A Delaware judge has ordered Faith Evans to pay $12,518,336 from the Notorious B.I.G. estate to the Voletta Wallace Revocable Trust, the trust of the late rapper mother Voletta Wallace. Delaware Court of Chancery Chancellor Kathaleen St. J. McCormick issued the order on Tuesday, October 27, 2026. With prejudgment interest at Delaware statutory rate compounded quarterly, the total comes to nearly $14 million. The money is tied to Voletta Wallace 25 percent share of Notorious B.I.G. LLC, a company Evans and Voletta formed in 2007 to manage the late rapper intellectual property.
Faith Evans, 53, is the widow of Christopher Wallace, the Notorious B.I.G., who was killed in 1997. Evans had argued the trust was owed only $48,612, counting from December 2025 when the trust was formally admitted as a member of the company. The judge rejected that reading. She ruled that all economic rights tied to Voletta member interest transferred to her estate when she died on February 21, 2025, so the trust is owed the full share of profits from that date.
Quick Facts
| Detail | What we know |
|---|---|
| Who was ordered to pay | Faith Evans, 53, R and B singer and widow of the Notorious B.I.G. |
| Amount ordered | $12,518,336 to the Voletta Wallace Revocable Trust |
| Total with interest | Nearly $14 million, with prejudgment interest at Delaware statutory rate compounded quarterly |
| Judge | Delaware Court of Chancery Chancellor Kathaleen St. J. McCormick |
| Date of ruling | Tuesday, October 27, 2026 |
| Who the trust benefits | The estate of Voletta Wallace, mother of the Notorious B.I.G., who died February 21, 2025 |
| Company at issue | Notorious B.I.G. LLC, formed in 2007 by Evans and Voletta Wallace |
| Voletta share | 25 percent of Notorious B.I.G. LLC |
| Profit period covered | February to December 2025, including money from a catalog deal with Primary Wave Music |
| Amount Evans argued was owed | $48,612, counted from December 2025 |
| Payment deadline reported | November 10, for the LLC to pay the trust more than $14 million including interest |
| Where the money goes next | Under Voletta will, to the Christopher Wallace Memorial Foundation |
What the Judge Decided
The core question was simple: when did the Voletta Wallace Revocable Trust become entitled to its share of the company profits. Evans argued the answer was December 2025, when the trust was formally admitted as a member of Notorious B.I.G. LLC. Under that reading, the trust was owed only $48,612, a small sum compared with the profits the company had earned during the year.
Chancellor Kathaleen St. J. McCormick ruled the other way. She held that the trust is entitled to distributions made as of the date of Voletta death, because all economic rights tied to her member interest transferred to her estate when she died. Voletta Wallace died on February 21, 2025, so the trust claim starts in February 2025, not December 2025, and it covers almost a full year of profits rather than a few weeks. The difference between those two dates is the difference between $48,612 and $12,518,336.
The Company, the Catalog Deal, and the Money
Notorious B.I.G. LLC was formed in 2007 by Faith Evans and Voletta Wallace to manage the late rapper intellectual property. That includes the music, the name and likeness rights, and other assets tied to the career of Christopher Wallace, who was killed in 1997. The company is the vehicle through which income from that legacy is collected and shared, and Voletta Wallace held a 25 percent share of it.
The profits at issue covered February to December 2025, a period of about ten months, and they include money from a catalog deal with Primary Wave Music. Catalog deals can bring in a large amount of cash in a short period, and the way that cash is divided among the owners becomes very important. A 25 percent share means a quarter of the profits that belong to the members, and when the company earns a large sum, even a quarter share can be worth millions. Evans has run the company alone as sole manager since Voletta death.
Who Brought the Case and Why
The lawsuit was filed in July 2025 by Wayne Barrow, Biggie former manager and trustee of Voletta estate. Barrow brought the case on behalf of the estate after Voletta died in February 2025. His role as trustee means he is responsible for carrying out her wishes and for protecting the assets that pass through her estate, including her share of the company.
