Jim Carlen’s Children Contest Will

Three adult children of Jim Carlen are contesting a revisedwill which disinherits them completely.

They believe the former University of South Carolinafootball coach was unduly influenced by his second wife, Meredith Carlen.  They claim his true final wishes were erased “ata time when he could not have understood and appreciated what the documentrepresented.”

Carlen, a coaching legend, amassed a modest fortune, but thepetition states Meredith would suggest he had lost his wealth.  Carlen’s 2007 will provided for all hischildren.  However, Carlen began showingsigns of dementia in 2008 and signed a new will in 2010 at a new law office,which left everything to Meredith. 

In July 2011, Meredith gained power of attorney and quitmaking Carlen’s annual gifts to his children, again telling them he was shorton money.

Upon Carlen’s death in July 2012, the children discovered theirfather had substantial assets, much of which had been transferred to Meredithduring his lifetime.  The childrenrequest the 2010 will to be invalidated and replaced with the 2007 will.

See John Monk, Ex-USC Football Coach’s Children Sue His$10M Estate, The State, Aug. 1, 2013.