'American Pickers' star Frank Fritz's friend contests his will in $6M estate battle 4 months after death

LE CLAIRE, IOWA: According to reports, a friend of the late reality star Frank Fritz, who died on September 30, 2024, at the age of 60, has been contesting his will and demanding a trial to settle his $6 million inheritance.

The 'American Pickers' star's attorney filed a "will prior to death" in October 2023 to "safe-keep" the document, and a certificate was issued for approval on October 18, 2024, a few weeks after his death. 

Attorney files petition to 'set aside will and jury demand' in Frank Fritz's case

However, The US Sun revealed that things took a turn in late December 2024 when an attorney representing a friend of Frank Fritz entered the fray. 

A different lawyer then filed a petition in probate on February 3, 2025, to "set aside will and jury demand," which means they're requesting that the will be formally revoked or dismissed.

Since the case has been officially sealed, the public cannot access the materials. The estimated net worth of Fritz is $6 million.

Frank Fritz was placed under conservatorship and guardianship after he suffered a debilitating stroke in 2022

Due to his diminished capacity for making decisions, Frank Fritz was placed under guardianship in August 2022 after he suffered a crippling stroke at his farmhouse in Iowa in July 2022.

The guardianship has been established for the History Channel celebrity, with MidWestOne Bank acting as conservator and his friend Chris Davis acting as guardian.

According to court filings, the stroke left him unable to care for himself or oversee his vast collection of antiquities, demonstrating the severity of his illness.

The documents obtained by The US Sun state, "Because of his stroke, Mr Fritz’s decision­-making capacity is so impaired that he is unable to care for his own safety or to provide for necessities such as food, shelter, clothing, or medical care without which physical injury or illness may occur."

Moreover, Fritz was unable to "make, communicate, or carry out important decisions concerning his own financial affairs." A doctor's exhibit, which was included in the court documents, asserted that Fritz lacked the capacity to make decisions.

"Decisions must be made for Mr Fritz’s care and placement while he continues to recover and receive treatment for his injuries. Appointment of a guardian and conservator is necessary to avoid immediate harm to him," the legal documents added.

According to his 2021 tax return, Fritz earned $60,000 a year from "investments." At the time of his stroke, the History Channel star was unemployed and had no debt.

Frank Fritz's antiques will apparently be put up for auction

Jerry Gendreau, a close friend of Frank Fritz, previously informed The US Sun that the reality star's antiques would be up for auction. "That’s what I would do because of his fan base, I think he’ll do really, really well with an auction," Gendreau said.

Fritz displayed rows of motorcycles from his collection in one of his outhouses on his $155,000 farmhouse in Davenport, Iowa. 

In October 2024, Gendreau told the outlet, "We have been an antique store for 35 years. We’ll probably continue to be that." He previously stated that some of the bikes would be on display at the store, located in the back room of his bar, Hawgdogs.