Gary Coleman, the former child star of Diff’rent Strokes, had a difficult life after his days in the spotlight. His marriage to Shannon Price, his ex-wife, was tumultuous and ended in divorce. At one point during his marriage, Gary revealed that he was still a virgin well into his 40’s. When he passed away in 2010, at age 42, it was his ex-wife, Shannon, who reportedly told doctors to pull him off life support, despite his will reportedly requesting otherwise. Eventually, after Coleman’s passing, a court case took place to determine the fate of his estate. The court’s conclusion about his ex-wife was truly jaw-dropping.
The Battle for Gary Coleman’s Estate
The legal battle over Gary Coleman’s estate involved his ex-wife, Shannon Price, and his friend and former head of his corporation, Anna Gray. Coleman had signed a will in 2005, naming Gray as the executor and beneficiary. But Coleman married Price in 2007 and later signed a handwritten codicil — which is a legal document that allows someone to make changes to their will without having to create a new one — favoring Price. That’s where it gets interesting, because this amendment became ineffective due to their subsequent divorce in 2008.
Common-Law Marriage Dispute
Gary and his ex-wife resided in the state of Utah. One of the major disputes within in the court case was whether they had a valid common-law marriage. While most states do not recognize this type of marriage, Utah does under certain circumstances. In order to be considered married under common law in Utah, a couple must live together as man and wife, hold themselves out as married, and meet other specific requirements. But there’s more…
Ex-Wife’s Claim And Witnesses’ Testimonies
Price argued that despite their divorce, she and Coleman were still common-law husband and wife. She claimed they refrained from remarrying to avoid publicity. However, the judge was like, ‘Nah…something doesn’t add up‘ (not in those exact words, of course), and therefore, was not convinced by her arguments. Testimony from multiple witnesses suggested that Price physically abused Coleman, displayed no public affection, allegedly openly had an affair with another man during their marriage, and even led him around like a child. Additionally, a 2010 restraining order obtained by Coleman against Price further undermined her case.
Judge’s Ruling
Based on the evidence presented, the judge ruled that Price’s claims were not credible. Then there was their whole Divorce Court episode that may have possibly held some weight as well.
Anywho, the judge concluded that there was no valid marriage between Price and Coleman, rendering the handwritten codicil invalid. As a result, Anna Gray — former head of Coleman’s corporation and the executor and beneficiary named in the 2005 will — would assume control of Coleman’s estate.
Lessons Learned From Gary Coleman’s Case
Gary Coleman’s case highlights the importance of crossing all “T’s” and dotting every “I” to ensure proper estate planning. Simply having a will is sometimes not enough; it must be regularly updated to reflect changes in marital status, family structure, and other relevant life events.
If Coleman truly wanted Price to inherit from his estate, the experts would likely argue that he should have sought professional assistance in preparing a legally binding codicil. After their divorce, he could have affirmed the amendment to ensure its validity. Additionally, changing his living will and power of attorney documents would have prevented Shannon Price from being allowed to make crucial end-of-life decisions, such as the one she reportedly made when our beloved Gary was at the end of his.
May Gary Coleman continue to rest peacefully.
