Cher And Her Son Elijah Call For Truce In Conservatorship Case

Cher and her son, Elijah Blue Allman, have tentatively halted their conservatorship battle while they attempt to resolve their dispute privately. 

The temporary truce was reached during a private mediation held earlier this month. The iconic singer-songwriter previously sought — and was denied — a conservatorship to address Elijah's alleged struggles with addiction and mental health issues.

On Tuesday, May 7, Cher and her son participated in a private mediation session where they both agreed to "pause all legal proceedings and related activities, including all discovery and motion practice, to allow the Parties to continue working together to privately and confidentially resolve this matter."

The decision comes months after a judge in Los Angeles denied the 77-year-old's request for conservatorship over Allman.

At that time, the "Believe" hitmaker had filed an emergency request for a temporary conservatorship for the 47-year-old. In it, she detailed her fear that her son "would not be alive within the year."

According to PEOPLE, Cher's lawyers referenced his treatment for schizoaffective disorder and disclosed that he had been subjected to multiple 5150 holds within the previous year. 

The 5150 holds are a California legal provision allowing the involuntary detention of individuals with mental illness for 72-hour psychiatric hospitalization.

The performer's legal representatives conveyed that she "was informed by doctors that if she did not take this action as his mother, he would once again find himself homeless."

Despite the lawyers alluding to the matter's urgency, the judge dismissed the proposal because Allman showed evidence that "he has managed his finances" and maintains an apartment.

Additionally, the judge noted that Allman has consistently tested negative for drugs after undergoing "several drug tests." 

The judge also emphasized that there was not "sufficient evidence" to support the temporary conservatorship, as much of the argument relied on "fears" and hypothetical situations.

The judge further stated, "That in and of itself is not [the] basis for the court to appoint a probate conservatorship. I have not seen the evidence to grant a temporary, emergency conservatorship as of today."

Responding to the request last month, Allman filed an objection outlining why he deemed a conservatorship unnecessary. 

He argued in his submission that if one were deemed necessary, his mother should not have priority as he is married to Marieangela "Queeny" King, and he asserted that Cher is "unfit to serve."

While he acknowledged his mother's genuine concern for him, he emphasized that he did not require her support. 

The singer added that he had been "clean and sober from illicit substances for over 90 days now" and disclosed his full capability and commitment to managing the money he receives quarterly from the trust left by his late father. He continued:

"While I understand that my mother, the proposed conservator, believes she is acting in my best interests, and I appreciate her love and support, I do not require her unsolicited assistance or support at this time."

In her own update amid the legal battle, Cher asserted that "a conservatorship of [Elijah's] estate is appropriate and the least restrictive alternative because Elijah is unable to properly care for his property."

She alleged that her son has a "well-established pattern" of being unable to manage his own financial resources or resisting fraud or undue influence. 

In the legal document acquired by The Blast, she stated that over the past three years, Allman has squandered money from his trust on "drugs, expensive hotels, and other non-essential items." 

These actions have supposedly left him with "no assets" to sustain himself.

Meanwhile, The Blast observed last month that Allman continued to address his mother's concerns about his mental health and substance addiction. 

In his statement, he remarked, "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 mortal danger."

He pointed out that while he has "battled addiction" but does not "suffer from mental illness," reiterating:

"The lack of evidence supporting the concerns raised in the petition regarding 'cyclical' mental illness and addiction over the last four months is indicative of my ability to manage my faculties and confirms that I am not mentally ill."

Cher's son also highlighted that the  mother's intentions were not "nefarious" and suggested that her wealth made her indifferent to the "comparatively small sums" he receives from his late father, Greg Allman's trust. However, he described the "Believe" singer as "misguided."