Nearly seven months after Liam Payne‘s untimely death, his former partner Cheryl has been officially named as a co-administrator of the late singer’s multi-million-dollar estate. According to People magazine, recent court filings confirm that Cheryl and legal professional Richard Mark Bray have been entrusted with the responsibility of managing the One Direction star’s assets, which include an estimated net worth of £25.7 million (approximately $32.2 million), and gross assets nearing £30.3 million (around $38 million).
Cheryl, 41, who shares an 8-year-old son named Bear with Payne, was in a relationship with the singer from 2016 to 2018. The pair welcomed their son in 2017. Payne tragically died in October after falling from a hotel balcony in Argentina. At the time of his death, he had not prepared a will.
In the UK, intestacy laws dictate that when an individual dies without a will, their estate is usually passed to a legal spouse or, in their absence, to immediate family members such as children. The BBC noted that while Cheryl and Bray currently oversee the management of Payne’s estate, their authority remains restricted, and they cannot yet distribute any assets. The expectation, under the law, is that Payne’s son would be the primary heir.
Following Payne’s death, Cheryl shared a deeply emotional tribute, calling the loss “earth shattering.” She reminded the public of the man behind the fame: “Liam was not only a pop star and celebrity, he was a son, a brother, an uncle, a dear friend, and a father to our 7-year-old son. A son that now has to face the reality of never seeing his father again.” She also made a heartfelt plea for privacy, urging others to “let Liam rest in some peace at last.”
Legal proceedings remain ongoing, as Cheryl and Bray continue their administrative duties while awaiting full legal authority over the estate.
