D’Wayne Wiggins’ Family Is Still at War Over His Estate. Here’s How to Keep Yours Out of Court

Tony! Toni! Tone! co-founding member D’Wayne Wiggins‘ family is still embroiled in legal drama over his estate. However, his case is far from unique, and experts advise families prepare their affairs to avoid infighting during the grieving process.

In March 2026, news of the Wiggins family quarrel began making headlines. It all centered on the singer’s daughter Ilahn and her father’s niece, Veleta Savannah, who had allegedly been named as the “trustee” of Wiggins’ $700,000 estate. Per court documents, Ilahn claimed that she and the rest of her father’s kids had been “barred” from entering his home by Savannah and that Savannah withdrew $20,000 from his account without notifying anyone.

Ilahn and her siblings also dispute Savannah’s role in their father’s estate and question whether he genuinely intended to disinherit them. They alleged the will was created while he was receiving end-of-life care and taking heavy medication that may have impacted his mental state. Savannah, however, maintains that he was fully aware of his decisions and intentionally chose to leave his children out of the will. Wiggins died March 7, 2025, in Oakland, of cancer.

Related: Oh No, Not D’Wayne Wiggins of Tony! Toni! Toné!

Fast forward to September 2026, and now a judge has issued a temporary order prohibiting the estate from sending out money from the late singer’s estate, per TMZ. This means any donations to his foundation, scholarships, or other grants to third parties must cease until the court settles who controls the estate.

Savannah continued to push back on the narrative that Wiggins was not of sound mind when he changed his will. She alleged that the “Feels Good” singer passed an evaluation by a doctor who concluded that he “did not need assistance with managing his finances or similar aspects of his life.”

Additionally, this is the third such story to garner attention in recent months that highlights how families can get torn apart over wills and money in the wake of a loved one’s death. Whether it’s Chadwick Boseman, Malcolm-Jamal Warner, or D’Wayne Wiggins, it’s clear that trying to finalize affairs can be tricky.

That’s why law firm Fox Rothschild suggests three major tips that could help prevent problems and squabbles on the back end of a death. At the top of their list is to communicate clearly through a well-drafted estate plan that states the deceased’s intentions, especially if assets are being divided unequally.

Next, they suggest documenting all decisions with a detailed note to your attorney, so that they know the reasoning and pertinent context behind the deceased’s decisions. Last but not least, they advise people to “consider deterrents,” which include a no-contest clause, which provides that a beneficiary who unsuccessfully challenges the will forfeits their inheritance. They also advise hiring a professional attorney so the estate is handled properly.