Lawyers for Dolly Parton’s estate, She’s Alive, LLC, allege that Bryan Seaver, the singer’s nephew, set up yellow caution tape and barbed wire in front of his front door to prevent a process server from serving a lawsuit. The filing, submitted on Oct. 5, claims the server made repeated attempts on Sept. 24 and 25, but was met with a locked door and, on Sept. 26, a “no trespassing” sign and the aforementioned barriers.
Background of the dispute
Seaver, who has served as Parton’s head of security for more than two decades, is the son of Parton’s sister Cassie. He announced his aunt’s death on Aug. 25 following a brief battle with cancer. In a video posted to Dolly’s Instagram account, Seaver expressed mixed pride and sadness, noting that Parton is now “in the arms of Jesus” alongside her late husband Carl and family.
On Sept. 22, She’s Alive, LLC filed a lawsuit and obtained a temporary restraining order against Seaver and his security company, alleging he threatened to tarnish Parton’s legacy and made threats against several employees. The estate’s attorneys argue that Seaver’s recent request to delay a court hearing was an attempt to buy time to secure new legal counsel.
Court filings detail the barriers
The affidavit attached to the Oct. 5 filing includes a photo showing barbed wire zig‑zagging over the front steps and five pieces of caution tape tied around the wire. The process server’s report states that after the initial attempts, the property was marked with “no trespassing” signs and the barriers made it impossible to reach the front door.
On Oct. 6, the court agreed to reschedule the hearing for temporary injunctive relief to the morning of Oct. 20, extending the restraining order through that date.
Legal context
Temporary restraining orders are often used to preserve the status quo while parties prepare for a full hearing. The estate’s claim centers on alleged threats and attempts to extract money from Parton’s business interests, which the lawyers say justify the court’s protective measures.
Seaver’s legal team has not yet responded publicly to the new filings. The dispute underscores the challenges families can face when managing high‑profile estates and the lengths some may go to protect their interests.
Original reporting: 40/29 / KHBS (NW Arkansas) — read the source article.
