Liam Payne’s $32 million estate goes to baby mama after One Direction star’s death

The sad death of Liam Payne, the former One Direction singer, has left behind a complicated situation. Beyond his music, the singer had a particularly large estate. Payne’s unexpected death in October of last year, caused by a fall from a hotel balcony in Buenos Aires, Argentina, has led to a court-ordered division of his assets, which are estimated to be worth around $32 million.

Making the situation even more complicated, Payne did not leave a will, meaning there was no legal document stating how he wanted his money and possessions to be divided. According to The Guardian, because of this, the process for handling his estate had to follow English and Welsh inheritance laws, which give priority to a spouse and then children when there is no will. This legal structure played a major role in deciding who would manage Payne’s estate.

A U.K. court, following standard legal procedures, chose two people to oversee the distribution of Payne’s assets: his former partner and the mother of his child, Cheryl Tweedy, and music industry lawyer Richard Mark Bray. Tweedy, who was previously known as Cheryl Cole during her time in the pop group Girls Aloud, will act as one of the estate’s executors, alongside Bray, who has been named co-administrator.

Liam’s estate is going to his loved ones

At first, Payne’s estate was valued at around $38 million, but after paying off debts and other costs, the final amount came to about $32 million. This large sum, which includes Payne’s money and belongings, will now be managed by Tweedy and Bray. Their main job will be to take care of these assets and make sure all legal requirements are met. A big part of their duties will likely involve setting up a trust fund for Payne and Tweedy’s 8-year-old son, Bear.

This is a standard way to make sure children in these situations are financially secure in the long term. The court’s decision follows the usual legal rules for cases where someone dies without a will, giving responsibility for the estate to those closest to the deceased.

The relationship between Payne and Tweedy lasted from 2016 to 2018. Their past connection and shared child bring emotional weight to the handling of Payne’s estate. Their history is also interesting because Payne first met Tweedy when he auditioned for X Factor in 2008, where she was a judge.

The details of his death, which was officially ruled as being due to multiple injuries and heavy bleeding inside and outside his body, are still being looked into. Several people have been accused of possibly providing drugs that may have played a part in his death.

The investigation into Payne’s death is still ongoing. In February, criminal negligence charges were dropped against three of the five people who were originally suspected. The legal process surrounding his death remains separate from the management of his estate, though it could still affect future decisions about how his assets are divided.