The Legal Battle over Whitney Houston’s Estate: Does Nick Gordon Deserve a Part of Her Fortune?
Whitney Houston was a legendary singer whose untimely death in 2012 left behind an estate worth an estimated $20 million. Her last will and testament, drafted in 1993, left her estate to her mother and siblings, but did not include her daughter, Bobbi Kristina. Following Whitney’s death, the estate fell into a legal battle between Bobbi Kristina and members of the Houston family. One of the most contentious issues in the dispute was the involvement of Nick Gordon, Houston’s former partner. This article aims to explore the legal battle over Whitney Houston’s estate and whether Nick Gordon deserves a part of her fortune.
Bobbi Kristina’s Hospitalization and Gordon’s Involvement
In January 2015, Bobbi Kristina was found unconscious in her bathtub and was hospitalized in a coma until her death in July of the same year. During her hospitalization, Nick Gordon claimed to be her husband and began to spearhead her legal battle over her mother’s estate. However, it emerged that Bobbi Kristina and Gordon were not legally married, and Gordon had a rocky history with the Houston family.
The Allegations against Gordon
The Houston family accused Gordon of playing a role in Bobbi Kristina’s death, citing bruises and other injuries found on her body. A lawsuit was filed against Gordon, alleging that he had physically and emotionally abused Bobbi Kristina and stolen money from her estate. To date, Gordon has never been criminally charged in her death, but he was found liable in a wrongful death lawsuit filed by Bobbi Kristina’s estate, resulting in a $36 million judgment against him.
Gordon’s Inheritance Dispute
The legal battle between Gordon and the Houston family intensified after Bobbi Kristina’s death, with both parties vying for a share of Whitney Houston’s estate. While Gordon had no legal claim to Houston’s wealth, his lawyers argued that he was entitled to part of her fortune as he was still her partner at the time of her death. They cited the concept of the common law marriage, which would have recognized their union as legally binding in some states.
However, the Houston family’s lawyers argued that there was no proof of a common law marriage, and even if their relationship was recognized as such, Gordon would still have no legal claim to any part of Houston’s estate. They also pointed to Gordon’s wrongful death judgment and his alleged abuse and neglect of Bobbi Kristina as reasons why he should not inherit any of the money.
The Judge’s Ruling
In May 2020, a judge ruled that Gordon would not inherit any part of Whitney Houston’s estate. The judge found that there was no evidence to suggest that Gordon and Bobbi Kristina had ever entered into a common law marriage. The ruling also noted that Gordon’s alleged abuse and financial wrongdoing against Bobbi Kristina were sufficient grounds for him to be excluded from her mother’s wealth.
Conclusion
The legal battle over Whitney Houston’s estate has been long and contentious, with allegations of abuse, financial wrongdoing, and questions over relationships’ legality. While Nick Gordon claimed to be entitled to part of Houston’s fortune, a judge has ruled that he has no legal claim to it. His wrongful death judgment and alleged abuse of Bobbi Kristina were sufficient reasons to exclude him from the inheritance. While the battle is far from over, the court’s decision seems to have brought some closure to the Houston family and put an end to Nick Gordon’s involvement in Whitney Houston’s estate.