Campbell Will Contest Goes Forward

By Walter F. Roche Jr.

A Nashville judge has ruled that three children of the late Glen Campbell have a right to contest the validity of two wills that cut them off from any inheritance from the late singer.
In a three-page ruling issued this week, Davidson Probate Judge David Randy Kennedy concluded that the three children have standing to contest wills dated Sept. 1, 2006 and Jan.7,2001.
Travis, Kelli and Wesley Campbell had petitioned the court to certify that a will contest existed. The three were left out of both wills.
Kennedy noted in his ruling that the three intended to contest the singer's capacity to agree to the wills and also that he was subject to undue influence. Campbell had suffered from Alzheimer's disease for several years prior to his death on Aug. 7 2017.
The 2006 will was filed by Campbell's widow Kimberly who was also named executor of his estate. Kimberly Campbell recently filed notice she would not challenge the right of the three children allenge the right of the three to contest the will. Kennedy noted in his decision that there was no opposition to the certification request.
The 2006 will names Kimberly and his five other children as beneficiaries.
A fourth Campbell child, Debbie Campbell-Cloyd, has raised questions about the actions of a former publicist and manager for the singer, Stanley B. Schneider, who has been acting as a temporary administrator of the estate.
Campbell-Cloyd has asked Kennedy to order Schneider to provide a full accounting of payments made from the estate and a bank account into which Campbell's royalties have been deposited. Campbell-Cloyd said the royalties should have been deposited into an estate account.
Instead, even after Campbell's death the money went into an account controlled by Kimberly and Glen Campbell. Schneider, according to court filings, had power of attorney over the account.
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Daughter Demands Accounting in Campbell Estate

By Walter F. Roche Jr.

A daughter of the late Glen Campbell wants a judge to order a complete accounting of payments to and from a previously undisclosed bank account now owned by the singer's widow, Kimberly.
In an eight-page filing this week, Debby Campbell-Cloyd said she only learned of the account after the temporary administrator of her father's estate filed an amended request for expanded powers.
In the same filing the administrator, Stanley B. Schneider, also disclosed that all royalty and related payments for the late singer have been deposited into that same account even after his death. It had been a joint account previously.
Campbell-Cloyd "asserts that the administrator ad litem should not be depositing any royalty payments made to Mr. Campbell in any account other than the account for the estate of Glen Campbell he was authorized and ordered to do so," the filing states.
While Schneider had asserted that he lacked the authority to redirect the money, Cloyd-Campbell asserted, "To the extent he failed to do so, the court should order the administrator as litem to deposit all funds made payable to Mr. Campbell or the estate of Mr. Campbell into the estate account."
The filing is the latest skirmish over the estate of the singer who died on Aug. 12 of last year. Three of Campbell's other children already have filed notice that they are contesting the will filed in the case. That document specifically excludes the three from receiving any benefits. The will was filed in Davidson Probate Court in Nashville, Tenn.
The Campbell-Cloyd motion, filed by attorney R. Frank Horton, also asks Probate Judge David Randy Kennedy to order Schneider to promptly account for all payments to or from the account.
The daughter's motion also disputes the claim by Schneider and his attorneys, that the limited power he has been granted thus far has "paralyzed" the estate.
Schneider, her filing continues, "should not be excused from complying with the statutes and rules of practice applicable to his administration of the decedent's estate."
Schneider, in his filing, noted that he and his firm had been handling the Campbell's finances for nearly 30 years and that under a "longstanding arrangement" he held a power-of-attorney on the joint account.
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Glenn Campbell Estate "Paralyzed"

By Walter F. Roche Jr.

Warning that federal deadlines are approaching, the interim administrator of the estate of famed singer Glen Campbell is asking a judge for additional powers so he can hire accountants and other experts to estimate the future value of royalties and other assets.
In a motion filed today in Davidson Probate Court in Nashville, Tenn., lawyers for Stanley B. Schneider, Campbell's longtime publicist, said even though the estate was filed nine months ago, administrative duties have been paralyzed by the limited powers set by the court in February.
Stating that Schneider's duties are now limited to collecting money paid to the estate and making mandatory non-discretionary payments, the petition asks Probate Judge David "Randy" Kennedy to schedule a hearing later this month on the expanded duties request.
Campbell died on Aug. 8 of last year following a years long battle with Alzheimer's Disease.
His will, filed by his wife Kimberly, specifically excludes three of his children who are now challenging the will.
Schneider's petition states that the will contest is another factor in the delay in meeting tax filing deadlines.
"The potential will contest prevents any typical estate administration activities," the motion filed by Andrea Sinlair states.
According to the motion, the original deadline for filing an estate inventory was May 8, but a six month extension will expire Nov. 8.
Stating that experts are needed to assess the value of future royalties and other estate assets, the petition asserts that Schneider now lacks the power to hire or pay needed assessors and accountants.
"A filing (by the deadline) is critical to ensure that the deceased spouse's unused exclusion amount be transferred to Mrs. Campbell," the petition states, referring to a prior motion filed on Kimberly's behalf.
Schneider's petition also asks the court to order those contesting the will to certify the will contest "so that he can form an expectation of how long he will be required to serve."
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