Brenna Cooper
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The staggering final fortune left behind by One Direction star Liam Payne has been revealed, as courts work out what to do with the late singer's estate.
Payne passed away suddenly last October, after falling three floors from a hotel balcony in Buenos Aires, Argentina. A subsequent autopsy confirmed the 'Strip That Down' singer had sustained 'polytrauma' from the 40 metre fall, which included both 'internal and external haemorrhaging' as well as 'severe injuries which were incompatible with life.'
He was laid to rest a month later in Amersham, UK, with former bandmates Harry Styles, Niall Horan, Louis Tomlinson and Zayn Malik in attendance alongside his family, X Factor judge Simon Cowell, girlfriend Kate Cassidy and Girls' Aloud singer Cheryl, who is the mother of his eight-year-old son, Bear Payne.
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It has now been revealed that Payne had not created a will prior to his death, which means the future of his estate will now be decided by a court.
According to court documents cited by The Sun and MailOnline, Payne left behind a total of £28,595,000, which has been reduced to a final figure of £24,280,000 after all his expenses and debts were paid out.
In the absence of a will stating what should be done with his money, The Sun adds that 41-year-old singer Cheryl has been granted power of administration, alongside music lawyer, Richard Bray.
According to guidance from Citizens' Advice, UK intestacy laws surviving spouses or civil partners will inherit a deceased person's estate, followed by their children.
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As Payne was not legally married at the time of his death, it is likely that his fortune will be placed in a trust for his and Cheryl's son. Meanwhile, Cassidy is not legally entitled to any of his money as the pair were not married at time of his death.
It is theoretically possible for Cassidy, 26, to try and claim a share of the singer's estate, with Higgs LLP solicitor Craig Ridge stating that Cassidy may be able to claim 'reasonable financial provision' as it was previously reported that Payne had paid monthly expenses for the social media star. However, Page Six reports that she doesn't intend to make a claim.
Cassidy has meanwhile spoken openly about how the death of Payne has impacted her.
During one interview with The Sun, Cassidy spoke about coming to terms about leaving Argentina in the days leading up to his death, explaining that she'd returned to the US in order to take care of the couple's dog Nala.
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"I had a responsibility, we had a responsibility. We had our dog and obviously I never, ever thought this event would occur," she said.
"I just never thought this would have happened, that it would turn out the way it did."