Elizabeth Edwards' Will Ditches Johnny, but is that a Problem?

In Elizabeth Edwards' will, there is no mention of John Edwards.

"All of my furniture, furnishings, household goods, jewelry, china, silverware and personal effects and any automobiles owned by me at the time of my death, I give and bequeath to my children," states the will, signed by Elizabeth six days before her death. Edwards died at the age of 61 on Dec. 7 at her home in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, from breast cancer.

The 57-year-old John Edwards cheated on his dying wife with Rielle Hunter, who is also the mother of Edwards' daughter Frances Quinn, born in 2008. Rielle, who affectionately calls John "Johnny," even graced the cover of "GQ" magazine holding Johnny's baby. Now the tabloid that broke the affair, the "National Enquirer," reports that Edwards is engaged to Rielle.

Is it a surprise that Elizabeth Edwards' will omits John Edwards? It probably isn't for most, including John. Elizabeth and John had separated, and Elizabeth's focus was not on John but her kids.

"The most important thing you can give your children are wings, because you're not going to always be able to bring food to the nest; sometimes they're going to have to be able to fly by themselves," Elizabeth said.

If the story in the "National Enquirer" is true, Edwards moves on in a big way by marrying his mistress. And he's not hurting for cash. His net worth is well into the millions. Stories about John complaining about Elizabeth's will are not likely to hit the headlines.

Spouses omitted from wills does not always produce the drama we might expect. Ryan O'Neal, who met Farrah Fawcett in 1982, had a long, imperfect love affair with the sex symbol. Although he was by her side when she died in 2009, Fawcett left O'Neal out of her will, leaving most of her estate to her son Redmond.

"After discussing how her financial affairs would be handled in the event of her passing, we agreed that our son Redmond would be the primary beneficiary of her estate. These were Farrah's wishes and I am perfectly happy with them," O'Neal said, according to Radar Online.

Brittany Murphy died in 2009, and her husband, Simon Monjack, was not in the will. However, Monjack said he was fully aware of that before he married Murphy.

"I hope people have the sense to really understand that everything was beautiful and wonderful in our relationship and so pure," said Monjack, who died in 2010 and who many believe died due to extreme sadness over losing the woman he truly loved.

Sources:

Elizabeth Edwards' will omits John Edwards, Los Angeles Times

Enquirer: John Edwards, Rielle Hunter Engaged, CBS

How Elizabeth Edwards Prepped Kids for Her Death, CBS

Millionaires-in-Chief, CNN Money

Ryan O'Neal "Perfectly Happy' To Be Left Out of Farrah Fawcett's Will, Radar Online

Brittany Murphy Leaves Simon Monjack Out of Her Will, Us Magazine

Jolie du Pre, The Rielle Hunter Photos Anger Elizabeth Edwards; Will Rielle and Johnny Become a Couple?, Associated Content