Malcolm-Jamal Warner’s mother, Pamela Warner, disputes her daughter-in-law’s claims that he failed to fulfill the terms of their 2022 prenup.
According to court documents obtained by TMZ, Pamela says she attempted to resolve the matter privately, but Tenisha Warner declined. She claims the proposed settlement included a $2 million life insurance policy, a separate Georgia trust used to purchase a home for Tenisha and her daughter, Mackenzie, and a retirement plan worth $2.4 million left to Tenisha.
Tenisha sued her mother-in-law on July 20, 2026, in a DeKalb County, Georgia, court, the one-year anniversary of Malcolm’s death, claiming that there was an agreement to maintain a $1 million life insurance policy naming her as the sole beneficiary, provide funds for their child’s retirement account and college expenses, give her $16,000 per year on their wedding anniversary, and pay her a $5,000 monthly salary for her work as his chief of staff, according to the Atlanta Journal Constitution (AJC).
Amid a legal battle over the late actor’s assets, TMZ reports that Pamela maintains that Malcolm was clear about wanting his mother to receive a portion of his estate, citing their close relationship and her years working as his manager. She is also asking the court to approve the settlement with Mackenzie and dismiss Tenisha’s separate lawsuit in Georgia.
The Cosby Show actor, known for his beloved role as Theo Huxtable, died at age 54 on July 20, 2025, after an accidental drowning while on a family vacation in Costa Rica.
