Cher has filed for a conservatorship of her son Elijah Blue Allman, claiming that he is “substantially unable to manage his financial resources” due to ongoing substance abuse issues.
According to documents filed in Los Angeles Superior Court and obtained by PEOPLE, the singer and actress, is seeking to be the sole conservator of her son’s estate.
Elijah is due to receive assets from a trust before the end of the year, but his mother believes that a conservator is “urgently needed … to protect Elijah’s property from loss or injury” because he is “currently unable to manage his assets due to severe mental health and substance abuse issues.”
The document also states that his estranged wife, Marieangela King, is not fit to be his conservator because “their tumultuous relationship has been marked by a cycle of drug addiction and mental health crises.”
A conservatorship means that Elijah would lose control over his personal and financial decisions, as was the case with Britney Spears, who was under her father’s conservatorship for many years, between 2008 and November 2021.
Elijah, a musician in his own right, has struggled with substance abuse for most of his life, starting from when he was a teenager. He has been addicted to heroin, cocaine, alcohol, and prescription drugs. He has also suffered from depression, anxiety, and suicidal thoughts. He has been in and out of rehab several times, but he says he is now sober and focused on his music and art. He has spoken openly about his experiences with addiction and mental health, hoping to help others who are going through similar challenges.
The filing continues, “Elijah is entitled to regular distributions from the Trust, but given his ongoing mental health and substance abuse issues, [Cher] is concerned that any funds distributed to Elijah will be immediately spent on drugs, leaving Elijah with no assets to provide for himself and putting Elijah’s life at risk.”
The filing concludes by stating that Cher has reportedly “worked tirelessly to get Elijah into treatment and get him the help he needs.”
“[Cher] loves Elijah immensely and has always acted with his best interests in mind,” the filing states, adding that she has been “unable to discuss his preferences concerning the appointment of a temporary conservator” because of his “current mental and physical health issues.”
A rep for Cher did not immediately respond to PEOPLE’s request for comment. A hearing for a temporary order is currently set for Jan. 5, 2024, with the hearing on a permanent order scheduled for March 6, 2024.
