American singer Faith Evans has been ordered to pay $12.5 million to the estate of Voletta Wallace, the late mother of rap icon The Notorious B.I.G. This ruling comes after a legal dispute regarding the distribution of funds from the late rapper's trust.

The decision was made by Judge Kathaleen St. J. McCormick of the Delaware Court of Chancery on October 27, 2026. The judge rejected Evans' request to limit the payment to a mere $48,612 and instead upheld the full amount awarded to the Voletta Wallace Revocable Trust, which manages the intellectual property of The Notorious B.I.G.

The case arose from ongoing tensions between Evans and Wayne Barrow, the former manager of The Notorious B.I.G. and executor of Wallace's estate. Barrow was granted Letters Testamentary in April 2025, giving him authority over the trust. The court's ruling entitles the trust to distributions dating back to Wallace's death in February 2025, along with prejudgment interest calculated from the date of the payments.

In her ruling, Judge McCormick stated, "The economic rights associated with Ms. Wallace's units now belong to the Trust. The Trust is entitled to distributions made as of the date of Ms. Wallace's death. Prejudgment interest will be at the statutory rate, compounded quarterly." This ruling underscores the trust's entitlement to the funds despite ongoing legal challenges.

The dispute has been complicated by Christopher Jordan Wallace, known as CJ, who is both the son of The Notorious B.I.G. and Evans. CJ has contested Barrow's control over the estate, alleging that Barrow manipulated his grandmother into granting him sole executorship of the trust shortly before her passing. CJ and Evans have sought to have the state intervene in the management of the estate, but this request was denied by the court.

The legal battle is further complicated by a separate lawsuit filed by CJ in Pennsylvania, aiming to change the terms of his grandmother's will, which he claims was altered under duress. Barrow has denied these allegations, asserting that CJ's actions are influenced by Evans, a claim that Evans' legal team has refuted.

This ruling not only highlights the ongoing complexities surrounding the estate of The Notorious B.I.G. but also reflects the broader issues of trust management and family disputes over legacy in the music industry. The court has given Barrow 20 days to finalize the order reflecting the judgment, while the separate Pennsylvania case continues to unfold, adding another layer to this high-profile legal saga.