A battle is going on over the estate of award-winning actress Anne Heche, who died due to a car crash in August. She was declared brain-dead on August 12, but was kept on life support until August 14, as her organs were put up for donation. Her sudden passing left family and fans heartbroken.
The actress died unexpectedly and was not able to leave a will. Her son, 20-year-old Homer Laffoon, filed in court to assume control over his mother’s estate. Laffoon is Heche’s son with her former husband, Coleman “Coley” Laffoon. He is said to be one of the two heirs to the estate, according to court documents. He shares this status with his half-brother, 13-year-old Atlas Heche Tupper.
Laffoon has been engaging in a legal battle with Heche’s former boyfriend, James Tupper, the father of Atlas. Tupper is hoping to get control of the estate and has been making personal attacks against Laffoon.
Laffoon says that Tupper prevented him from contacting his half-brother, Atlas. While Laffoon has tried to reach out to his brother, Tupper has been checking the messages and has been responding by pretending to be Atlas.
Tupper was described by Laffoon as being “irrationally aggressive and threatening” towards him after his mother’s death.
“My brother Atlas and I lost our mom. After six days of almost unbelievable emotional swings, I am left with a deep, wordless sadness,” Laffoon said.
According to Laffoon, Tupper has been holding on to a 2011 email which stated that Heche will be handing over the estate to Tupper. Laffoon argued that the email failed to meet criteria to be legally recognized as a final will and testament.
For one thing, there were no formal witnesses, as required by law. Another issue is that the “will” is not in the deceased’s handwriting. A will is needed to legally appoint someone as an executor to assume control over the estate.
Laffoon and Tupper have been fighting over Heche’s estate for weeks. Tupper insists that Laffoon was estranged from his mother and is an unsuitable candidate for administrator of the estate. Laffoon disputes the claim.
Update as of Wednesday, October 12: A judge has given control of the approximately $400K estate to Heche’s son Homer Laffoon, for the time being.
