Cher drops conservatorship bid for son Elijah Blue Allman
Sep 15, 2024
Washington [US], September 15 : Actor-singer Cher has officially withdrawn her request for a conservatorship over her son, Elijah Blue Allman, concluding a nine-month court battle.
This decision comes after a mediation process that focused on healing and improving their family relationship, as reported by Page Six.
On Friday, Allman's attorneys, Avi Levy and Steven Brumer from Cage and Miles, LLP, confirmed the resolution, stating, "The team successfully defended Elijah, resulting in Cher voluntarily dismissing her petition."
They added, "This outcome allows the parties to focus on healing and rebuilding their family bond, a process that began during mediation and continues today."
In a court statement obtained by Page Six, Cher's lawyer, Gabrielle Vidal, noted that the matter had been resolved privately through mediation, with neither party appearing in court.
The Academy winner, Cher, 78, initially sought conservatorship for Allman, 48, in December 2023, citing concerns over his substance abuse and alleged financial mismanagement.
According to Page Six, court documents at the time described a dire situation where "any funds distributed to Elijah will immediately be spent on drugs, leaving Elijah with no assets to provide for himself, and putting Elijah's life at risk."
Allman, the son of the late musician Gregg Allman, contested the conservatorship.
In his January response, he admitted to past struggles with addiction but claimed he was now "clean and sober" and asserted that a conservatorship was unnecessary.
He also criticized his mother's suitability as a conservator.
Elijah's wife, Marieangela King, further objected to Cher's request, characterizing the singer as "manic depressive" and unsuitable to manage her husband's finances.
She alleged that Cher was unable to handle her own affairs, let alone those of Elijah, Page Six reported.
Following the initial legal filings, Allman dismissed his divorce proceedings against King, which had been initiated in November 2021.
The dismissal was granted in February with the option to refile in the future.
Cher's bid for an emergency conservatorship was reportedly rejected twice by the end of January.
Reports earlier in the year suggested that the 'Believe' had attempted to intervene in Elijah's life by allegedly hiring individuals to take him to a clinic for treatment, although these claims were not substantiated in court.
A close friend of Cher expressed confidence in the singer's intentions, saying, "Cher's kids are the important things in her heart. I've no doubt that whatever she has done for Elijah has been with the greatest and best intentions possible," according to Page Six.
Elijah Blue Allman is Cher's youngest child. She also has a transgender son, Chaz Bono, 55, from her marriage to the late Sonny Bono.