Nate Dogg's Estate Battle Pits Kids Against Stepmom

Rapper/crooner Nate Dogg unexpectedly died last year without a will, leaving his wife Latoya Calvin to take charge of Nate Dogg's estate.
But that's causing some controversy, because Nate Dogg had children from a previous relationship. Those children don't think Calvin will look out for their interests, reports The Urban Daily.
Now Calvin's attempts to have Nate Dogg's own mother appointed as a co-administrator of the estate is also upsetting Nate Dogg's children. The kids have named another person whom they want appointed as administrator, according to The Urban Daily.
At the heart of the battle over Nate Dogg's estate is ultimately how much each potential heir will receive. The kids are apparently concerned Calvin and their grandmother are just in it to get money for themselves. They claim their grandmother had previously withheld money from them in the past, reports The Urban Daily.
As the fight over Nate Dogg's estate continues, a probate court will have the ugly job of sorting out the various interests pursuant to the law. In general, when a person dies without a will, the person's surviving spouse is entitled to inherit the largest portion of the deceased's estate.
Nate Dogg could have easily avoided this fight if he had drafted a proper will naming an executor and listing heirs. The general requirements to draft a will are not difficult, and having a will can prevent family disputes after an individual's death. This is true even for individuals with modest estates, let alone famous rappers whose estates will likely continue to collect royalties every time their songs are posthumously played on the radio.
Nate Dogg died at the age of 41. While most people do not expect to die at such a young age, individuals should consider thinking about estate planning well before this. Death often comes unexpectedly, and when you have complex assets and many potential heirs, you will want to carefully think about who gets what and how much. This way you can avoid a protracted estate battle like we're seeing with Nate Dogg's heirs.
Related Resources:
- Nate Dogg -- Family Battles Over Dead Rapper's Estate (TMZ)
- Estate Planning (FindLaw)
- Snoop Dogg Busted for Pot by Police Dog (FindLaw's Celebrity Justice)