Cheryl Cole has been officially appointed as one of the administrators of Liam Payne’s estate following his sudden and heartbreaking death last year. The former One Direction star tragically passed away on October 16th after falling from the balcony of his hotel room while in Argentina. He was just 30 years old.
Payne, who didn’t leave behind a will, died intestate, which has now prompted legal steps to sort out his estimated £25 million fortune. According to court documents seen by Rolling Stone, Cheryl and music lawyer Richard Mark Bray were named as co-administrators of his estate. The decision makes sense given that Cheryl shares their 8-year-old son Bear with the late singer.
While the appointment gives Cheryl and Bray the legal responsibility to manage Liam’s assets, the BBC reports that their authority is still quite limited. They’re not permitted to distribute the money themselves. Under UK law, if someone dies without a will and isn’t married or in a civil partnership, their children are the ones who stand to inherit the estate.
It’s a bittersweet situation for Cheryl, who was in a relationship with Liam from 2016 to 2018. Their romance made headlines at the time, especially after they welcomed Bear in 2017. Though the couple eventually split, they remained in each other’s lives as co-parents, and by all accounts, maintained a peaceful relationship for the sake of their son.
Cheryl now finds herself in a very different role, one no parent or co-parent ever wants to face. She’s not just navigating the loss of someone she once loved and shared a child with, but also stepping in to help handle the legal and financial aftermath on behalf of their young son.
At the time of Liam’s passing, he was in a relationship with Kate Cassidy. She had reportedly flown back home just days before the tragic incident took place, leaving Liam in Argentina alone.
It’s a deeply sad chapter for those close to him, especially for Bear, who is now growing up without his dad. Cheryl, now not only a mother but a legal administrator of Liam’s legacy, will be facing some incredibly difficult emotional and legal terrain in the months ahead.
With the legal proceedings underway and Cheryl taking on this new responsibility, all eyes will likely remain on how Liam’s legacy is handled. But one thing’s certain—through all the headlines and heartbreak, the focus is now firmly on the future of the little boy they both loved.
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