By Kaitlin Simpson and Andrea Simpson
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| Vince Bucci/Newsmakers |
Elijah Blue Allman’s wife, Marieangela King, filed new court documents objecting to Cher’s
appointment of a probate conservator for her drug-addled son — and now
King is nominating herself and wants the court to appoint her as his
conservator, claiming the iconic singer has been estranged from her son
for years, his famous mother’s involvement is against his wishes, and
the singer’s petition is an intrusion into their marriage.
King, 39, also claims in the docs filed in Los Angeles on Tuesday,
August 18, that Cher, 80, has shown a pattern of “hostility” and
“gatekeeping” towards her by intentionally keeping her out of any
discussions involving Elijah’s care.
But Cher’s legal team questions whether the reconciliation between
Elijah, 50, and his once estranged wife is genuine, or whether their
apparent union is only a “ruse.”
In the newly filed docs, King claims that Elijah‘s estranged relatives have repeatedly attempted to impose a conservatorship or some similar restraints on Elijah without her knowledge.
King alleges that when the case was filed in 2023 Cher did not serve
Elijah or herself, claiming that they were missing when King claims they
were in regular contact with the star via her staff and regularly
visited her home to collect their mail. She claims Cher knew how to
reach them.
She claims that while the conservator petition has been pending in California, Elijah’s estranged siblings Devon Allman and Chaz Bono filed to be appointed Elijah‘s guardians in a New Hampshire court without her knowledge.
King is asking that the court dismiss or stay that petition because
she claims Elijah doesn’t live in California. She claims he has no
permanent ties or home in California and that he has no intention of
returning to the state.
According to her documents, Elijah is currently under long-term,
involuntary institutional care and is in the custody of the state of New
Hampshire. He is also facing ongoing criminal and mental competency
court proceedings amid his institutionalized treatment. She claims the
New Hampshire State Hospital has already started oversight and initiated
guardianship proceedings, arguing that as a result legal jurisdiction
is in New Hampshire, not California.
King claims that Elijah never filed an answer in her recently filed
divorce case, which she then filed to dismiss in June for the second
time.
She alleges that Elijah is confined to a secure, locked psychiatric facility.
“Elijah‘s primary source of income other than gifts from [his mother]
and payments from her trusts… include payments from one or more family
trusts created by his late father… and because he’s currently confined
and under state supervision… there’s no risk that he will miss us or
mismanage” any funds, as stated in the docs.
She claims that at Elijah’s “urging” she dismissed her most recent
divorce petition as well as a court order for $70,000 and unpaid spousal
support so that she “could stand in support of my spouse … ensure his
well-being and be there for him and his care plan.”
“I strongly believe that Elijah needs a robust, long-term treatment
plan to deal with these issues, an appointment of a conservator selected
by his mother, from whom he has been estranged for years … her removing
his autonomy against his wishes would demoralize him … jeopardizing his
recovery,” the docs read.
King cites court documents from April 2024 filed by Elijah, in which
he stated that he objected to Cher’s appointment as his conservator and
one of the reasons was because he claimed she’s not entitled to priority
because he was married and he stated Cher was “unfit to serve.”
Elijah says that his wife is entitled to that priority as his conservator.
“My mother’s petition raises dual concerns that I suffer from some
mental illness and that I live hand to mouth using my trust
distributions to buy drugs and place myself in immortal danger,” Elijah
says per the docs. “As I have mentioned in previous pleadings, I have
struggled with addiction, but I’m not mentally ill.”
Elijah continues, “I know that my mother’s objectives are not
nefarious: she is a wealthy and famous entertainer who does not need the
comparatively small sums that I received from my late father’s trust. I
know that my mother’s actions are meant to help me, but I do not need
this help. My mother seems to believe that controlling these quarterly
trust distributions will prevent me from engaging in self-destructive
behaviors. She is misguided.”
Elijah adds that if he is “inclined to engage in self-destructive
behaviors” he does “not need” his “trust distributions to do so.”
