A high-stakes heirship fight over a $39 million artist’s estate now hinges on consumer DNA—and the court’s decision could reset how posthumous paternity is proven in America.
Story Snapshot
- A California woman seeks heir status to sculptor Fred Eversley’s estate based on a 23andMe test.
- Eversley’s will leaves most assets to his wife; the estate calls the claim “meritless.”
- Manhattan Surrogate’s Court set a January 14, 2026 hearing; no rulings yet.
- The case spotlights limits of consumer DNA in probate and potential delays to distributions.
What Triggered the Dispute
Kelly Krechmer, 54, petitioned Manhattan Surrogate’s Court on May 13, 2025 to be legally recognized as the daughter and heir of renowned Light and Space sculptor Fred Eversley, citing a July 2024 23andMe result that she says confirms her lifelong understanding of paternity. She alleges she emailed the SoHo studio with the results in August 2024 and received no reply. The estate disputes any connection and says the claim is opportunistic, setting a courtroom test of consumer DNA’s evidentiary weight.
Woman claims 23andMe test proves she’s the daughter of influential sculptor Fred Eversley https://t.co/Y9Fhu9SuUB pic.twitter.com/ep2FPuPP6z
— New York Post (@nypost) August 9, 2025
Eversley executed a will on September 4, 2024, leaving the bulk of his property to his spouse, Anna Maria (Maria) Larsson Eversley, and fixed bequests to siblings; Krechmer is not named. Eversley died March 14, 2025 at age 83, with filings reporting approximately $27 million in personal property and $12 million in real estate. The estate, represented by Silberman Zaretsky PC, calls Krechmer’s petition “entirely meritless” and says it will respond through proper legal channels.
Why Consumer DNA Alone May Not Suffice
Surrogate’s Courts often require clear and convincing evidence to establish posthumous paternity, which can include court-supervised genetic testing with verified chain of custody. Consumer platforms like 23andMe can identify genetic relatives and offer leads, but they are not the same as court-ordered tests designed for admissibility. Judges may require corroboration, affidavits, or independent lab analysis before adjusting distributions in probate, especially when a formal estate plan exists and significant assets are at stake.
The scheduled January 14, 2026 hearing will likely address evidentiary thresholds, discovery, and whether to compel validated testing. Pending resolution, distributions under the will could slow, driving up legal costs for the estate and petitioner. Such delays can ripple into the art market, affecting loans, exhibitions, catalog raisonnés, and pricing for works tied to the decedent’s estate. Museums and galleries often depend on orderly administration to manage rights, provenance, and programming.
Eversley’s Stature Raises the Stakes
Fred Eversley, a Brooklyn-born engineer-turned-artist, is widely recognized for parabolic resin sculptures developed through “centripetal casting,” a signature of the Light and Space movement. His work has been exhibited by major institutions, with public installations underscoring ongoing demand and cultural value. That stature helps explain the estate’s size and why any heirship determination could materially alter distributions if a court were to recognize a child under New York law after death.
Limited data available; key specifics about the 23andMe report—such as identified relatives or match percentages—have not been published in the cited materials. Allegations about an intercepted email lack independent confirmation. Without docketed orders, key legal questions remain open: whether the court will grant discovery, require chain-of-custody DNA testing, or dismiss for insufficiency. Until then, the estate plan naming the spouse and siblings stands, subject to any future court directives.
Sources:
Fred Eversley: Parabolic Light
Fred Eversley — David Kordansky Gallery
Fred Eversley: 50 Years an Artist
