Liam Payne, an English singer and songwriter who skyrocketed to fame as part of the best-selling boy band One Direction, tragically plummeted to his death from a hotel balcony in Buenos Aires, Argentina, in October 2024, leaving behind a young son whom he shared with his ex-partner Cheryl Cole. It has recently come to light that Liam died without a will.
His estate, which is said to be worth an estimated £24.3 million, after expenses and debts were paid, is now at the front and center of news tabloids worldwide. His ex and music lawyer, Richard Bray, have been named as administrators of the estate. While it appears that under U.K. intestacy law, which is similar to U.S. intestacy law in most jurisdictions, his son, Bear, is likely to inherit the entire estate because there’s no spouse or other siblings, there’s no guarantee that an estate contest might not arise.
Liam is also survived by his parents and two sisters. At the time of his death, he was dating an American social media influencer, Kate Cassidy. Despite reports that Liam’s entire estate will be placed in trust for Bear, under U.K. law, an individual financially dependent on the deceased may have grounds to bring a claim for financial provision, leaving the door open to a potential claim from Kate.
“Sad occasions like this serve as a powerful reminder of the importance of having your legacy blueprint in place: a will, sufficient life insurance and updated beneficiary designations on all your financial accounts. These core elements ensure your wishes are clearly documented and help prevent confusion, conflict or unintended outcomes,” said Chad Druvenga, CEO of CBS Brokerage.
In addition to laying out who should inherit assets, estate-planning documents should designate a guardian for minor children in the event both parents are deceased. Other benefits of estate planning include using tax strategies to minimize estate and gift taxes and dictating at what age a child can inherit. “Without proper planning, someone you no longer have a relationship with—like an ex-partner—could end up in charge of your estate or benefit from it. Thoughtful estate planning isn’t just about wealth—it’s about protecting your loved ones and maintaining control over your legacy,” explained Druvenga.
In Liam’s case, Cheryl is reportedly working with trustees to prevent Bear from receiving his inheritance until he’s 25 and “old enough to make ‘informed’ financial decisions (under U.K. law, a child inherits when they turn 18). It appears that the United Kingdom has a special law that says, “Bereaved minor trusts are exempt from inheritance tax provided the child inherits the assets at 18.” Other taxes, such as income and capital gains tax, may still apply. Nevertheless, having a will in place, particularly for someone of Liam’s stature, could help prevent the publicity and unwanted attention on assets and any potential will contests that may arise.