“The world is full of addicts and mentally ill persons who do not
have a trust distribution from which to draw,” he says. “The only person
who can save me for my demons is me.”
Shortly after, Elijah and his mother settled the case, only
for the singer to revive the conservatorship petition in April of this
year after he was arrested in February and March following two separate
incidents in New Hampshire at a private boarding school and residential
home and is facing charges including simple assault, criminal
trespassing, criminal threatening, and burglary.
In new docs, King is objecting to any conservator nominated by Cher “as an unwarranted intrusion into the marital relationship.”
She claims that Elijah already objected to his mother‘s prior
petition in 2024. “He did not wish for [her] to act as his conservator.”
King states she’s “ready, willing, and able“ to be his conservator
and “will do what is right by Elijah to stabilize the expenditures and
address the outstanding financial issues.”
Elijah has been estranged from Cher for many years, King claims in
her paperwork stating, “Elijah and [Cher] notoriously have an extremely
poor relationship, and many unresolved trust issues.”
That said, she alleges there is a conflict of interest. King claims
that Cher has “repeatedly attempted to confine Elijah against his will.“
“[Cher] … refused to work, or cooperate, with me, as Elijah’s spouse,
and developing a long-term care plan for his recovery and care,“
claiming that Elijah‘s relatives have rejected or ignored her requests.
She alleges that Elijah’s brother Devon told her that the family “has no interest in getting Elijah into treatment.”
King claims that appointing a conservator selected by Cher is not in
Elijah‘s best interest. She alleged that his mother, family members and
other associates have attempted to manipulate medical providers in
charge of Elijah‘s care.
“[Cher] and her associates have history of using [Cher’s] money,
fame, and resources to manipulate doctors, social workers, and other
professionals to interfere in the marital relationship, confine Elijah,
and or act in a manner, contrary to his best interest and against his
will,” King says per the docs.
King continues, “[Cher’s] conduct throughout these proceedings …
reveals a calculated pattern of intentional, prejudice, hostility, and
bad faith aimed at dismantling the marital unit. For years, [she] has
systematically excluded me from all discussions, medical assessments,
decisions, and proposed care planning regarding Elijah, contrary to my
role, rights and responsibilities as his spouse. She has done so
contrary to his stated desire to have me involved due to his deep
distrust for [his mother].”
King claims that Cher’s “failure and refusal to cooperate with me,
paired with her clandestine coordination with treatment, facilities, and
other professionals, without my knowledge and against Elijah’s will,
has, in my view, substantially impeded his ability to get effective
treatment.”
“It demonstrates that this action is not a protective intervention,
but part of an adversarial campaign of stripping me of my role as
Elijah‘s spouse and ability to fulfill that role and attempting to
dictate the care and estate of Elijah, her adult child, through
intentional insulation and familial gatekeeping,” King says in the docs.
King continues, “I’m extremely concerned that appointment of a
conservator hand selected by [her] is equally not in Elijah‘s best
interests and will be viewed by Elijah as further punishment and an
effort to interfere with his autonomy, rather than an attempt to help
him. And Elijah‘s fragile mental state, this would jeopardize his
chances of a hopeful recovery.“
Cher’s legal team is arguing in its own docs filed in July that the
court’s jurisdiction should stay in California. Her legal team states
that Elijah is involuntarily incarcerated in New Hampshire and has never
had an address in New Hampshire, and his family and friends are in
California, including his wife.
The Grammy winner’s legal team also argues that “given his apparent
reconciliation with his wife, if he claims not to intend to return to
California, does that mean he intends to remain separated from his wife?
Either he has reconciled and intends to return to live with his spouse
in California or her sudden reappearance and convenient reconciliation
is a ruse.”
Us has reached out to Cher’s attorneys for comment.
Full Article & Source:
Cher’s Son Elijah Blue’s Wife Challenges Singer’s Conservatorship, Asks Court to Put Her In Charge (Exclusive)
See Also:
Latest on Cher’s Conservatorship Battle Over Her Son
Judge Denies Cher’s Bid for Emergency Conservatorship Over Son Elijah Blue Allman
