Former One Directioner, Liam Payne, had been covering his girlfriend’s luxury expenses just weeks before he died. Now, she’s receiving nothing, while his family, including his parents and siblings, has also been left out.

Liam Payne died at 31 with no will in place, leaving behind a multimillion-dollar estate and an eight-year-old son as his only heir. With no legal instructions to follow, his assets have been placed under court supervision.

While Bear is entitled to inherit everything, key decisions about how and when he receives it now rest with appointed administrators. The estate’s value, its growth, and who controls it in the meantime are all shaped by specific legal and financial rules.

Court filings confirmed that Payne’s estate was valued at $37,735,853 at the time of his death in October 2024. After settling debts and associated expenses, the remaining amount totaled $32,036,846. The assets include cash, property, and other holdings acquired during his career as a member of One Direction and as a solo artist.

One of the known assets is a mansion located in Buckinghamshire. The rest of the estate has not been itemized publicly but is currently under restricted control. The High Court appointed Cheryl Tweedy, Bear’s mother, and Richard Bray, a music industry lawyer, as temporary administrators under a limited authority known as ad colligenda bona.

This legal measure allows the appointed individuals to safeguard the estate, but does not permit the distribution of any assets. A full grant of administration has yet to be issued. Until that happens, the estate remains in a holding phase, with the focus on preserving its value for the sole beneficiary, Bear.

No will was found after Payne’s death, leaving his estate subject to intestacy laws in the United Kingdom. Under these rules, when a person dies without a spouse or civil partner, their children are entitled to inherit the entire estate.

Even his parents, Geoff and Karen, and his sisters, Nicola and Ruth, are not expected to receive any share of the estate. In this case, that means Payne’s son Bear is the sole legal heir. Legal professionals familiar with estate planning described the absence of a will as unusual for someone with Payne’s financial profile.

Krystal Ramsammy, Commercial Head of Private Client at Taylor Rose, explained that drafting a will is typically one of the first steps advised by financial planners. She noted, “There are many good reasons to have a will – it’s a way to make sure your wishes are carried out and that whoever you wish to inherit from your estate does so.”

The legal specialist added that people sometimes avoid making a will because they see it as unnecessary or superstitious. Some individuals put it off, believing “I don’t need it right now,” despite its importance in ensuring a person’s wishes are carried out.

Because Bear is a minor, the law requires two individuals to act as administrators. This is why both Tweedy and Bray were appointed by the High Court. Their authority is currently limited to preserving the estate, with broader control pending a full grant of administration.

Under U.K. law, when a child inherits an estate as a minor, at least two administrators must be appointed to manage the assets on their behalf. In Payne’s case, the High Court named Tweedy and Bray to fulfill that requirement. Tweedy, as Bear’s mother, was a natural choice to help oversee the estate.

Bray was appointed alongside her due to legal protocol requiring joint administration when a beneficiary is under 18. He is a senior partner at a London legal firm with experience in the entertainment industry, making him qualified to assist in managing Payne’s complex assets.

Though their authority remains limited pending a full grant of administration, both administrators are currently responsible for protecting the estate and ensuring that it remains intact for Bear’s future use. Payne’s estate is held in a bereaved minor’s trust, a legal structure used when a child inherits after the death of a parent.

Under the terms of this trust, Bear will become entitled to the full estate when he turns 18. Until then, trustees are responsible for managing the assets. They are allowed to use the income or capital for Bear’s benefit while he is a minor, including expenses related to education or maintenance.

Any use of the trust’s resources must meet the legal requirement that it serve the child directly. The trust qualifies for inheritance tax exemption, provided that Bear inherits the estate at 18 and all statutory conditions are met.

According to tax expert Heather Rogers, there are no exit or 10th anniversary charges during the trust period, though income tax and capital gains tax may still apply. Experts say the value of Bear’s inheritance could grow significantly before he reaches adulthood, depending on how the trust is managed.

