Lack of will complicates McNair's estate

NASHVILLE, July 21 (UPI) -- Tennessee lawyers say handling the estate of former NFL quarterback Steve McNair will be tricky because he left no will and had kids with different women.

Mechelle McNair has less than two months to complete an inventory of her late husband's assets, which according to state law, will be divided among her and McNair's four children, two of whom are from earlier relationships.

McNair was shot to death on July 4, allegedly by a woman with whom he was having an affair.

The (Nashville) Tennessean said Wednesday that McNair had two boys with Mechelle; however he also has two other sons. Paternity will have to be established, estate attorneys told the newspaper, after which Mrs. McNair gets a third and the sons get the rest.

"In these situations, a common term used is that it 'gets messy,'" Nashville layer Richard Johnson said. "A lot of times everybody has an opinion and it gets expensive. Leave a will."

State law also taxes estates worth more than $3.5 million at 50 percent unless they are shielded by trusts or other legal arrangements.