James Tupper claims ex Anne Heche's estate is worth $2M as opposed to son Homer Laffoon's $400K valuation
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: James Tupper, the former partner of Anne Heche, is claiming that the total worth of the late actress's estate is around $2 million, which is five times more than what her son had originally estimated. Tupper is currently engaged in a legal battle with Heche's son, Homer Laffoon, 20, and filed for a new petition last week where he challenged her older son's $400,000 estimated appraisal of his mother's estate.
The 57-year-old 'Big Little Lies' famed actor, on the contrary, values Heche's personal property at $1.6 million and listed the annual gross income from that property at $400,000, according to Daily Mail. He also cited that Laffoon's failure to communicate with his younger brother and Tupper's son, Atlas, 13. He also alleged that Laffoon locked his younger brother out of Heche's home. Tupper is also asking for Jodi Pais Montgomery, Britney Spears's former conservator, to be appointed the 'neutral' administrator.
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Just a few days before Tupper's petition to be made legal guardian of his 13-year-old son was rejected by Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Lee Bogdanoff. The judge also warned Tupper that he was also likely to lose the battle over her estate on the October 11 hearing.
MEAWW previously reported that Laffoon, Heche's son with ex-husband Coleman Laffoon, estimated the value of his mother's personal property to be around $400,000 in total.
He anticipates another $400,000 in annual royalties and residuals. In another setback for Tupper, the judge said he would 'probably' grant Homer Laffoon's motion to be appointed as permanent administrator of his mother's estate.
Tupper filed for legal guardianship which would have kept him in charge of protecting Atlas' interests in court and even challenged the judge's decision to appoint Homer as the administrator of Heche's estate. The 57-year-old shook his head upon hearing the ruling while he stood in the court with his hands stuffed into his blue jeans. Tupper's frustrated gesture triggered Judge Bogdanoff who said, "Don't you shake your head at me – and take your hands out of your pockets!" reported Daily Mail.
The 'Big Little Lies' star replied to the judge, saying, "I don't think his (Atlas) older brother (Homer) is going to look after his interests. He is treating him like an enemy. Their relationship is going to be destroyed forever." Judge Bogdanoff ordered that Atlas to be able to "get into the apartment and get his stuff as quickly as possible", when Christopher Johnson, Tupper's attorney, said Homer was blocking Atlas' access to the apartment he and his mother shared to pick up his belongings. "The brothers have an equal interest in the estate…I'm not seeing a reason to grant a GAL (guardian ad litem) because he (Atlas) and his brother have the same interest in the estate," the judge said while addressing the decisions.
The judge also asked Tupper why he thinks Homer is 'not qualified to become the permanent administrator of Heche's estate. "What is the basis to object?" asked the judge, according to Daily Mail. "We are not here to pick the best person. In California, you can be illiterate and be an administrator." He also alarmed Tupper that it would likely be a "waste of time" by making a formal objection to the impending decision to make Homer a permanent administrator. However, the judge still gave time to file an objection to Tupper's attorney until October 20. He scheduled another hearing on November 30.
New documents revealed that Anne Heche worthed only a fraction of the millions she was believed to have. Homer Laffon, 20, Heche's son who she shared with her previous husband, said he estimated the value of all his mother's personal property to be approximately $400,000 in total. He said he expects another $400,000 annually from royalties and residuals. Homer also revealed Heche lived in an apartment and did not own a house.