Gerald Levert

A battle over the estate of late R&B singer Gerald Levert has erupted between the star's business manager and two women whose children he fathered. Levert, who died in November, left behind assets of at least $2 million, including two homes, two Mercedes-Benz autos, jewelry, clothing, furniture, securities and bank accounts. The singer's publishing copyrights and music royalties have yet to be appraised, and probably will make up a sizable part of Levert's estate, court records said. Proceedings to distribute the estate began in March (07), under the guidance of his manager and cousin Anthony Gibson. However, the mothers of two of Levert's children - son LeMicah Levert, 17, and daughter Camryn Levert, 8 - have challenged Gibson's status as executor, in part because of his role in writing the will. The women say they want to ensure the children receive what they might have coming as the singer's next of kin. A third child, Carlysia Levert, 17, also is set to inherit from the estate. Gibson planned to distribute the estate at Cuyahoga County Probate Court, Ohio, where the singer lived and spent most of his free time, but the mothers' lawyers insist proceedings should take place in Geauga County in the state, where Levert once kept a home. Steven Cox, acting on behalf of the two women, says, "We are met with a lot of resistance." Levert, 40, died in November 2006 of an accidental prescription drug overdose.