Legal

Dolly Parton was in the process of handling her late husband Carl Dean's estate when she passed away ... TMZ has learned.

TMZ obtained court docs filed by Dolly in May 2025, two months after Carl died at the age of 82. According to the filing, Carl signed a will in 2012, which essentially put the country star in charge of his estate.

Carl's will said he was married to Dolly, and they had no children. The paperwork said Carl had five nieces and nephews, while Dolly had 14 nieces and nephews.

Suge Knight is making a bombshell claim amid the Tupac Shakur murder trial ... saying Duane "Keffe D" Davis' lawyers offered him up to $1 million to say Keefe wasn't in the car that allegedly shot up Tupac.

Suge joined us on "TMZ Live" Tuesday from prison and said he refused the alleged offer ... insisting his loyalty to Tupac "can't be compromised."

The Death Row founder also took aim at The Game ... pushing back on the rapper's recent claim that Keffe D is being used as a scapegoat.

The wife of actor Samuel Monroe Jr. is livid that his mother is apparently trying to get the court to cut her out of the picture while he's debilitated in the hospital ... and she says she's ready to go to war.

Shawna Stewart tells TMZ she believes Joyce Patton's petition asking to establish a conservatorship for her son is financially motivated -- and not about Sam's well-being.

The actor's wife says Sam made it clear he wanted her in charge of his money and medical decisions ... and not his mother.

As for Joyce questioning whether the couple is legally married ... Shawna won't share proof with TMZ -- but says his mom is in for a surprise.

Khloe Kardashian's close friend Khadijah Haqq claims she is struggling to make ends meet amid her bitter divorce from her ex, Bobby McCray, and she's relying on her friends for financial help.

TMZ obtained the declaration Khadijah filed as she asks the court to award her child and spousal support. The reality star revealed she was paid $25K per episode for the Hulu reality show "The Girls" for a total of $150K, which was produced by Khloe.

In her filing, Khadijah claims she lived a good life while married to the former NFL player and never worried about bills. She said they often went on family vacations, ate out at restaurants, did not use credit cards, and rented luxury homes.

McKenna West's baby Gabriel's health is declining days after his complex heart surgery … and he is in critical condition. 

According to court docs obtained by TMZ, Nausheen Gilkar and Omar Ahmed, the biological parents who are battling McKenna over custody of the boy, claim the newborn they call "Rumi" underwent a complex open-heart surgery called the Norwood Procedure.

They say in the last 24 hours, "Serious medical developments have arisen that impact the health and safety of the child. The child is in critical condition and being closely monitored at the hospital."

Austin Metcalf's father says Karmelo Anthony might be the one in jail, but it's the Metcalf family that's serving a life sentence.

Jeff Metcalf sat down for an interview with "Good Morning America" ... and he was asked if he feels he and his family ultimately got justice after Karmelo was found guilty and sentenced to 35 years behind bars for stabbing Austin to death.

He says he doesn't feel the family got real justice in the case ... because he, his wife Meghan, and their other son Hunter all got metaphorical life sentences after Austin was killed.

The New York State Department of Health says it is taking a closer look at allegations involving doctors connected to Jeffrey Epstein, telling us the claims raised in recent media reports are "deeply troubling" and warrant review.

A spokesperson for the New York State Department of Health tells TMZ the agency cannot discuss details of ongoing investigations but says officials are taking the allegations seriously.

The spokesperson added that the department "condemns any abuse by medical staff and any abuse of a physician's role that undermines patient trust and safety, including any predatory or unlawful behavior."

Jed York allegedly arranging to pay a prostitute $140 for sex in a trailer park ended up costing him $1,150 in fines after his arrest ... and it looks like the San Francisco 49ers' Chief Security Officer paid his boss' court fees.

According to online records, someone named "D Cory" paid Jed's fees after he pleaded no contest to a couple of misdemeanors in Ohio.

"D Cory" appears to be Dan Cory ... the CEO of Nickel Group, a security and risk management firm that protects San Francisco 49ers executives and team members. Dan's LinkedIn says he's the Chief Security Officer for the 49ers ... and the team announced last August it was hiring his firm.

