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Aaron Carter was found dead on November 5th after spending most of his life in the spotlight. In recent years, Aaron had struggled with substance abuse and was in-and-out of rehab programs. But he also became a father for the first time nearly a year before his death when his fiancé, Melanie Martin, gave birth to their son Prince in November 2021.Aaron and Melanie’s relationship continued to be turbulent after Prince’s birth. There were allegations of domestic abuse and drug dependency, which eventually resulted in the pair losing custody of Prince in September 2022, only months before Aaron’s death. Prince reportedly was put in the care of his maternal grandmother.Despite entering a voluntary rehab program, Aaron didn’t regain custody of his son before his death. But he did leave behind a small fortune. The singer was reportedly worth $400,000 at the time of his death, despite once being valued at $100 million.Prince is the only child Aaron left behind. But there have been questions about whether the entertainer’s full estate will be left to his infant son, or whether his family stand to inherit any of it. Here’s what we know so far.
Aaron Carter Died Unexpectedly Without A Will
A big reason Aaron’s estate is up in the air is because he died without a will. According to TMZ, Aaron’s attorney encouraged him to create a will after Prince’s birth. But Aaron never got around to it.
Now, reports say that the State of California is responsible for deciding who inherits his estate, as is procedure for people who die without a will. It’s likely the state will favor Prince, since California law notes that a child is first in line to inherit a parent’s estate if there’s no will.
However, it’s unclear how much Prince (or anyone else) stands to inherit. Despite being valued at nearly half a million, sources told TMZ Aaron was “living hand-to-mouth and would typically spend what he earned in short order.”
His Son’s Mom Worries His Family Will Challenge The Inheritance
Though the State of California may be responsible for Aaron's state, reports suggest that not all of his family believes Prince should inherit whatever is left.
According to The U.S. Sun, Prince’s mother Melanie consulted an attorney shortly after his death to discuss the inheritance. Her lawyer reportedly met with representatives from his family, but it wasn’t a positive experience.
"The family is fighting her, it's a mess," a source told the publication, calling it "real drama."
Experts Say That Everything Will Go To Aaron Carter’s Son
Even if Aaron’s family is challenging Prince’s right to the estate, they may not have a strong case. Speaking to The U.S. Sun, attorney Ryan Sellers of Dallas-based Hales & Sellers, PLLC, said it’s most likely that Prince’s guardian will gain control of the estate on his behalf.
“Under California law, intestacy laws aren't affected by a custody agreement,” he explained. “A will is the only way to disinherit a child. Otherwise, the child is considered an heir.”
The attorney continued, "There is the question of who would control the assets because Prince is a minor and whether that would be the mother or some third party.”
He added, "Assuming there is an estate, there isn't anyone from Aaron's family who would have a say in the matter. Prince's custodial parent will get possession of Aaron's estate.”
As of now, it appears Melanie still doesn’t have legal custody of the 1-year-old. Prince is reportedly still in his maternal grandmother’s care. But Melanie emphasized her commitment to raising their son in a social media post dedicated to her late fiancé.
“My heart is completely broken over the passing of my fiancé Aaron. I knew he was struggling, and I tried everything to help him,” she told PEOPLE. “I only wish I had more people to help me with him. I will now be raising our son as a single mother and this is the worst day of my life, but I have to be strong for our son. I’m devastated.”
Aaron and Melanie were first linked in early 2020, but they had a turbulent relationship from the get-go. She was arrested for felony domestic violence in March 2020, after allegedly attacking Aaron during an argument.
However, the couple reconciled shortly after, only to get engaged the following June.
Despite welcoming Prince in 2021, the couple broke up only a month later. Aaron turned to social media to claim Melanie refused to leave his house, despite breaking up with her.
In the new year, Melanie accused Aaron of domestic abuse, saying he broke several of her ribs during an encounter. She was granted a restraining order. But the two got back together shortly after, and appeared to be reconciled at the time of his death.