Some suspect unity between Muhammad Ali’s children will not last during their battle over Ali’s estate, worth an estimated $80 million
Muhammad Ali, the famed Olympic and professional boxer known as “The Greatest,” died on June 3, 2016 in Scottsdale, Arizona at the age of 74. Mr. Ali is often regarded as one of the most influential sports figures of the 20th century, and he is widely known for his both inspiring and polarizing figure inside and outside of the ring. The only three-time lineal world heavyweight champion, and an icon for the counterculture generation of the late 1960s, Muhammad Ali will be greatly missed by many. Ali’s life was remembered and celebrated at a public memorial service this past Friday in Louisville, Kentucky.
According to Daily Mail, Ali’s nine children traveled from all over the U.S. to be with their father in his last days. His children showed solidarity with their family during his decline and death. However, some fear their unity will not last during their battle over Ali’s estate, worth an estimated $80 million. Some of Ali’s children have claimed that they were often left in poor financial states while Ali and his “controlling” fourth wife, Lonnie, lived in luxury.
In fact, 44 year-old Ali Jr., Ali’s sole biological son, lost contact with his father for the last two years. He claims that his attempts to contact him were regularly blocked. While Lonnie Ali has controlled her husband’s finances through power of attorney, Ali Jr. has lived in Chicago’s crime-ridden South Side, relying on charity handouts to feed and clothe him. No matter who is to blame, circumstances such as these are expected to be the source of great conflict in handling Ali’s estate.
While Muhammad Ali’s estate may be an exceptional case, it is not uncommon for conflict and disagreement to arise while handling the estate of a loved one. Even if conflict and disagreement are absent, finalizing one’s estate through probate court can still be a long and complicated process. At the Strom Law Firm, our estate planning and litigation attorney has years of experience in planning for the future, probating estates, and challenging inheritance claims in probate court. If you need to contest a will, or probate a will after the death of a loved one, call us for a free consultation at (803) 252-4800. You can also find more information on our South Carolina Probate and Estate Planning Attorneys webpage.
