Naomi Judd was an American singer and actress. In 1983, she and her daughter Wynonna formed the duo, ‘The Judds’, which gained immense success, and the mother-daughter duo won five Grammy Awards and nine Country Music Association awards.
In April 2022, 76-year-old Judd was found dead in her room. Reports claimed that the singer shot herself after battling her mental illness for a long time.
Recently, Judd’s elder daughter, Wynonna Judd, expressed her concerns over her mother’s tragic passing and her will.
According to Daily Mail, Wynonna said that she is quite upset with the fact that her mother left her and her younger sister Ashley out of her $25 million will.
“In official documents obtained by Radar, Naomi made no mention of her daughters Wynonna or Ashley and rested all power with her husband of 33 years.” Quoted Radar Online.
“I nominate and appoint my spouse, Larry Strickland, as Executor of my estate,” the document reads.
“In the event my spouse ceases or fails to serve, then I nominate and appoint my brother-in-law, Reginald Strickland, and Daniel Kris Wiatr as Co-Executors. I direct that no bond shall be required of my Executor.”
Daily Mail reported that Judd appointed her husband Larry Strickland to look after her assets.
“He will have full authority and discretion over her assets without the approval of any court.”
Sources revealed that the singer prepared her will in 2017, nearly five years ago, and was in a much better state of mind when she did so.
“It is common to name the spouse as the executor of a will. But leaving out her daughters seems pointed, like a purposeful act on Naomi’s part,” her lawyer Holly Davis told Page Six.
Criminal defense attorney Jason Goldman told the outlet that it is highly likely that Naomi was advised to pick her husband over her daughters as ‘it would be ‘cleaner and less contentious.’”
“Despite having the opposite intent, wills typically become notoriously difficult to interpret when overly specific. When you then factor in the existence of numerous children, a longer, divided will is inevitably a recipe for misinterpretation and disaster.” Said Goldman.
“The will itself did not mention Naomi’s hard assets, which may have already been bestowed upon the children through title transfers.”
Davis also stated that it is also possible that Judd had already taken care of her daughters in her life; however, not including them in her will is still notable.
“Naomi Judd had struggles with her mental health and with depression, which ultimately led to her suicide — that much, we know. But not knowing if there is tension between her spouse and the daughters, if there is an issue or tension between the husband and the daughters, we will find out if there will be a will contest via probate lawyers in the coming days.”
Both Wynonna and Ashley have reportedly spoken about their mother’s will. However, none of their statements have been made public yet.
“If the daughters believe that Naomi was unduly influenced in her final months or years by her spouse, such that they claim he influenced the outcome of her will in a fraudulent way that could result in a claim on behalf of the daughters” Davis added.
What’s your take on Naomi Judd’s story? Let us know in the comments.
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It’s clearly influenced by her husband. Leaving everything to him and then if he dies leaving it all to his family.. smh! Greedy
Her husband should get everything. Her girls are grown and have their own money.
She earned her money and should do what she wants with it