Following the tragic news of beloved actor John Amos’ death in August, attention has turned to what will happen with his estate amid a complex family drama involving allegations of elder abuse.
The worth of Amos’ estate has not been made public, but there are estimates that it is between $300,000 and $3 million.
John’s son, Kelly Christopher “K.C.” Amos, was taking care of him at the time of his passing, while his daughter, Shannon Amos, was estranged, having accused K.C. of elder abuse and filed a no-contact order against him for what she claimed were her brother’s threats against her.
A no-contact order, also known as an order of protection or restraining order, is a court order that prohibits someone from contacting another person in any way. This includes physical contact, phone calls, text messages, emails, social media, and contacting the victim through third parties.
In June 2023, Shannon publicly accused her K.C. of “elder abuse and financial exploitation” through an Instagram post. She claimed that K.C. had taken John out of the necessary medical care and transferred him from the facility where he had been living. Shannon also launched a GoFundMe campaign, seeking to raise $500,000 for John’s care.
John disputed Shannon’s accusations, calling for the GoFundMe to be removed and alleging that Shannon, not K.C., had committed elder abuse.
According to the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention, elder abuse as “an intentional act or failure to act that causes or creates a risk of harm to an older adult” (age 60 or older). It can include physical abuse, emotional/psychological abuse, sexual abuse, financial exploitation, neglect, and abandonment. Perpetrators can include children, other relatives, spouses, as well as staff members at nursing homes, assisted living centers, and similar facilities.
Data from the National Center on Elder Abuse resource line revealed that family members were the perpetrators in nearly 47 percent of incidents.
With conflicting accusations between John and his children regarding abuse, questions have arisen about how his estate will be divided and whether legal disputes are on the horizon. Estate and probate attorneys Jonathan Forster and Marc M. Stern, speaking exclusively to People, had insight into what could unfold.
Did John Amos Have a Trust?
For high-profile individuals like John Amos, it’s common to have a trust rather than a will, according to Forster and Stern. Unlike a will, which is public and goes through probate, a trust keeps estate details private. This privacy is something many celebrities seek.
“When you when you die without a trust, you have to go through probate, and probate is a court-supervised transfer of assets, and that’s a public administration,” Forster explained to People. “So most celebrities do not want their estate to go through probate for privacy concerns, and if they have a trust, then the trustee named in their trust would be responsible for all of that.”
Stern adds that the trustee of John’s trust — whether a family member, business associate, or a financial institution — would be responsible for ensuring the distribution of assets. While K.C. and Shannon may be beneficiaries, the role of trustee could determine how much direct interaction the siblings have in managing the estate, especially given their no-contact order.
Shannon Says There Was a Will
Shannon reportedly believes her father had a will and it was changed without the family’s knowledge, according to The Daily Mail. Shannon accuses her brother K.C., along with Amos’ publicist Belinda Foster and Eugene Brummett, of isolating their father and altering his will. Foster disputes these claims, asserting she had a close relationship with Amos and cared for him alongside K.C. Shannon plans to seek a police investigation, alleging elder abuse, and mismanagement of Amos’ care.
No-Contact Order Complications
Shannon’s no-contact order against K.C. complicates matters further, especially if either of them is named a trustee. If one or both children serve as trustees, they would need to navigate legal measures to communicate without violating the order.
“If they were serving together as trustees and they have a no-contact order, they would have to figure out how to manage this situation,” Forster said to People.
Even if a third party is named trustee, potential disputes could arise, particularly given the family’s history of legal battles.
The Impact of Elder Abuse Allegations
Shannon previously accused K.C. of financial exploitation and elder abuse, a serious claim that could have a lasting effect on the estate’s legal proceedings, according to experts. John, however, publicly denied these accusations and instead accused Shannon of being the abuser.
“[It’s] most likely one of those two, maybe both of them together,” Stern said to People. “It’s not uncommon for someone to say both of my children together, or all of my children together, are trustees or executors. So it’s altogether possible but it’s not a certainty.”
“He could have named his business manager as the executor, and then the business manager would need to divide things up, and the two beneficiaries would not necessarily need to talk together,” he added
Why Was Death Announcement Delayed
Perhaps the most puzzling aspect of the case is the delayed announcement of John’s death. K.C. revealed in early October that his father had died in August. This delay, which kept Shannon and other family members in the dark, they have claimed, has sparked speculation about the circumstances surrounding John’s death and his final wishes.
John’s publicist, Belinda Foster, however, defended the decision, citing the no-contact order as the primary reason K.C. did not inform Shannon of John’s passing.
What’s Next?
The future of John Amos’ estate remains uncertain, but what is clear is that the path ahead may involve court rulings and legal disputes.
Things could be complicated if John’s beneficiaries are K.C. and Shannon.
The back-and-forth accusations could make things complicated. ““For example, if the daughter is accusing the son of stealing from dad, she may bring actions in connection with the distribution of his estate that the son was diverting assets, or using assets for his own purpose, or stealing from him, or whatever it may be,” Stern explained to People. “It is entirely possible that [based on] these actions, that this is being set up to challenge some aspect of the estate.”