Glen Campbell’s estate ‘paralysed’ after kids cut from will

He’s been dead for close to a year but late country singer Glen Campbell’s estate remains frozen as the family he left behind continues to fight over his will.

Campbell fathered eight children but shortly after his death last August, it was revealed that three of his kids were left out of his final will. The Tennessean reported in November that the ‘Rhinestone Cowboy’ crooner didn’t want 56-year-old daughter Kelli and sons Travis, 51, and Wesley Kane, 48, directly benefiting from his estate. No reason was given as to why these kids were left out.

The three children excluded from the will were to his second wife, Billie Jean Nunley. His marriage to her ended in 1976, with strict instructions listed in the will preventing them to benefit from the estate or trust.

Read more: ‘Rhinestone Cowboy’ Glen Campbell dead at 81

Meanwhile, his five other children including 61-year-old Debby, 37-year-old Dillion, Cal, 34, 32-year-old Shannon and 30-year-old Ashley were included in the 13-page will that was written up in 2006 – 11 years before his death. His wife Kim, who he married in 1982, was named as executor. The will was also written five years before he was initially diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, although it’s been publicly stated that there had been a rift amongst some of the children in the past.

According to the Associated Press, Debby and Travis alleged Kim kept her husband away from the rest of the family and prevented them from assisting with his care and treatment.

In a lengthy Facebook post in 2016, daughter Ashley took to Facebook to slam her siblings, who she claimed had told lies about her mother and rarely saw their father – even when he was well.

“My mother Kim has endured unspeakable heartache and has selflessly and lovingly cared for my dad through every step of his disease and continues to do so,” she wrote. “She has never denied any of his children a visit including Debby and Travis who see him regularly yet continue to spread malicious lies about her.”

Interestingly, Debby was still included in the will, while Travis was not.

Campbell’s publicist, Stanley B Schneider, has now asked a judge for additional powers as the interim administrator of the estate – thought to be valued at US$410,000 (AU$553,653, £310,601). The estate had previously been estimated at $50 million, although the current figure doesn’t take into consideration other property or future royalties from record sales.

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A previous court order meant all Schneider’s administrative duties had been paralysed. He wants it reversed so he can hire accountants and experts to estimate the value of royalties from Campbell’s music in the future.

In a motion cited by The Tennessean, Schneider can only collect money paid to the estate and make mandatory non-discretionary payments. It’s a particular concern given he has a November 8 deadline for filing the estate inventory. He noted the battle over the estate has prevented him from typical estate administration activities.

Campbell passed away at the age of 81 following “a long and courageous battle” with Alzheimer’s disease. He’d originally announced his diagnosis in 2011.

What do you think? Have you ever experienced problems with a will in your family?