Cher is making serious allegations against her daughter-in-law as a court battle intensifies over who should make decisions for her son, Elijah Blue Allman.

The 80-year-old singer filed a supplemental brief in Los Angeles on Aug. 28 opposing Marieangela King-Allman’s effort to become conservator for Elijah. In the filing, Cher’s attorney alleged that King-Allman’s renewed involvement is motivated by financial gain or attention, a claim King-Allman strongly disputes.

“The New Hampshire State Hospital, and the rest of the family remain adamantly opposed to Mrs. King-Allman serving,” the filing states, alleging the family believes “she is inserting herself back into the picture on a quest for money and/or a bit of fame.”

King-Allman, 39, pushed back against that characterization in a statement to PEOPLE.

“As Elijah’s wife of 13 years, I love him and want what is best for him, which is a robust and long-term treatment plan,” she said.

She also claimed Cher and Elijah have been estranged and accused the singer of interfering with previous attempts to help him.

“If she is in control of who becomes conservator, I believe it would jeopardize his chances of a hopeful recovery,” King-Allman said.

Elijah, 50, is currently being held at a psychiatric hospital in New Hampshire while facing criminal charges in two separate cases. According to Cher’s filing, New Hampshire State Hospital initiated guardianship proceedings on July 7.

Cher has sought to have Elijah’s half-brothers, Chaz Bono and Devon Allman, appointed to the role.

King-Allman filed her own request to become conservator on Aug. 18. Cher’s attorneys argued that she should not be considered, pointing to the couple’s complicated marital history and alleging King-Allman failed to assist Elijah when he previously needed care.

“Mrs. King-Allman never lifted a finger to help,” Cher’s filing alleges. “Now that a conservatorship is pending, Mrs. King-Allman clearly sees a financial opportunity to control his income.”

King-Allman and Elijah married in 2013, but their relationship has included multiple divorce proceedings. She initially filed for divorce in 2021 before that case was dismissed in 2024. Another divorce filing followed in 2025 and was dismissed in June 2026.

King-Allman maintains that Elijah needs extensive treatment but argues that allowing his estranged relatives to select his conservator could harm his recovery.

“I strongly believe that Elijah needs a robust, long-term treatment plan to deal with these issues,” she wrote in her own filing.

The latest dispute follows years of legal wrangling over Elijah’s well-being.

Cher initially sought temporary conservatorship of her son’s estate in December 2023 but voluntarily dismissed that petition in September 2024. She later returned to court, alleging Elijah’s condition had “significantly deteriorated.”

Her second attempt to establish a conservatorship over his estate was denied by a Los Angeles judge in April.

The current guardianship fight remains unresolved. Elijah did not appear at a scheduled Sept. 1 hearing concerning whether King-Allman could serve, prompting the judge to postpone the matter until Dec. 1.

For now, the competing filings reveal a deepening family divide, with both Cher and King-Allman arguing that their preferred approach offers Elijah the best chance of recovery.