John Singleton's Outdated Will May Cause His 7 Kids to Fight over Estate
Director John Singleton's tragic death at the age of 51 has plunged his family into conflict over his estate.
The world of cinema was shocked at the announcement of the passing of director John Singleton on April 29, 2019.
Singleton succumbed to a stroke at the age of 51, and his unexpected death has left his family in a quandary.
JOHN SINGLETON'S AFFAIRS LEFT IN DISARRAY
The director's untimely death left his affairs in disarray since his will was drawn up in 1993, at a time when SIngleton had only one child, Justice.
As a result, his will contemplates only one beneficiary, when in fact, Singleton has a total of 7 children.
Singleton suffered a massive stroke on April 17, which left him in a coma.
JOHN SINGLETON'S YOUNGER CHILDREN LEFT IN THE LURCH
Because the will did not contemplate Singleton's six younger children, they will have to appeal for a just distribution of the estate in the courts. Under California law, unless unborn children are specifically disinherited in the will, they may have a legal claim to a portion of his estate.
MILLIONS UNACCOUNTED FOR IN THE ESTATE
The "Boyz n the Hood" director's mother, Shelia Ward, filed his will in probate court listing his assets at around $3.8 million. Since SIngleton's estate is estimated at $35 million, that leaves approximately $31 million unaccounted for.
JOHN SINGLETON'S CHILDREN LAWYER UP
Singleton's children have engaged lawyers to contest the will, but it may be that the unaccounted for millions are in trusts set up for the children's benefit.
It remains to be seen how the issue will be resolved. At this moment the children are up in arms against their grandmother, whom they accuse of cutting them out of their inheritance.
If Justice Singleton opposes her siblings' motion, it can even turn the children against each other. A sad requiem, for a man who contributed so much to the world of cinema.
GOODBYE TO JOHN SINGLETON
John Singleton's passing shocked the Los Angeles community, and many of his colleagues, friends and family members gathered together to honor him one last time at the Angelus Funeral Home in L.A.
Among the mourners were Ludacris, Ice Cube, Tyrese, Jim Brown, Tina Knowles, and Congresswoman Maxine Waters, as well as his children, and a host of grief-stricken fans.
Singleton suffered a massive stroke on April 17, which left him in a coma. On April 28, he was taken off life support at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in L.A., and passed away surrounded by his loved ones.
R.I.P. John Singleton.