Judge Orders Faith Evans to Pay Nearly $14 Million to Voletta Wallace Trust in Biggie Estate Battle
A Delaware court has ordered Faith Evans to immediately disburse nearly $14 million in estate earnings from The Notorious B.I.G. to a trust created by his late mother, Voletta Wallace. The decision concludes a major chapter in a high-stakes legal battle with Biggie's former manager, Wayne Barrow, though additional family litigation remains pending.
A Delaware judge has ordered singer Faith Evans to immediately transfer nearly $14 million from the estate of The Notorious B.I.G. to a trust created by his late mother, Voletta Wallace, following a protracted legal dispute over the late hip-hop icon's financial legacy, according to reporting by The Shade Room.
The ruling was handed down by Delaware Chancellor Kathaleen McCormick, concluding a lawsuit initiated in July by Wayne Barrow, who served as the longtime manager for Christopher Wallace, professionally known as The Notorious B.I.G. Following Voletta Wallace's death on February 21, 2025, Barrow was named the trustee of her estate. According to source reporting, Barrow took legal action against Evans after alleging that the trust was entitled to a 25 percent share of the estate's total earnings, including substantial profits generated from a catalog agreement with Primary Wave.
Evans had resisted the demands in court, arguing that Barrow did not possess the required legal documentation to authorize the release of the funds. However, the Delaware court initially ruled in Barrow's favor in August after officials determined that the trust had completed all necessary filings to secure Voletta Wallace's allocated share. Chancellor McCormick recently clarified the effective timeline of the payments, establishing that the trust's financial entitlement commenced on February 21, 2025—the date of Voletta Wallace's passing—rather than in December 2025.
Under the court's calculation, the estate accrued $12.5 million in profits during that specific window, which must now be paid alongside accumulated interest. Jay Freiberg, an attorney representing Barrow, stated to Billboard that the comprehensive payout is projected to reach approximately $14 million. The court directed that the funds be released directly to Barrow, after which they are scheduled to be routed into the Christopher Wallace Memorial Foundation in alignment with the terms outlined in Voletta Wallace's will.
While the Delaware ruling settles the immediate financial distribution, broader legal conflicts regarding the late rapper's legacy continue to unfold. Christopher Wallace Jr., known as CJ Wallace, has filed a separate lawsuit against Barrow in Pennsylvania contesting the validity of his grandmother's will. According to verified reporting, a prior version of the document designated CJ Wallace and Barrow as co-trustees over the estate. However, an amended document executed only weeks before Voletta Wallace's passing granted Barrow sole authority as trustee.
In court documents, CJ Wallace alleges that Barrow improperly influenced his grandmother into altering the estate arrangement during her final weeks. Barrow has strongly denied those claims and alleged that Evans orchestrated the Pennsylvania legal challenge. Attorneys representing Evans have firmly denied any involvement in initiating that lawsuit. As legal proceedings continue across multiple jurisdictions, the preservation and administration of Christopher Wallace's artistic catalog and multi-million-dollar estate remain under rigorous scrutiny.