Readers in California may have heard about the ongoing troubles surrounding the estate of deceased rapper Nathaniel Hale, popularly known as Nate Dogg, who died of complications from multiple strokes in 2011. Hale reached widespread popularity for his collaborations with some of the biggest names in hip-hop, as well as critical acclaim in the form of four Grammy nominations. He died at the young age of 41 and did not leave a will, leaving the disposition of his substantial estate to be determined by the California probate court.
Not surprisingly, things have not exactly gone smoothly since his untimely demise. In 2012, Hale’s widow petitioned the court to be named a co-administrator of his estate along with his mother, but the move did not sit well with his children, who claimed the move was a selfish ploy by the women to enrich themselves unfairly. The children demanded a professional estate administrator, and the two women withdrew their petition to serve as executors in November of 2012.
Things didn’t end there, though. One woman is claiming that Hale’s estate owes roughly $340,000 in child support payments for their child born in 2006. The woman claims Hale was supposed to be paying her over $4000 per month in child support, but so far she has not been able to collect on this claim.
Recently another child support issue arose, this time between two of the mothers of Hale’s children. A Los Angeles Superior Court filing by one of the mothers accuses the other mother of failing to disclose certain income that would have affected her monthly child support payment, and asks the court to penalize the woman by lowering that payment. No ruling has been issued yet.
People who want some control over the disposition of their estates after their deaths should consult with an experienced estates and trusts attorney. When a person has a complex personal and family life, having a will is extremely important. The Nate Dogg estate is a good example of what can go wrong when a person dies without an estate plan.
Source: TMZ.com “NATE DOGG Baby Mamas Battle Over Child Support Payments,” June 8, 2013
