Cheryl Named Administrator of Liam Payne’s $32.2M Estate After Singer Dies Without a Will

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Seven months after Liam Payne’s tragic passing, new legal documents confirm that his former partner, Cheryl, has been appointed to help administer his estate, which is valued at over $32.2 million.

Court records filed on May 1 show that Cheryl and attorney Richard Mark Bray were granted limited authority over the estate. This decision comes after Payne, who died at 31 without a will, left behind no legal instructions on how to distribute his assets.

U.K. inheritance law generally prioritises spouses or, in their absence, the deceased’s children. While Cheryl and Payne were no longer together at the time of his death, they shared an 8-year-old son, Bear, who is now expected to inherit the estate in due time.

Payne died in October 2024 after falling from a hotel balcony while abroad in Argentina. Cheryl, 41, described the loss in a rare public statement as an “earth-shattering event,” emphasizing that beyond fame, Payne was a father, a son, and a loved one: “Please give Liam the little dignity he has left in the wake of his death to rest in some peace at last.”

Payne had been in a relationship with influencer Kate Cassidy at the time of his death. She spoke publicly in March, expressing her continued disbelief: “I’m still working on accepting the fact that he’s not here anymore... it almost stings that little bit more.”

His sister, Ruth Gibbins, also posted a heartfelt tribute in April, six months after his death: “I miss you loudly, quietly and in all the moments in between.”

Payne’s estate is currently under limited management, and no assets will be distributed until full probate is granted.