Johnny Hallyday: Inheritance dispute sees late rocker's assets frozen by court

Hallyday's children from a previous marriage are contesting his will after he left everything to his wife Laeticia and their two adopted daughters

Hallyday, who died of cancer in December, sold more than 100 million records in a nearly 60-year career (AFP/Getty)

The assets of French music legend Johnny Hallyday have reportedly been frozen while a court deliberates on the late rock star’s will.

Hallyday died of cancer in December, sparking an outpouring of grief from his fans in France. He had sold more than 100 million records in a nearly 60-year career.

Everything in the will was left to his fourth wife, Laeticia, and their two adopted daughters.

However, Hallyday’s older children from a previous marriage – singer David Hallyday, 51, and actress Laura Smet, 34 – are contesting this, as French law forbids children being excluded from inheritance.

French media is speculating that Hallyday left up to €100m (£86m).

While details of the rock star’s will have not been made public, the BBC reports that the older children’s lawyers say everything – including a Swiss chalet and property in the Caribbean – was left to Laeticia, his fourth wife, and their daughters Jade and Joy.

A judge will now have to weigh up whether Hallyday, who died in France aged 74, was a US or French resident, thereby deciding if his will breaks French law.

In 2014 he filed a will in California, where he had a home and was domiciled for tax purposes.

A posthumous album, expected to be a big seller, is due out in 2018. The court has ruled against David Hallyday and Smet from having a say on the album.