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 PartingWishes.com 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
PartingWishes.com, 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™
online Legal Will creation service.
(Reported by the Observer, Sunday January 27, 2002 -
"Ex-wives feud over fortune of Big Country suicide star")
For More Information Contact:
PartingWishes.com
Email:
support@partingwishes.com
Internet:
http://www.partingwishes.com
