ATLANTA, GEORGIA - FEBRUARY 29: Malcolm-Jamal Warner attends SCAD aTVfest 2020 - In Conversation With Malcolm-Jamal Warner on February 29, 2020 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Paras Griffin/Getty Images for SCAD aTVfest 2020)
LOS ANGELES COUNTY, Calif. - A petition filed in Los Angeles County Superior Court seeks court approval for a binding settlement agreement to resolve estate and trust disputes following the death of Malcolm-Jamal Warner.
What we know:
A court-appointed guardian ad litem filed a petition Aug. 19 in Los Angeles County Superior Court seeking approval for a binding settlement resolving trust and estate disputes.
Malcolm-Jamal Warner died on July 20, 2025, leaving behind his wife Tenisha Warner, minor daughter, mother Pamela Warner, father Robert Warner and sister Collage Carson Warner.
Warner unexpectedly died at 54 years old from an accidental drowning in Costa Rica.
The agreement treats Warner's daughter as an omitted child under California and Georgia law, assigning her most rights in the trust and probate estate.
Pamela Warner receives $460,000 from the trust, while Robert Warner and Collage Carson Warner each receive $12,500 as final distributions while waiving future claims under the agreement.
The settlement transfers Malcolm-Jamal Warner's name, image and likeness rights to an entity owned solely by his daughter and managed by Pamela Warner.
The agreement also directs the setup of a 529 Plan college fund for his daughter with a target maximum funding of $550,000 to address an unfulfilled prenuptial agreement obligation.
Pamela Warner will remain trustee without compensation until court approval or her resignation, according to court documents.
Specified legal and guardian ad litem fees will be covered directly by the trust.
The overall settlement aims to resolve ongoing probate and trust litigation across California and DeKalb County, Georgia while preserving remaining assets for the minor child.
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What we don't know:
Officials have not yet confirmed if the court will approve the agreement, though a court hearing is scheduled for Nov. 4.
The Source: The information in this story was gathered from a court petition filed by court-appointed guardian ad litem Sybil Burrell in Los Angeles County Superior Court, which detailed the estate settlement terms.