A lot happened in Gary Coleman’s life since he signed that will over a decade ago.
He got a bit part in the Mormon comedy, “Church Ball”, came to Utah, bought a house in Santaquin, met Shannon Price and eventually married her.
Then in 2008, he divorced her.
But they apparently continued to share the home – at least off and on. For instance, she was there, upstairs on the day he fell and she called 911.
So, back to the will.
Price – the ex-wife – is sure to argue the will is outdated. She will say that it was Coleman’s desire to leave the estate to her. (Remember, there’s no way she’s mentioned in the will. She didn’t come into his life for another 6 years.)
But hold on.
An attorney friend of mine says without another, more contemporary will to challenge the 1999 will it does not matter what Coleman desired. If it is not written, the court is unlikely to recognize such a “wish”.
What’s more, he told me Utah law removes a spouse from a will after divorce. His or her name can be all over the document, but the divorce decree makes it null and void.
His opinion: For Price to have a chance at her claim, A) She would have to produce a newer will and B) proof showing she and Coleman were again legally married or at least C) the newer will must post date the divorce.
That, I believe, is the legal description of an uphill battle.
