A lengthy legal battle between the four children of a late country music songwriter and their aunt ended last week when an Ohio probate judge approved placing the family's share of his music catalog into a trust fund for them. This probate judgment marked the end of a nearly five year estate litigation battle between the heirs of late country music songwriter Darrell "Wayne" Perry and his sister, Darlene Bishop, who was named executor of his estate after he passed from throat cancer in 2005 at the age of 55.

Perry's four children filed suit against their aunt for the alleged mis-handling of the estate and accused her of persuading him to decline medical care and turn to prayer instead. Bishop claims that her brothers' children are making false accusations about her. In addition, Perry's children claim that Bishop stole money that was intended for them, including a nearly $300,000 life insurance payoff after their father's death.

This recent judgment essentially means that Perry's share of his music catalog, which included hits like Tim McGraw's "Not a Moment Too Soon," goes into a trust for the children which will be administered by Perry's 31-year-old son. The catalog is estimated to be valued at about $990,000 with about $440,000 going into the trust and the rest going to his music publishing company and co-writers. Perry's catalog is said to contain nearly 3,000 country music songs.

In addition to this estate litigation case, Perry's children filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Bishop in 2006. This suit was later dropped.

Source: Associated Press "Court feud over estate of songwriter ends in Ohio" 08/01/2010