Delaware court orders Faith Evans to pay $12.5 million to Notorious B.I.G.’s mother’s trust in estate dispute after widow challenges its claim to millions in music business distributions | World News

A Delaware court has ordered singer Faith Evans to ensure a payment of $12,518,336 from Notorious B.I.G. LLC to a trust established by the late rapper’s mother, Voletta Wallace, following a legal dispute over millions generated by his music business. The October 27 ruling by the Delaware Court of Chancery also awards prejudgment interest on the distributions, calculated from the dates the payments were made and compounded quarterly. The case centres on the financial rights attached to Wallace’s ownership interest in the company after her death in February 2025. Evans, who manages the company, had challenged the trust’s entitlement to distributions made before it formally became a member, arguing that it was owed only $48,612.

Why Notorious B.I.G.’s estate is at the centre of a $12.5 million legal battle

The disagreement over the trust’s entitlement to these distributions eventually became the central issue in the $12.5 million legal battle. While Evans maintained that the trust could claim only the money distributed after it formally became a member of the company, Voletta’s estate argued that her financial rights had passed to the trust immediately after her death. The Delaware court ultimately sided with the trust, ruling that it was entitled to distributions dating back to February 2025.

Why Faith Evans challenged the trust’s claim to millions

The disagreement centred on the difference between becoming a formal member of a limited liability company and inheriting the financial rights attached to an existing ownership interest.The trust formally became a member of Notorious B.I.G. LLC on December 12, 2025, after executing the required instrument under the company’s operating agreement. Evans and the company argued that the trust should therefore receive only $48,612, representing distributions attributable to its 25% share after that date.However, the company had made several substantial distributions following Wallace’s death. These included payments of $4 million each on March 20, June 30 and September 25, 2025, followed by another $469,724 on December 26.Evans and the company argued that the earlier amounts should not be released while a separate legal challenge involving Wayne Barrow, the trustee of Voletta’s estate, remained unresolved in Pennsylvania.The court rejected that position, distinguishing between the trust’s formal membership status and its economic rights. It ruled that Wallace’s financial interest in the company transferred to her estate immediately upon her death and subsequently passed to the trust under her will. As a result, the trust was entitled to distributions dating back to February 21, 2025, even though its formal membership began months later.

Who is Wayne Barrow and how did he enter the dispute?

Wayne Barrow, the late rapper’s former manager, initiated the Delaware lawsuit in July 2025 on behalf of Voletta Wallace’s trust.Wallace had appointed Barrow as the sole trustee of her revocable trust and executor of her estate shortly before her death. He subsequently sought to exercise the trust’s rights in Notorious B.I.G. LLC, including its entitlement to distributions and recognition of its ownership interest.Barrow alleged that Evans had prevented him from exercising those rights and recognising the trust’s position within the company.In August 2026, Delaware Chancellor Kathaleen St. J. McCormick granted Barrow’s motion for summary judgment on two claims and dismissed the defendants’ counterclaim. The October 27 decision subsequently addressed the outstanding questions concerning the trust’s membership date and its entitlement to earlier distributions.The judge also noted that Barrow had received Letters Testamentary on April 21, 2025, establishing his authority as the estate’s executor.

Biggie’s son C.J. is involved in a separate legal battle

The dispute over the rapper’s estate has also drawn in his son, Christopher Jordan Wallace, known as C.J., who is challenging Barrow’s appointment in a separate Pennsylvania proceeding.Voletta Wallace had initially named her grandson as a successor trustee. However, shortly before her death, she amended her estate arrangements, removing him from that position and appointing Barrow as the sole trustee instead.C.J. subsequently challenged the changes, questioning the circumstances surrounding his grandmother’s decision to appoint Barrow and his authority over the estate.Evans and the company relied on this separate dispute while arguing that the money should not be released to the trust until the Pennsylvania proceedings were resolved.However, the Delaware court ruled that the pending challenge would not affect the economic rights already transferred to the trust. It also found that Barrow’s actions as executor, supported by his Letters Testamentary, did not need to be suspended pending the outcome of the separate case.

What happens to the $12.5 million and the interest?

In its October 27 decision, the Delaware Court of Chancery determined that the Voletta Wallace Revocable Trust was entitled to $12,518,336 in distributions made after Wallace’s death.The court also awarded prejudgment interest on the amount, calculated from the dates on which the individual distributions were made. The interest is to be charged at Delaware’s statutory rate and compounded quarterly.The judge instructed Barrow to submit a final proposed order within 20 days, incorporating the October decision and the court’s earlier rulings.According to a statement shared with PEOPLE, Barrow’s lawyer said Evans was ordered to have Notorious B.I.G. LLC pay the trust more than $14 million, including interest, by November 10. He also said he hoped she would comply with the order.Voletta Wallace’s estate arrangements direct assets not specifically bequeathed elsewhere towards the Christopher Wallace Memorial Foundation, established in memory of her son. The foundation supports young people through educational opportunities and mentorship initiatives.