Liam Payne's untimely demise fails to address a significant unresolved issue
In a staggering turn of events, the music industry and Liam Payne's fans were left reeling following the sudden demise of the former One Direction heartthrob. The 31-year-old star tragically passed away on October 16, 2024, after a gruesome fall from the third-floor balcony of CasaSur Palermo Hotel in Buenos Aires.
At the time of his passing, Liam was romantically involved with Kate Cassidy, but he was also the devoted father of his son, Bear, whom he shared with ex-partner Cheryl Cole. Due to the absence of a will, the court had to step in to manage the distribution of his multimillion-pound estate, estimated to be worth £24m.
According to UK intestacy rules, the majority of Payne's fortune would be placed in a trust for the benefit of his son.surprisingly, given that he was not married or in a civil partnership, Kate Cassidy would not receive any part of his fortune. In the absence of a will, the court granted power of administration of his estate to his ex, Cheryl Cole.
As a result, the deceased's fortune would be divided amongst his closest family in accordance with the intestacy rules of England and Wales. If Liam had been married to Kate Cassidy, she would have inherited his personal belongings, as well as the first £322,000 of the estate, and half of the remaining estate if they had children together. However, in this instance, the entirety of Liam's estate would be transferred to his son, Bear, in a trust, with his ex-partner, Cheryl Cole, acting as the administrator.
Liam's tragic passing brought his former bandmates Harry Styles, Zayn Malik, Louis Tomlinson, and Niall Horan together once again. In a poignant show of solidarity, the four-piece reunited after nine years to attend his funeral on November 20 in Wolverhampton. Their unwavering support for their fallen comrade underscored the enduring bond between the bandmates, in what was a truly bittersweet gathering.
[1] Intestacy - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
[2] Inheritance rules if there's no will ( inheritancecalculator.org.uk)
[3] Chapter 3 - Inheritance tax: rules when someone dies without leaving a will ( tax.service.gov.uk)
[4] When there's no will ( inheritanceforms.justice.gov.uk)
[5] Rules of Intestacy (hrwlegal.co.uk)
- Liam Payne, the world-renowned singer, left a void in the music industry and the hearts of his fans when he tragically passed away.
- The court, given the absence of a will, stepped in to manage the distribution of Payne's multimillion-pound estate, worth an estimated £24m.
- Despite being romantically involved, Kate Cassidy, who was not married or in a civil partnership with Liam Payne, would not receive any part of his fortune due to the intestacy rules.
- Unfortunately, Cheryl Cole, his ex-partner and the mother of his son, Bear, was granted power of administration of Liam's estate under the intestacy rules.
- The tragic death of the former One Direction heartthrob brought the band back together, with Harry Styles, Zayn Malik, Louis Tomlinson, and Niall Horan attending his funeral in Wolverhampton.
- The entertainment world mourned the loss of a celebrity, with Payne's fans and fellow celebrities recognizing the worth of a life that paid irreplaceable contributions to the world of music.
