationist Thomas B. Mudd describes this long, drawn-out estate case as intriguing. "I think a lot of people of great wealth are always suspicious of the intentions of other people. And that can go right into your own family," Mudd said. "I don't think we'll ever know exactly what it was that ticked him off that said, hey, after my last grandchild dies, 21 years after that, then you can get your money."
Burt earned his millions in lumber and iron, making him one of the wealthiest men in America.
"Wellington R. Burt's second home was right here on this site, a three-story brick mansion," Mudd pointed out.
That once magnificent home is now a parking lot. Only a few reminders of Burt's life remain in the city of Saginaw, including a road and his mausoleum.
The most significant memory, though, is probably his handwritten will.
"I think he was kind of a wise old man, kind of foxy. And really, I think knew what he was doing in the long run," Probate Judge Patrick McGraw said.
Burt died in 1919, leaving very little of his fortune to his own children.
McGraw is responsible for carrying out Burt's wishes, which included holding on to his fortune until 21 years after his last living grandchild's death.
Today 12 people will share his roughly $100 million fortune.
McGraw shared this advice with them. "You can resolve this, get your money and be done. Or you can let me decide, someone's gonna appeal and then you don't have your money for, like, I say, three to seven years maybe."
In the end, Burt's distant relatives and their lawyers agreed amongst themselves who would get how much. Now that the estate is settled, there's only one issue left unaddressed.
"I don't think we'll ever know exactly what it was that ticked him off," Mudd said.
"In this particular case, he might not have liked his kids. You could see how he gave different monies to different relatives," McGraw said.