Barrow lawyer said Evans was ordered to have the LLC pay the trust more than $14 million including interest by November 10. That deadline is short, which shows that the judge expects the payment to be made promptly rather than left for a long negotiation. The judge also told Barrow to submit a final proposed order within 20 days of the October 27 ruling, which is the formal step that turns the decision into a final written order. Under Voletta will, the money is directed to the Christopher Wallace Memorial Foundation.
Faith Evans, Voletta Wallace, and a Shared Legacy
Faith Evans was married to Christopher Wallace, the Notorious B.I.G., and she has been part of his story since his life and after his death. She is a singer in her own right, and she has also been involved in managing his legacy through the company she formed with his mother. That shared role put Evans and Voletta Wallace in business together for many years, even as they were also family.
Voletta Wallace was the mother of the Notorious B.I.G., and she was a central figure in keeping his memory alive after he was killed in 1997. She helped form the company in 2007, and she held a 25 percent share that reflected her stake in the legacy. Her death on February 21, 2025, at a time when the company was earning significant income, is what set this dispute in motion. Evans family life has also been in the public eye, including her children, such as Chyna Tahjere Griffin, Faith Evans daughter and Ryder Evan Russaw, Faith Evans youngest child.
What the Ruling Means for Music Estates
The Delaware ruling will be read closely by others who manage music estates, because it sets out a clear rule about what happens to a member interest when a member dies. The judge said the economic rights transfer to the estate at death, not at the later date when the trust is formally admitted as a member. That is a practical point for anyone who holds a share in a company with a partner or a family member.
Music estates are different from many other estates because the assets keep earning income long after the artist dies. Songs are streamed, licensed for film and television, and sold in catalog deals, so the income can be very large and can arrive in uneven amounts. The way that income is divided matters a great deal, and the timing of when a share passes to an estate can change the amount by millions, as this case shows. The gap between February and December 2025 is about ten months, but it is worth more than $12 million here.
What Happens Next
The immediate next steps are procedural but important. The judge told Barrow to submit a final proposed order within 20 days of the October 27 ruling, which will put the decision in final written form and set out the exact payment terms. Barrow lawyer said Evans was ordered to have the LLC pay the trust more than $14 million including interest by November 10, a tight deadline for a payment of that size.
There is also a separate lawsuit in Pennsylvania by Biggie son Christopher “CJ” Wallace Jr., who contests changes to his grandmother will. That case is distinct from the Delaware case, and it involves a different court and a different question about the will itself. It shows that a single legacy can give rise to several different legal questions, each with its own timeline. For readers following the story, the key dates are clear: Voletta died February 21, 2025, the lawsuit was filed in July 2025, the judge ruled October 27, 2026, and the payment is reported due by November 10.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much must Faith Evans pay?
The judge ordered Evans to pay $12,518,336 from the Notorious B.I.G. estate to the Voletta Wallace Revocable Trust. With prejudgment interest at Delaware statutory rate compounded quarterly, the total comes to nearly $14 million.
Why was the amount so much larger than Evans argued?
Evans argued the trust was owed only $48,612, counting from December 2025 when the trust was formally admitted as a member. The judge ruled the trust is entitled to distributions made as of Voletta death, February 21, 2025, because all economic rights tied to her member interest transferred to her estate when she died.
Where does the money come from?
The money is tied to Voletta Wallace 25 percent share of Notorious B.I.G. LLC, a company Evans and Voletta formed in 2007. The profits covered February to December 2025 and include money from a catalog deal with Primary Wave Music.
Where will the money go?
Under Voletta will, the money is directed to the Christopher Wallace Memorial Foundation. The trust exists to carry out that plan after her death.
Sources
- People: Faith Evans liable to pay trust of Notorious B.I.G. late mom Voletta
- Digital Music News: Judge awards Biggie mother trust fund
- The Pop Radar: Faith Evans 12.5 million Biggie estate
Final Thoughts
The Delaware ruling is a clear decision on a narrow question with a large price tag. The judge held that Voletta Wallace economic rights passed to her estate when she died on February 21, 2025, not months later when the trust was formally admitted as a member. That single timing point turns a $48,612 claim into a $12,518,336 award, and with interest into nearly $14 million. It is a reminder that in estate cases, dates matter as much as dollars, and that the money Voletta directed to the Christopher Wallace Memorial Foundation will now be paid as her will intended.
