Stuart Adamson of Big Country dies without a Will
Ex-wives feud over star's fortune
January 30, 2002 -- A number of high profile cases have made headlines
in North America which demonstrate the importance of writing a Will and keeping
it up to date. In January of this year Stuart Adamson, the lead singer of the 80's
pop band "Big Country" left behind two families but without a Will. His first wife
and children live in Scotland, while his second wife, Melanie, who had commenced
divorce proceedings at the time of his death, currently lives in Nashville, Tennessee,
U.S.A..
"This fight is about securing a fair share of Stuart's estate for his son and
daughter," explained Ian Grant, Big Country's ex-manager, who is acting on behalf
of his first wife, Sandra, and their children, Callum, 19, and Kirsten, 17. 'Melanie
has now gone for the entire estate. There's been no dialogue with the family. All
she seems interested in is sorting herself out."
Melanie had filed for divorce and it was her badgering of Adamson to sign over
their Nashville house and hairdressing business to her that pushed him over the
edge, claim Adamson's family and friends. Adamson eventually committed suicide after
a long battle with alcoholism.
Since he died without leaving a Will, the entire estate goes to the wife under
Tennessee law. Melanie has valued it at just $50,000, say Adamson's family. An independent
mediator has now been appointed to administer Adamson's American estate. Some estimates
value the estate to be closer to $1 million.
"The most unfortunate consequence of this episode", notes LegalWills.ca President
Henry Raud, " is that there are now two teenage children who will likely see nothing
of this estate. One certainty is that even with the emotional trauma that Stuart
Adamson was struggling with, he would not have wanted his entire fortune to pass
into the hands of two groups of attorneys."
"In a battle of this nature, the only winners are the legal advisors, and even
a million dollar fortune can quickly evaporate when two family members are prepared
to fight for a share of the estate. The biggest losers will be his children." Raud
goes on to note. "A simple act of diligence in preparing a Will protects surviving
relatives from the emotional and financial stress arising out of administering an
estate without a Will. At LegalWills.ca, a legal will can be created in about
30 minutes for less than the price of a meal in a restaurant. Everybody has the
choice of whether to die with or without a Will, the difference in being able to
look after your loved ones can be literally 30 minutes."
For more information about creating a Will take a look at the
MyWill™ service offered at LegalWills.ca.
If you would like more information about the MyWill™
service or about any of the other services available at LegalWills.ca, visit
https://www.legalwills.ca.
(Reported by the Observer, Sunday January 27, 2002 - "Ex-wives
feud over fortune of Big Country suicide star")
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