The legal drama surrounding the late Malcolm-Jamal Warner’s estate continues. Tenisha Warner, the widow of the beloved Cosby Show star, is opening up about her ongoing battle against the actor’s mother, Pamela Warner.
Following the news of her filing in California’s Superior Court, Tenisha released a statement to PEOPLE on Tuesday, June 21, addressing the difficult situation.
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“For the last year, I have attempted to privately settle my beloved husband’s complicated estate and honor his last wishes,” she said.
Tenisha explained that the actor had been working to update his affairs before his tragic, accidental drowning in Costa Rica on July 20, 2025, at age 54.
“Malcolm had every intention to provide for our 9-year-old daughter and me,” Tenisha said. “He was close to finalizing a new estate plan to replace the stale plan created in 1996 when he was 26 years old, 20 years before we met and well before we gave birth to our beautiful daughter.”
RELATED: Malcolm-Jamal Warner Passes Away At 54
She noted that, heartbreakingly, Malcolm was “unable to do so before we lost him.”
As she navigates this challenging time, Tenisha is focused on securing the future for their child.
“I have been struggling to care for our daughter as a single mom and now as her sole provider,” Tenisha continued. “Legally, I had no choice but to take action to protect our rights before any potential statute of limitations expired. We thank you for your support, love and understanding as we work through this painful process while honoring Malcolm’s life on the first anniversary of his death.”
According to reports from the Atlanta Journal-Constitution and TMZ, Tenisha’s legal action involves claims that she and the actor signed a premarital agreement in May 2022, which included a $1 million life insurance policy naming her as the sole beneficiary—a policy she alleges he failed to secure.
With Pamela Warner currently serving as the successor trustee of the Warner Family Trust, Tenisha is requesting that the trust cover the alleged debts, arguing that the estate itself “will be inadequate to satisfy” the costs. Court documents obtained by PEOPLE reveal that Tenisha claims she is owed $1,276,042.46, a figure that includes the $1 million life insurance obligation.