A private dispute surrounding the estate of Malcolm-Jamal Warner has spilled into court.
The late actor’s widow, Tenisha Warner, has sued his mother, Pamela Warner, over more than $1.2 million she claims she was promised under a prenuptial agreement.
Filed on the first anniversary of Warner’s sudden death, the case places two of the women closest to him on opposing sides of an increasingly personal estate battle.
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According to The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Tenisha filed the complaint in DeKalb County Superior Court against Pamela, who serves as successor trustee of the Warner Family Trust.
The widow alleges that the agreement required Warner to secure life insurance, provide monthly compensation for her work as his chief of staff, make annual anniversary payments and fund retirement and college accounts.
She claims those obligations remained outstanding when the actor died and is seeking at least $1,276,042, alongside interest and legal fees. The suit also seeks to prevent assets from being distributed while the matter is being litigated.
Warner died aged 54 after an accidental drowning in Costa Rica in July 2025.
In the months that followed, both women publicly celebrated his life. Pamela remembered her son as her “teacher, coach, confidant, business partner, and best friend,” while Tenisha later shared an emotional tribute and launched initiatives intended to carry forward his legacy.
As of writing, Pamela has not publicly responded to the allegations.
