Cher won a procedural victory in her conservatorship battle when a Los Angeles judge continued the case after her son failed to appear.
Elijah Blue Allman, 50, was absent from the Sept. 1 hearing before Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Jessica A. Uzcategui, neither showing up in person nor joining remotely. His on-again, off-again wife, Marieangela King, did appear in the courtroom to support him.
The judge noted that Allman had previously expressed a desire to represent himself. “At the last hearing Mr. Elijah Allman advised the court that he wished to represent himself. The court did advise Mr. Allman that that was not possible and that he did need an attorney. I did order Mr. [Steven] Brumer to appear today and the court sent notice to Mr. Brumer to appear today as well as advising Mr. Brumer that if he did not appear today, that the court would reappoint council for Mr. Allman.”
“Mr. Brumer is not here today, Mr. Allman is not here today, I am going to reappoint council,” she continued.
“And then because we do not have Mr. Allman or a representative on his behalf here today, I am simply going to continue this matter,” Uzcategui added. “He is entitled to have someone here for today’s hearing.”
The judge scheduled the next hearing for Dec. 1, which also happens to be Allman and King’s wedding anniversary from their 2013 marriage.
The California proceedings are now intertwined with a separate guardianship case unfolding in New Hampshire. Cher, 80, filed a supplemental request on Aug. 28 asking the Los Angeles court to pause her conservatorship petition for approximately 120 days while the New Hampshire matter plays out.
That filing revealed New Hampshire State Hospital initiated guardianship proceedings for Elijah on July 7, covering both his person and estate. Cher sought to have his half-brothers Chaz Bono and Devon Allman appointed as guardians.
Cher’s attorneys indicated the New Hampshire court had already determined a guardianship was appropriate, with the remaining dispute centered on who should serve as guardian, including whether King could or should take that role. The filing stated there was “no longer a dispute” over whether Elijah needs a guardianship.
If the New Hampshire guardianship becomes permanent and provides adequate protection, Cher’s team indicated she may dismiss the California petition entirely. However, if the arrangement proves temporary or Elijah is permitted to leave New Hampshire, Cher intends to continue pursuing the California conservatorship “for his protection.”
King filed a formal objection to Cher’s petition in July, arguing a California conservatorship is unnecessary and asking the court to dismiss or stay the case. She claimed Elijah has remained in New Hampshire since before February and that his current treatment, court supervision and professionally managed trust already provide sufficient safeguards.
Alternatively, King asked that she be appointed conservator if the court determines one is necessary.
Cher’s team fired back sharply, arguing King is “unfit to serve as conservator.” Her attorneys alleged King had been estranged from Elijah and in the process of divorcing him during his struggles, and claimed she failed to assist despite repeated requests from Kayti Pease, who had been helping care for him.
The filing further accused King of seeing “a financial opportunity to control his income” and attempting to reinsert herself into Elijah’s life following his detention in New Hampshire. Cher’s attorneys also claimed Elijah has refused to meet with King on three occasions while at New Hampshire State Hospital.
New Hampshire State Hospital and the rest of Elijah’s family remain “adamantly opposed” to King serving as guardian, according to Cher’s filing, citing her prior estrangement and alleging the family believes she is seeking money and/or attention.
King’s earlier objection included a New Hampshire order stating a guardianship petition involving Bono and Devon had been granted on July 17, subject to both men posting $10,000 fiduciary bonds. A July 20 notice stated Bono’s bond had been approved, while Devon still needed to submit a signed fiduciary bond form.
King claimed she was not given notice of the New Hampshire proceedings and said the matter was placed in abeyance after she raised the issue so she could have an opportunity to be heard.
Cher’s newest filing indicates a future New Hampshire hearing will determine whether King can or should serve as guardian, leaving the ultimate identity of Elijah’s guardian unresolved.
The conservatorship push stems from Cher’s years-long concerns about her son’s mental health, substance abuse and financial management. According to previously filed court documents, she has argued a conservator is needed to protect approximately $120,000 in annual trust distributions Elijah receives from the estate of his late father, Gregg Allman.
Cher has alleged her son is “gravely disabled,” that his condition had “significantly deteriorated” since she first sought a conservatorship in 2023, and claimed he routinely exhausted trust distributions shortly after receiving them. She further alleged Elijah’s “drug dependency is at its worst” and that his mental health struggles have contributed to financial mismanagement and behavior placing his assets at risk.
The court previously authorized an investigator to review Elijah’s medical records, with sealed medical and court investigator reports filed on June 18.
Allman was arrested on Feb. 27 following an incident at St. Paul’s School in Concord, N.H., and was booked on two counts of simple assault and one count each of criminal trespass, criminal threatening and disorderly conduct. The Concord Police Department reportedly responded to a call about an unwanted male guest “causing a disturbance and acting belligerently” at the prep school around 7 p.m.
The next California hearing is set for Dec. 1 in Los Angeles.