San Francisco 49ers owner Jed York allegedly had been prostitute-probing for days before his big bust ... because police say he reached out to a prostitution ad multiple times -- and used fake names to conceal his billionaire status.

In a police report obtained by TMZ ... Jed allegedly reached out to a fake ad for a hooker a couple of times on Saturday, trying to score some company ... and then did again on Sunday morning -- which led to him being popped near a trailer park. California Post was first to report.

The Mahoning Valley Law Enforcement Task Force says Jed used the alias "Joe," asked for an address, and agreed to pay for full-service sexual activity ... before he was ultimately arrested for engaging in prostitution.

Sidney Starr was denied bond in her child molestation and sodomy case in Georgia.

The state had recommended a no-bond status for the "Love & Hip Hop" alum, who has been charged with sodomy, sexual battery against a child under 16, and aggravated child molestation.

The alleged victim's mother spoke in court, telling the judge her son needs "intensive therapy" in order to heal from the alleged assault ... according to multiple reports.

Khadijah Haqq McCray is on the hunt for child and spousal support 2 years after her split from husband Bobby McCray ... and says her Hulu salary from her recent reality show isn't cutting it.

The 'Girls' star headed to court in Los Angeles Monday and filed docs -- obtained by TMZ -- requesting her estranged husband help her out with expenses for their 3 kids -- Christian, Celine, and Kapri -- who she says she's been taking care of since their separation.

She laid it all out for the court ... explaining Bobby rakes in roughly $18,600 per month in disability, annuity, and related Social Security payments following his retirement from the NFL. Plus, she claims he has an NFL 401K valued at over $765,000.

Khadijah says her financial situation is not as steady.

"The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills" star Erika Jayne is being put on notice by the court handling her divorce from her estranged husband, Tom Girardi ... wrap up the case, or it gets thrown out.

According to new legal docs, obtained by TMZ, a hearing was set for early next year, where Erika and Tom were ordered to appear in court and give a good reason for what's taking so long with the divorce.

The parties were warned to explain why the case has been stalled for years … and if it's not convincing, the case will be dismissed with no final judgment.

Brenda Dickson just scored a victory in court ... a judge just tossed the case tied to the alleged altercation that landed the former soap star in handcuffs.

As TMZ previously reported ... "The Young and the Restless" alum was arrested for misdemeanor battery in July after cops were called to a Hollywood property over an alleged assault. Brenda told us she was falsely arrested.

At the time, it wasn't clear who Brenda allegedly hit or what led up to the arrest ... but new court docs in a related request for a civil harassment restraining order obtained by TMZ fill in some of those blanks.

Ghislaine Maxwell just struck out in her latest bid to get out of prison ... with a federal judge absolutely shredding her arguments.

According to court docs obtained by TMZ, Judge Paul Engelmayer denied Maxwell's request to toss her sex trafficking conviction and 20-year prison sentence ... calling her claims "demonstrably meritless."

And the judge didn't stop there.

The Vanity Fair reporter who went viral for her unsettling grin and wink during the Lindsay Clancy murder trial has an explanation for her expressions ... and it's unusual.

Here's the deal ... Brittany Romano stole the show Monday, when a camera panning the courtroom caught her in the front row of the gallery ... she mugged for the camera, with a smile meant for a horror flick ... and she added a wink for good measure.

A streamer caught up with Brittany in the parking lot and asked her why the heck she was grinning ear-to-ear in a setting that was anything but joyful.

Her answer ... she "grew up with Lindsay" ... and also she was mugging for her dad.

Alex Pretti's family says no one has given them the complete truth about his fatal shooting ... and they believe officials spent more time vilifying him than investigating his death.

The 37-year-old ICU nurse's parents told "Good Morning America" Tuesday they're speaking out now because they want justice and accountability -- seven months after two federal immigration officers shot and killed him in Minneapolis.

Alex's father, Michael, says the videos speak for themselves ... but the family still wants all the facts.

His mother, Susan, added ... "My shock is that he was murdered and no one has given us the complete truth or anyone has been held accountable."