A Delaware judge on Oct. 27 ruled that singer Faith Evans must pay $12,518,336, plus interest, to the Voletta Wallace Revocable Trust, the estate of the late mother of the late rapper The Notorious B.I.G. The decision was delivered by Judge Kathaleen St. J. McCormick of the Delaware Court of Chancery, rejecting Evans’ bid to cap the judgment at $48,612.
Key facts of the ruling
- The judgment totals $12.5 million, covering past distributions made to Notorious B.I.G., LLC, the entity that manages the rapper’s intellectual property.
- The court affirmed that the trust became a member of Notorious B.I.G., LLC on Dec. 12, 2025, when Wayne Barrow signed a written consent granting membership rights.
- Pre‑judgment interest will be calculated from the dates each distribution was made, compounded quarterly at the statutory rate.
- Judge McCormick gave Barrow 20 days to file a final order reflecting the judgment.
- A separate Pennsylvania lawsuit challenging Barrow’s appointment as executor remains unresolved.
What did the Delaware judge decide?
Judge McCormick concluded that the economic rights attached to Voletta Wallace’s units now belong to the trust. She noted that Wayne Barrow, acting on behalf of the trust, holds Letters Testamentary issued on Apr. 21, 2025, making him the sole executor of the estate. Under Pennsylvania law, actions taken in good faith by a personal representative cannot be undone by later revocation of letters or probate of a later will.
Why was Evans’ request denied?
Evans’ legal team argued that the court should limit the payout to a modest $48,612, citing pending Pennsylvania proceedings that might affect the trust’s entitlement. The judge found that those proceedings would not invalidate Barrow’s good‑faith actions or alter the trust’s right to the distributions earned before Voletta Wallace’s death.
How does the trust’s membership affect the payout?
The court held that because the trust became a member of Notorious B.I.G., LLC on Dec. 12, 2025, it is entitled to all distributions made from that date forward, not just the smaller amount Evans sought. Consequently, the trust also receives prejudgment interest on each distribution, calculated from the payment date.
What is the status of the Pennsylvania case?
While the Delaware judgment secures the trust’s claim to the disputed funds, the Pennsylvania lawsuit filed by Christopher “CJ” Wallace – the rapper’s son – continues. CJ alleges that Barrow manipulated his grandmother, Voletta Wallace, into granting him sole executorship shortly before her death in Feb. 2025. Barrow denies the allegation and says the suit is being driven by Evans, a claim Evans’ lawyers reject.
Background of the dispute
The conflict stems from Evans’ refusal to release proceeds earned by Notorious B.I.G., LLC, including a partnership with Primary Wave announced in Mar. 2025 that exploits the rapper’s name, image, and likeness. The estate’s internal dynamics shifted when Voletta Wallace’s original will named both CJ and Barrow as co‑trustees, but a revised version signed weeks before her death gave Barrow sole control.
Personal history
Faith Evans and Christopher Wallace married on Aug. 4, 1994, just eight days after meeting at a Bad Boy Records photoshoot. The couple’s marriage ended after Wallace’s death in a drive‑by shooting in Los Angeles on Mar. 9, 1997, when he was 24 years old.
The Delaware ruling solidifies the trust’s entitlement to past and future royalties, while the Pennsylvania challenge to Barrow’s executorship remains an open legal battle.