Gary Coleman’s Real Will Surfaces

Contrary to earlier reports, Gary Coleman’s parents will not be petitioning the Probate Court or fighting with Shannon Price over where to bury the actor.

A Salt Lake City attorney, Kent B. Alderman, came forward on Friday, June 4, 2010, saying he has the real Last Will and Testament of Gary Coleman and was retained by the person named in it to be the executor. The name of the executor is Dion Mial, who is a friend and former manager of Gary Coleman.

Alderman is not, however, the person who revealed the executor’s name, according to the Associated Press.

Frederick Jackman, an attorney for Gary Coleman’s parents, revealed the executor’s name and also said in a statement that the parents of the Diff’rent Strokes” actor will no longer be pursuing any claims:

“The Colemans will not be filing for Formal Probate,” Jackman said in a statement. “From the start, Mr. and Mrs. Coleman’s intention has been to see that Gary’s wishes be honored and that his affairs be taken care of properly. They wanted to do things the right way, and they urge those still involved to do the same. The Colemans ask that everyone please treat Gary with respect and kindness. They feel it is time for him to find peace and let his spirit go.”

Dion Mial’s attorney also said that he has seen the Will and plans to file it in the 4th District Court in Provo as probate sometime next week: “We will proffer it to the court as the only known last will and testament of Gary Coleman, and if somebody has a more recent will then certainly they are welcome to come forward with what they have,” he said. “To the extent of what I’ve seen, it looks like a valid will.”
Shielia Erickson, current spokesperson for Shannon Price, and Ms. Price herself were apparently both informed of the existence of the Will. Although Ms. Erickson had indicated that there is a will that gives Shannon price control of Gary Coleman’s estate and sets forth his wishes to be buried in Utah, Alderman says the document does list Coleman’s heirs, but they do not include Shannon Price or Coleman’s parents, Willie and Sue.

Todd Bridges, who played Willis on “Diff’rent Strokes” recently told “Entertainment Tonight” that he has seen other documents that set forth Gary Coleman’s final wishes.

“We have paperwork, and we will bring it out soon that will show what his wishes were and what he wanted,” Todd Bridges said, adding: “After we bring this paperwork out, everybody’s going to shut up.”

But according to Alderman, the papers he has do not specify where Gary Coleman wanted to be laid to rest and that decision will be decided by the executor. Gary Coleman’s body is still in a Salt Lake County mortuary awaiting its final resting place, until it can be proved who really has the authority to bury him.

Wow, remember when James Brown died? The fight over where to bury him went on for over two months! He died on Christmas Day four years ago and they put his body in a in a temperature-controlled room at his estate. It was then moved while Brown’s children and wife fought over the final resting place. More than ten weeks after Brown’s death, they finally agreed on temporary site and he was placed in a crypt on March 10, 2007 in a crypt at the home of one of his daughters. Then they decided to build a public mausoleum which was supposed to be on his estate to turn it into an attraction like Graceland. We’ll have to look that up sometime and find out what happened after that.

Gary Coleman Death Photos, Secret Pension
Gary Coleman’s Will Online
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