Kellie Pickler's In-Laws Seek Contempt Finding Over Estate Items

Kellie Pickler visiting U.S. service members in Afghanistan in 2013. Photo by Petty Officer 1st Class Chad J. McNeeley, U.S. Navy / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 2.0 – https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/)

Country singer Kellie Pickler is engaged in a legal dispute with the parents of her late husband, songwriter Kyle Jacobs, who died by suicide on February 17, 2023. Reed and Sharon Jacobs, appointed as administrators of Kyle’s estate, allege that Pickler has refused to comply with a subpoena requiring her to return specific property they claim belongs to the estate. They have sought to have her held in contempt of court. Pickler disputes their claims and maintains that no court order has been issued requiring her compliance.

The Disputed Property

Reed and Sharon Jacobs say Kyle’s prenuptial agreement clearly defines which assets belong to his estate. Items they say Pickler is withholding include a Japanese samurai sword, a 1957 J45 Gibson guitar, a McPherson KOA guitar, a Steinway Grand Model M piano, a baseball card collection, school awards, and electronics. They allege a subpoena was issued last year and that Pickler has refused to hand over the items.

Pickler counters that the items are either not in her possession or are subject to a genuine ownership dispute. She also argues that no court order - as distinct from a subpoena - compels her to surrender the property, making the contempt motion premature and improper.

Conflicting Accounts

Pickler alleged in legal filings that Reed and Sharon had already entered her home and removed items after Kyle’s death. The Jacobses deny this, saying they only retrieved what Pickler had packed for them and that additional estate property remains in her possession. Pickler has asked the judge to seal her deposition, citing the aggressive escalation of the proceedings.

Kyle Jacobs was 49 at the time of his death. An official report found no drugs in his system; his medical history included chronic alcohol use, pseudoseizures, gastrointestinal bleeding, and elevated liver enzymes. His cause of death was a gunshot wound. Pickler was home at the time and, along with her assistant, called 911 after discovering a locked door. The estate dispute remains ongoing in civil court.

References: Kellie Pickler’s Late Husband’s Parents Slam Singer For Allegedly Refusing to Comply With Subpoena | Kellie Pickler’s In-Laws Escalate Contempt Of Court Claims With Deposition Request | Kellie Pickler’s Battle With Late Husband’s Parents Takes Another Turn Amid Contempt Of Court Claims