Simon Lambert of “This is Money” projected that if the $32 million net estate is invested with an average 5% annual return over the next 10 years, it could grow to approximately $53 million. With a 7% return, the total could rise to around $64 million.

Lambert explained that professional investment management would likely aim to grow the estate above the rate of inflation, using a mix of assets such as shares, bonds, property, and cash. He noted that the higher estimate assumes no significant withdrawals from the trust during Bear’s childhood.

The trust’s goal is to preserve and increase the estate’s value while it remains under their control. Financial decisions made by the trustees over the next decade will determine how close the final figure comes to those projections.

Kate Cassidy, the singer’s girlfriend at the time of his death, is not entitled to any portion of his estate. Legal experts confirmed that under U.K. inheritance law, an unmarried partner must have lived with the deceased for at least two years to be eligible to make a claim.

While Payne and Cassidy first met in October 2022, they reportedly did not begin living together until shortly before his death. The couple had been staying in a rented five-bedroom home in Wellington, South Florida, for $9,950 per month.

Friends said the pair had discussed plans to marry, but there was no formal agreement or legal status in place that would grant Cassidy any rights to Payne’s assets. According to those close to her, Cassidy expressed support for the estate passing entirely to Bear and stated that she had no interest in contesting the outcome.

During their relationship, Payne is reported to have supported Cassidy financially, providing her with $10,000 each month for daily expenses. He also allowed her access to his credit cards, with some monthly spending reaching up to $25,000.

She also frequently worked with his stylist, whose services were reportedly covered by Payne as well. Following his death, sources close to Cassidy stated that although losing him affected her life financially, she was not dependent on his estate. According to a friend, she has income from her work in social media.

They added that while her lifestyle may change, she was not financially destitute. Regarding the estate, the friend said it had never been her intention to pursue a claim and that her focus remained on mourning the loss rather than money.

People close to Payne said he had long intended for his only child to receive the full benefit of his estate. One source told the Daily Mail that “Liam had some very sensible people around him for a time and he adored Bear so much,” adding, “He always wanted to do the right thing by him financially.”

Although no will was ever prepared, friends claimed that Payne had discussed his wishes informally. Most of his time in the last few years was spent in the United States, and his contact with Bear was often through FaceTime. Despite the distance, sources said he remained committed to supporting his son.

Tweedy, a former member of “Girls Aloud,” was described by friends as someone who “will always do the right thing by her beloved son.” With her now acting as a legal administrator of Payne’s estate, those close to the family have suggested that she is focused on protecting Bear’s future interests.

Following Payne’s death, Tweedy took on a key role following his death, including organizing his private funeral. The service was held in November 2024 at St. Mary’s Church in Amersham and was attended by all four of Liam’s former bandmates from One Direction: Harry Styles, Zayn Malik, Niall Horan, and Louis Tomlinson.

The former One Directioner died on October 16, 2024, after falling from a third-floor balcony at the CasaSur Palermo Hotel in Buenos Aires, Argentina. He was 31. The cause of death was listed as polytrauma, a term used for multiple traumatic injuries.

An investigation into the circumstances surrounding his fall led to several initial charges. However, in February 2025, a panel of judges from Argentina’s Court of Appeals dropped criminal negligence charges against three of the five people originally accused. These included Payne’s friend Roger Nores and two hotel employees.

The ruling stated that there was insufficient evidence to hold them responsible for Payne’s condition or the events leading to his death. Court documents cited testimony about Payne’s use of alcohol and drugs in the hours before the fall. Witnesses said he had been carried to his room by hotel staff.

Judges acknowledged that while friends or family might have tried to prevent what happened, there was no conclusive way to prove that their actions could have changed the outcome. Two individuals accused of supplying drugs to Payne remain in custody and are awaiting trial.

The court emphasized that the cause of death could not be definitively linked to a specific act or person, and medical reports showed no defensive injuries at the time of impact.