Biggie estate: judge rules Faith Evans' company owes $12.5 million to Voletta Wallace's trust

The essentials: A Delaware judge ruled on Tuesday, October 27, 2026, that Notorious B.I.G. LLC, the company managed by singer Faith Evans, owes $12,518,336 to the trust of Voletta Wallace, the rapper’s mother, who died in February 2025. Interest is added on top, which could bring the total close to $14 million. Evans and the company had argued that the trust was owed only $48,612.

What did the court decide?

Chancellor Kathaleen St. J. McCormick of the Delaware Court of Chancery ruled that the Voletta Wallace Revocable Trust is entitled to $12,518,336 in distributions from Notorious B.I.G. LLC, according to Law Commentary and HotNewHipHop. Interest runs from the date of each distribution at Delaware’s statutory rate, compounded quarterly, Law Commentary reports. The judge also directed that the money be paid to the trust rather than held by the court.

HotNewHipHop, citing Billboard, reports that Wayne Barrow’s lawyer, Jay Freiberg, expects the total with interest to approach $14 million.

Why did the amounts differ so much?

The dispute was about timing. Voletta Wallace died on February 21, 2025. Her trust only formally became a member of the company on December 12, 2025, according to HotNewHipHop. Evans and the company argued that only distributions made after that date should count, which would have left the trust with $48,612.

The judge disagreed. “The Trust is entitled to distributions made as of the date of Ms. Wallace’s death,” she wrote, as quoted by Hot 97.

Date	Event
2007	Faith Evans and Voletta Wallace set up Notorious B.I.G. LLC
February 21, 2025	Death of Voletta Wallace
March, June and September 2025	Three distributions of $4 million each
July 2025	Wayne Barrow sues in Delaware
December 2025	Distribution of about $470,000; the trust formally joins the company
August 2026	The court recognizes Barrow’s authority to act for the trust
October 27, 2026	Ruling: $12,518,336 plus interest owed to the trust

Sources: Law Commentary, HotNewHipHop.

How is the Notorious B.I.G.’s estate organized?

Notorious B.I.G. LLC was created in 2007 by Faith Evans, the rapper’s widow, and Voletta Wallace to manage his assets and intellectual property. According to HotNewHipHop, the two women each received 25% of distributions, and the rest was split equally between the rapper’s children, T’yanna Wallace and Christopher Jordan “CJ” Wallace. Law Commentary specifies that Wallace and Evans each held 50% of the company.

The money at stake comes from earnings generated after Voletta Wallace’s death, including revenue linked to the catalog. HotNewHipHop connects the dispute to the 2025 purchase by Primary Wave of a large stake in the rapper’s catalog and related rights.

Who is Wayne Barrow?

Wayne Barrow is the Notorious B.I.G.’s former manager. Shortly before her death, Voletta Wallace changed her estate documents and placed Barrow in sole control of her assets, Law Commentary reports. He sued Evans in July 2025 after she refused to recognize his authority. In August 2026, the judge confirmed that he could exercise the trust’s rights in the company.

What about CJ Wallace’s challenge?

CJ Wallace, the son of Faith Evans and the rapper, is contesting in Pennsylvania the changes his grandmother made to her estate documents 15 days before she died. He alleges that Barrow improperly influenced her, which Barrow denies, according to HotNewHipHop.

Evans and the company had asked for the disputed money to be deposited with the Delaware court until the Pennsylvania case is resolved. The judge refused, finding that the Pennsylvania challenge does not affect the trust’s right to the distributions, Law Commentary reports. The two cases remain separate.

What happens next?

Barrow must submit a proposed final order within 20 days of the October 27 ruling. Evans’ lawyer declined to comment, according to HotNewHipHop, and Hot 97 reports that her attorneys have not said whether they plan to appeal.