If you have an estate, dying without a will is a recipe for disaster. New probate filings in the U.K. confirm that One Direction’s Liam Payne died without a legally valid will, and as a result, the laws of intestacy in England determines how his estate will be distributed. (Payne died at the age of 31 in October of 2024 when he fell to his death in Buenos Aires.) One Direction was one of the highest-grossing boy bands of all time, with record sales exceeding $70 million globally.
A court has granted administrative responsibilities to the musician’s ex-girlfriend, Cheryl Cole, and a music industry lawyer, Richard Mark Bray. Their authority is limited, however, to managing and preserving assets until a full grant of administration is issued by the court – a step that would enable them to begin the process of distributing the estate, potentially by placing assets in a trust for Payne’s son.
U.K. law dictates that if an individual does not have a will written or have a legal partner, any living children would inherit their estate. Payne dated Cole, a former singer in Girls Aloud, from 2016 to 2018, and together they had a son named Bear, who is now 8 years old. Because Bear is a minor, Cole and Bray have been named administrators of Payne’s wealth, though they have limited authority over the money and can’t distribute it.
Payne’s lack of estate planning is a cautionary tale for anyone with assets. The late performer left behind money, real estate, music royalties, and possessions worth about $38 million (gross value) when he died last year. With the deduction of debts and expenses, the figure comes closer to $32.2 million.
If one dies without a last will and testament in Florida, your probate assets are distributed according to the laws of intestacy, meaning to your family in a relatively logical manner. Probate is a legal process in Florida that is supervised by the court. The main purpose of the probate system is to satisfy any of your debts, pay taxes, and distribute your property to the rightful beneficiaries.
At The Law Offices of Max J. Paul, we make drafting a will as simple and complete as possible. A will is the strongest legally recognizable way to express what you’d like to happen to your assets and possessions after you die. If you don’t have a will, your wishes may not be followed and your money may go to people you wouldn’t want to have a share.
Liam Payne’s death serves as a broader reminder of the importance of estate planning because the consequences of not having a will can be very damaging. The Law Offices of Max J. Paul will assist you and answer all your questions about having a proper estate plan in place. We offer reasonable prices and a variety of estate planning services.
Make sure you leave your wishes in writing. Reach out to me for guidance on creating or updating a will. Call 561-807-1977 or email max@maxjpaul.com for a confidential and complimentary consultation. You can also contact me online.