Liam Payne‘s girlfriend could be entitled to a share of his multi-million pound fortune if she chose to lodge a claim in the courts, reports suggest.
Kate Cassidy, who had been dating the One Direction star for around two years at the time of his death last October, could theoretically seek to claim a chunk of his £24million fortune due to their future plans and their living arrangements.
Reports in The Sun have suggested that the social media star could look to seek ‘reasonable financial provision’ under the UK’s Inheritance Act if she claims to have been financially dependent on him.
The New Jersey-born model, 26, was reported to have received a £20,000-per-month allowance from Liam while they were living together in Florida.
And the pair had been considering marriage – with a hat-trick of ‘evidence’ backing that up that could reinforce any claim on Liam’s estate, despite the fact they were not engaged.
This week, the Mail reported that Liam had left an enormous amount of money and other assets behind after falling from a balcony in Buenos Aires on October 16 last year – but no will.
Court documents reveal that Liam had an estate worth £28,594,888 when he died. After fees and debts were taken into account, the net total left over was £24,279,728.
Under the rules of intestacy, the fortune will go to Liam’s eight-year-old son Bear – placed in a trust until he is of adult age.
Kate Cassidy could seek a share of boyfriend Liam Payne’s £24million fortune in the courts if she wished, it has been suggested
Under the Inheritance Act, individuals who prove they were financially reliant on a person who has died can be entitled to a share of their estate
As it stands, Liam’s entire fortune will go to his eight-year-old son Bear (pictured as a baby with Liam)
It is currently being safeguarded by the youngster’s mother, Girls Aloud star Cheryl Tweedy, and music lawyer Richard Bray. The pair were named short-term administrators of Liam’s estate by the courts.
But in theory, Kate could seek to challenge this state of affairs under the Inheritance (Provision for Family and Dependants) Act 1975.
The law makes provisions for individuals to make an application for financial provision if they were being ‘immediately…maintained, either wholly or partly’ by someone who has died.
But she would need to do so within six months of a Grant of Letters of Administration being issued – a formal confirmation of who will administrate, or control, the estate in the long run.
Kathryn Tunbridge, a solicitor with Kent firm Furley Page, said Kate could, theoretically, lodge a claim under this provision.
She added: ‘As an unmarried partner, Kate has no automatic entitlement to inherit anything, regardless of how long they were together or whether he supported her financially.
‘Under the Inheritance (Provision for Family and Dependants) Act 1975, someone financially dependent on the deceased at the time of death may be able to claim “reasonable financial provision” from the estate.
‘However, bringing such a claim requires evidence and is often emotionally and financially draining.’
Kate has not denied reports that she was given money by Liam each month and allowed access to his credit card – suggesting her lifestyle was being maintained by the 31-year-old before he died.
She previously told The Sun: ‘When people come and point a finger at me saying you took an allowance, at the end of the day it’s nobody’s business.
‘I couldn’t possibly have a 9 to 5 job, and I never asked him for money.’
However, any such claim would be subject to other tests in court to prove entitlement.
The Sun suggested three pieces of evidence that Liam and Kate were to marry could bolster any challenge.
Liam had written a note to Kate expressing his intention to marry her within a year – which reports suggest could benefit any challenge to his fortune
Liam and Kate were together for around two years (pictured at Wimbledon in 2023)
And the pair lived together in a house in South Florida – which she left after he died, relocating to London
Liam’s friend Rogelio ‘Roger’ Nores claims Liam asked him to be best man at his wedding just days before he died
Liam had son Bear with Cheryl Tweedy (the pair pictured above in 2018). Cheryl is unlikely to receive any of his fortune
These include a note Liam had written vowing: ‘Me and Kate to marry within a year/engaged and 2gether 4ever 444′ – 444 being an ‘angel number’ held among spiritualists to signify divine support and reassurance.
Rogelio ‘Roger’ Nores, a friend of Liam’s who was, until recently, alleged by Argentine prosecutors to have contributed to his death, claims that the singer had asked him to be best man at his eventual wedding to Kate.
And Kate told the Sun that she and Liam had been discussing their future together, including ‘marriage (and) kids down the line’.
These three pieces of ‘evidence’ – the note, Roger’s statement and Kate’s own testimony on the future – could be used in court to argue that Kate is entitled to a share of Liam’s fortune.
But Ms Turnbridge of Furley Page said of Liam’s love note: ‘Unfortunately, such a note carries no legal standing in the eyes of the law.’
She added: ‘Liam Payne’s death is a tragedy. But it also serves as a powerful reminder of how important it is to plan ahead — particularly for unmarried couples.
‘Without a will, even deeply held intentions can go unfulfilled, and those closest to you may be left with nothing.’
The likelihood of any such challenge being made is practically zero – as friends close to Kate have said that she firmly believes the money is Bear’s and Bear’s alone.
A close friend told MailOnline this week: ‘It was never about the money for Kate.
‘She loved Liam through thick and thin and she wouldn’t have it any other way than Bear being the main beneficiary from his father’s will.’
And while she had been given an allowance by Liam while they were together, friends have previously suggested she is able to look after herself.
‘Kate has money of her own, so it’s not like she’ll have nowhere to be. She doesn’t have the money that Liam had, of course, but she’s not broke,’ a close friend of Cassidy’s told Page Six last year.
‘She makes money through social media partnerships. She won’t be living the same lifestyle she was living with Liam, but she’s going to be OK.’
MailOnline has contacted Kate Cassidy for comment.
Liam is not the only celebrity to have failed to plan for his fortune after death. Prince, Aretha Franklin and Amy Winehouse are among those who did not leave a will, sparking legal battles over who their fortunes should go to.
