Liam Payne’s girlfriend Kate Cassidy could be entitled to a slice of his £24 million fortune, according to a legal expert.
The One Direction star died aged 31 after falling from a hotel balcony at the Casa Sur Hotel in Buenos Aires, Argentina, last October.
He did not leave a will and his estate is set to go to his eight-year-old son Bear under UK intestacy laws, with his child’s mother Cheryl being named administrator to the estate.
However, it has now been claimed that Cassidy - who had been dating Payne for two years - could seek to claim some of his fortune depending on their marriage plans and living arrangements.
The US model, 26, could claim “reasonable financial provision” under the UK's Inheritance Act if she was financially dependent on the pop star, according to MailOnline.
She reportedly received a £20,000-per-month allowance from the singer while they were living together in Florida.
Cassidy also previously revealed the pair, who were not engaged, had wanted to get married, which could back up any claim she makes on Payne’s estate.
Girls Aloud star Cheryl and music lawyer Richard Bray have been named short-term administrators of Payne’s estate by the courts. Bear will access the fortune - which is placed in a trust - when he is of age.
Cassidy could challenge this under the Inheritance (Provision for Family and Dependants) Act 1975, according to Kathryn Tunbridge, a solicitor with Kent firm Furley Page.
The social media star could make an application for financial provision if she was being “immediately maintained, either wholly or partly” by Payne.
She would need to lodge a claim within six months of a Grant of Letters of Administration being issued - a formal confirmation of who will administrate Payne’s estate long-term.
Tunbridge said: “As an unmarried partner, Kate has no automatic entitlement to inherit anything, regardless of how long they were together or whether he supported her financially.
“Under the Inheritance (Provision for Family and Dependants) Act 1975, someone financially dependent on the deceased at the time of death may be able to claim ‘reasonable financial provision’ from the estate.
“However, bringing such a claim requires evidence and is often emotionally and financially draining.”
Cassidy gave a vague response when she was previously asked if Payne gave her an allowance.
She told The Sun in February: “So you know when people come and point a finger at me saying, 'You took an allowance and you had living expenses,' or whatever, at the end of the day it's nobody's business except for me and Liam.
"I never [asked him for money].”
In October, Cassidy shared a handwritten note from Payne showing his desire for them to tie the knot and be together “forever”.
"I keep your note close, even though you told me not to look at it. It said 'me and Kate to marry within a year/engaged & together forever 444,’” she wrote on Instagram.
"Liam, I know we'll be together forever, but not in the way we had planned. You'll always be with me. I've gained a guardian angel."
A representative of Ms Cassidy has been contacted for comment.
