Real Housewives of Miami star Alexia Echevarria is accusing her stepsons of attempting to seize her Miami Beach mansion and luxury Maserati car just months after her husband's unexpected death, according to court documents obtained by DailyMail.com.
Last September, Herman Echevarria, 61, was found dead in a Miami hotel. His business partner believed he passed away in his sleep from a heart attack, while detectives said he died of natural causes.
Alexia later released a statement, saying: 'The Echevarria family is heartbroken over the sudden passing of our patriarch Herman Echevarria this morning.
Alexia Echevarria has asked for a temporary injunction against her stepsons, accusing them of trying to take her Miami Beach mansion and luxury car only months after her husband Herman's death
Last September, Herman Echevarria, 61, was found dead in a Miami hotel. His business partner believed he passed away in his sleep from a heart attack, while detectives merely said he died of natural causes
Herman Jr. (left) and Nelson (at right in picture at right) are both heirs to Herman’s estate and co-personal representatives of his probate estate. But Alexia charges in court documents that they are ignoring 'their father's clearly expressed wishes and contractual obligations to his own wife'
'He was a family man, a hardworking businessman, dedicated to helping others and a pillar of his community that was loved by everyone whose lives he touched.'
Since Herman’s death, the relationship between Alexia and her late husband's sons, Nelson and Herman, appears to have been rocky.
Though Alexia maintains that she has always loved the two boys as if they were her own, she says they have been actively trying to take immediate possession of her $3 million Miami home, seize the contents of the property and even threatened to sue if she didn’t hand over the keys to the Maserati.
Nelson and Herman are both heirs to Herman’s estate and co-personal representatives of his probate estate, but court documents state that they are ignoring 'their father's clearly expressed wishes and contractual obligations to his own wife.'
Alexia and Herman began dating in 2001, got engaged by 2003 and married in 2004. Prior to their marriage, they signed an Antenuptial Agreement, or prenup.
Per their deal, Herman gave instructions that upon his death the deed to the Miami Beach home would be transferred solely to Alexia.
In 2003, Herman had asked her to find a house for them to live in, which he then purchased under his name alone. He relied on Alexia to plan and coordinate the extensive renovations done to the property.
Alexia captioned this photo of her prized Maserati, which she received as a birthday present: 'My favorite gift by far from my amazing husband'
Nelson and Herman are both heirs to Herman’s estate and co-personal representatives of his probate estate, but court documents state that they are ignoring 'their father's clearly expressed wishes and contractual obligations to his own wife'
Now, Alexia has asked for a temporary injunction against her stepsons, which would 'preserve the status quo pending a final hearing on the merits' and allow her to continue living in the house.
The couple announced their separation in 2015 after 15 years of marriage, but Alexia says they still predominantly resided at the Miami property and never divorced.
'Turning age 60 triggered a form of "midlife crisis" for Decedent, which led to self-destructive behaviors and to him spending nights on a temporary basis in a Collins Avenue apartment owned by a friend and/or in a Brickell Avenue apartment owned by another friend,' the documents read.
'However, Decedent and plaintiff never divorced, they never formally separated as husband and wife, they continued to work together through to the date of his death, and they continued to co-parent plaintiff's two sons from a previous marriage (whom Decedent always made a point of referring to as "our" sons) through to the date of Decedent's death.
'Decedent never abandoned the family he had with plaintiff, he never abandoned their marriage, and he never abandoned their marital home, which at the time of his death he intended to return to.'
Herman and Nelson Echevarria have yet to respond to the allegations.
Since Herman’s death, the relationship between Alexia and her late husband's sons, Nelson and Herman, appears to have been rocky. Pictured, Alexia with her own two sons from a previous marriage
