Late Talk Show Host's Widow Challenges His Son's Estate Moves

LOS ANGELES (CNS) - Larry King's widow filed court papers today challenging the attempt by a son of the late radio and television talk show host to admit his father's will to probate, a document which excludes the woman from receiving any of his assets.

Shawn Southwick King says that although he filed for divorce in August 2019, her husband wanted to stay married to her and did nothing to advance the breakup.

"Larry was not pushing the divorce and was generally non-responsive and refused to participate in the divorce proceeding," Shawn King's court papers state. "He gave no indication that he actually wanted to pursue divorce."

Meanwhile, Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Deborah Christian has scheduled a Feb. 24 hearing on Larry King Jr.'s petition to be appointed special administrator of his father's estate, an effort Shawn King opposes as well as the son's desire to admit King's October 2019 will to probate, which was created two months after the elder King filed for divorce. She maintains it violates two post-nuptial agreements the couple had.

Shawn King had recently become aware of a ``secret account'' through which King made gifts of community property to various individuals without her knowledge, according to her court papers.

The estate would have a direct claim to recover half of any such gifts King Jr. may have received from the secret account, Shawn King's court papers state.

"Clearly, as the recipient of these improper gifts, (King Jr.) is conflicted in representing Larry's estate," according to Shawn King's court papers.

Shawn King also believes King Jr. exerted "undue influence" over his father in receiving some or all of the gifts obtained through community property and in the creation of the 2019 will, which replaced a 2015 document that she maintains reflected her husband's true intentions, according to her court papers.

King died Jan. 23 at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center at age 87. King Jr., 59, was born during King's brief marriage to Annette Kaye.


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