Thompson's Will Names Two of His Children

By Walter F. Roche Jr.

A will filed in the estate of former U.S. Sen. Fred D. Thompson was drawn up over a decade ago and names just two of his four living children.
The will, filed last month in Davidson Probate Court in Nashville, Tenn., leaves the bulk of his estate, estimated at well over $1 million, to his second wife, Jeri Kehn Thompson. She also is named as executor.
Also named are his two sons by his first marriage,  Fred D. Thompson Jr. and Daniel L. Thompson.
The nine-page will was signed in 2003 after his marriage to Jeri, but before the birth of their two children, Hayden and Samuel. The will makes note of the fact that Jeri was expecting the couples first child at the time the will was signed.
Thompson, a longtime actor and one time Republican presidential candidate, died Nov. 1 from lymphoma. The will was filed Nov. 17.
Also mentioned in the will is Thompson's late daughter Ruth.
Thompson's will provides for $50,000 payments to Fred Jr and Daniel Thompson and a $100,000 payment to his mother Ruth B. Thompson.
An additional $50,000 is set aside for Thompson's son-in-law Ron Panici.
"It is my desire that Ron use this bequest to assist my grandson, Antonio," the will states.
If his wife were to have predeceased him, Thompson's will provides that the rest of his estate would be split between his two older sons.
In a petition filed along with a copy of his will, Thompson's attorneys wrote," The gross value of the estate for Tennessee Inheritance Tax purposes is undetermined at this time but it is estimated to be in excess of $1 million."
Thompson's net worth has been estimated at $8 million.
Thompson and his wife purchased a home at 101 Middleton Circle in Nashville earlier this year for $1.5 million.
The filing also seeks court approval to waive the filing of an inventory.
The well-known actor, politician and lobbyist, served in the U.S. Senate from 1994 to 2003.
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