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Alex Murdaugh gives up legal claim to late wife’s estate in latest court filing

COLLETON COUNTY, S.C. — Court records filed Monday show Alex Murdaugh has disclaimed interest in any property or assets owned by his late wife, which would otherwise be passed to him, WCIV reports.

Maggie Murdaugh’s estate was to be passed to her surviving spouse at her death, according to WCIV. She and their son, Paul, were found shot to death in June 2021.

“The undersigned further disclaims any interest in the above-described Estate that might pass to him pursuant to the South Carolina laws of descent and distribution or intestacy,” WCIV said the document states.

According to Cornell University’s Law School, to disclaim something in a legal sense means, “to give up a legal claim, obligation or right to something. Rejecting one’s claim to inheritance is an example of when one disclaims.”

Last month, Alex and Maggie’s property in Colleton and Hampton counties was put up for sale for $3.9 million, WCIV reported.

The sale price includes the home and more than 1,700 acres. An attorney for the family of Mallory Beach said in February it already had a buyer, with the sale to be finalized in 90 days.

The bulk of Alex Murdaugh’s pending lawsuits center around the 2019 boat crash and death of Mallory Beach. Beach’s family, along with boat passengers Connor Cook and Anthony Cook, all have filed lawsuits coming out of that incident.

That’s where the estates of Maggie and Paul come into play. From Maggie’s estate, Alex would have been entitled to the valuable real estate she owned at the time of her death. Those are a vacation home on Edisto Beach and the 1,700 acres of property.

Since the mother and son’s deaths -- which remain under investigation by South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED) -- Alex Murdaugh’s illegal business practices have come to light. Those include millions in stolen funds from multiple clients at his former law firm.

(WATCH BELOW: Family of Mallory Beach files $50 million claim against estates of Maggie & Paul Murdaugh)