Cher's Lawyers Say Conservatorship for Her Son Elijah Blue Allman Is a 'Life and Death Decision' in Court

Last month, Cher filed for a conservatorship of her son due to his issue with substance abuse

Elijah Blue Allman appeared in court in Los Angeles on Friday for a conservatorship hearing brought on by his mom, Cher.

At the court date, Allman, 47, was with his estranged wife Marieangela King after filing a dismissal of his divorce earlier this week, while Cher’s lawyers appeared in her absence.

During the hearing, the singer’s lawyers argued that the proposed conservatorship was “a life and death decision.”

The hearing addressed the ex parte motion that the pop icon, 77, filed on Thursday, requesting her son be put under a temporary conservatorship. “We need the ability today to be able to receive the money on behalf of Mr. Allman to simply be sure to safeguard it and be used for his benefit,” Cher's counsel said.

Related: Cher Files for a Conservatorship of Son Elijah Blue Allman Due to 'Severe' Substance Abuse Issues

The judge ultimately denied the ex parte motion, arguing that Allman and his legal team did not have enough time to review all documents, as they were filed on Thursday.

Allman also requested court approval of new counsel during the Friday hearing, as his previously assigned court-appointed lawyer proved to have a “conflict of interest.”

The attorneys he suggested were approved and the temporary hearing was ordered to continue on Jan. 29.

Ahead of the hearing, Cher submitted an ex parte motion on Friday that a temporary conservator be assigned to her son.

The performer claimed in documents obtained by PEOPLE that “the appointment of a temporary conservator is urgently needed” so the money Allman is owed from his tust “can be held and managed for his benefit.”

The filing states that Allman “is entitled to receive distributions from a Trust, but due to severe mental health and substance abuse issues,” he “is not currently able to manage his finances.”

Per the documents, the Grammy winner served Allman via email because she had been "unable to locate" and "personally serve him." She also served his estranged wife Marieangela King via email because she “was concerned” that “if she became aware of the proceeding she would take steps to prevent Petition from locating and serving Elijah.”

Before their court appearance on Friday morning, Allman filed an objection against his mother's petition to appoint a temporary conservator.

Per the documents obtained by PEOPLE, he claims “no reason exists for the appointment of a conservator” because “there is simply no emergency that requires it."

Related: Cher's Son Estranged Wife Alleges Singer 'Continues to Interfere' as Couple Agreed to Work on Marriage amid Divorce

In the filing, Allman states that he has "struggled with addiction and spent money in ways that have not always been the most responsible," and adds that he is now “under the care” of a doctor, in AA meetings and willing to take drug tests.

“I am reconciling with my wife so that we can work on our relationship now that I have found a path to sobriety,” Allman states in the documents.

Allman also suggested, per the filing, that his estranged wife could be made his conservator “if necessary.”

The papers continued, “Under no circumstances am I comfortable having my mom as my conservator.”

“While I understand that my mother, the proposed conservator, believes she is looking out for my best interests and I appreciate her love and support, I do not need her unsolicited help or support at this time."

The "Believe" singer filed for a conservatorship in December, seeking to be the sole conservator of her son's estate, claiming that he is "substantially unable to manage his financial resources."

In the documents obtained by PEOPLE, Cher stated that although Elijah is due to receive assets from trust before the end of the year, a conservator is "urgently needed ... to protect Elijah’s property from loss or injury" because he is "currently unable to manage his assets due to severe mental health and substance abuse issues." The document also stated that his estranged wife, Marieangela King, is not fit to be his conservator because "their tumultuous relationship has been marked by a cycle of drug addiction and mental health crises."

The filing continued, "Elijah is entitled to regular distributions from the Trust, but given his ongoing mental health and substance abuse issues, [Cher] is concerned that any funds distributed to Elijah will be immediately spent on drugs, leaving Elijah with no assets to provide for himself and putting Elijah’s life at risk."

The filing concluded by stating that the Moonstruck actress has reportedly "worked tirelessly to get Elijah into treatment and get him the help he needs."

Related: Cher's Son Elijah Blue Allman Moves to Dismiss Divorce from Wife amid Singer's Conservatorship Filing

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While Friday's hearing was for a temporary order, a hearing for a permanent order is scheduled for March 6.

In October, Cher broke her silence on Elijah's ordeal, opening up to PEOPLE about her relationship with her son after a report surfaced that she allegedly hired four men to forcibly remove her son from a New York City hotel room in an apparent intervention in November 2022. King made the claim in divorce documents she filed in December 2022 that recently surfaced.

Regarding the allegations, Cher told PEOPLE “that rumor is not true” and declined to comment further.

She did, however, confirm that the private family matter was related to her son’s addiction issues, which he has spoken openly about over the years.

“I’m not suffering from any problem that millions of people in the United States aren’t,” Cher said of watching her son’s years-long struggles with substance abuse. “I’m a mother. This is my job — one way or another, to try to help my children. You do anything for your children. Whenever you can help them, you just do it because that’s what being a mother is. But it’s joy, even with heartache — mostly, when you think of your children, you just smile and you love them, and you try to be there for them.” 

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