Fight Over Nipsey Hussle's Daughter’s Estate Escalates Over Attorney Fees Payment

Nipsey Hussle's family is engulfed in another legal debacle.

The trail of the custody settlement between the rapper's family and his child, Emani's mother, is not cold yet; nevertheless, they are neck-deep in a financial tussle concerning his daughter's estate.

Nipsey Hussle's daughter's mother, Tanisha Foster, who had been at odds with the rapper's family, successfully secured joint physical and legal custody of her child.

Discussions surrounding the inheritance of Nipsey's daughter, Emani, have gained attention in court, particularly following the award of joint custody to her mother.

A court-appointed lawyer for Emani, William Spiller, raised objections to another attorney, Larry Lewellyn, receiving payment from Emani's estate.

Lewellyn represents Tanisha, but Spiller contended that it would be inappropriate for Emani's inheritance to be used to cover the legal fees for someone who has been in an adversarial position throughout the case.

Spiller emphasized that utilizing Emani's estate to pay for the fees of Tanisha and her counsel would be neither fair nor equitable. He argued that the funds should not benefit those who were opposed to the minor child, especially considering the estate's potential size. 

According to In Touch, Spiller also pointed out that Emani's inheritance is likely to be used to cover her own legal costs in the future. 

Nipsey tragically passed away on March 31, 2019, leaving behind two children, Emani and Kross, the latter of whom he shared with his girlfriend, Lauren London.

Following his death, it was determined that his children would be the sole beneficiaries of his estimated $11 million estate, which continues to appreciate through various business ventures and royalties.

Concerns about Emani's living situation led Nipsey's family, his brother Sam Ashgedom, sister Samantha Ashgedom, and mother Angelique Smith, to seek guardianship of her, which the court ultimately granted.

However, in 2022, Tanisha filed court documents seeking to terminate this guardianship arrangement.

As shared by The Blast, Tanisha won joint physical and legal custody of Emani in court after reaching an agreement with the late rapper's family.

Following the lengthy legal dispute, Nipsey's mother and sister also stepped down as co-guardians, leaving his brother as the sole guardian of Emani from the family.

The court ruled that Emani would spend 60 percent of her time with Tanisha and the remaining time with her uncle, Sam. Both Tanisha and Sam now have equal rights to make decisions that are in Emani's best interests, and Tanisha will keep her parental rights. 

The arrangement allows Emani to live with both guardians at their respective homes, ensuring her continued participation in all academic and extracurricular activities. This cooperative agreement was formalized in a joint stipulation filed on March 5, which Sam, Samantha, Angelique, and Tanisha signed.

Tanisha explained in her 2022 petition to terminate her daughter Emani's guardianship that she initially agreed to the arrangement, believing it to be in Emani's best interest.

Tanisha also highlighted her financial difficulties and her strong desire to provide Emani with the stable environment she once had as her reason for letting her daughter go.

She later expressed frustration over what she perceived as broken promises from the rapper's family regarding her relationship with Emani.

Tanisha alleged that Nipsey's family used their wealth and influence to restrict her visitation rights and financial support, limiting her involvement in Emani's life.

Committed to reclaiming her role as Emani's primary parent, Tanisha noted that her daughter often asks when they can live together. In her petition, she urged the court to terminate the guardianship, asserting that no circumstances in her life should prevent her from being with her daughter.

The guardianship battle for Emani saw intense efforts from Nipsey's family, particularly his brother and sister. Samantha, Nipsey's sister, launched the legal process to secure guardianship, driven by her concerns regarding Emani's mother's parenting abilities.

In her application, she highlighted her commitment to Emani's welfare and the necessity of maintaining her connection to Nipsey's family. 

Despite facing significant opposition from Tanisha, the "Victory Lap" rapper's family ultimately triumphed in court. In October 2019, a judge granted them legal guardianship of Emani, ensuring that she would grow up in a stable and supportive environment.

What more drama awaits Nipsey Hussle's family in court? Time will tell!