The Queen of Media hasn’t been on her purple chair for a long time. Honestly, it’s been a heartbreaking spiral to watch from the outside. Since 2022, fans have been asking the same question over and over again: Who has guardianship over Wendy Williams? It’s not just a curiosity thing. It’s a massive legal battle involving tens of millions of dollars, a bank that went rogue, and a diagnosis that—as of late 2025—might actually be wrong.
Basically, the person holding the keys to Wendy’s life is a woman named Sabrina Morrissey.
She isn't a family member. She’s an attorney.
The Woman in Charge: Who is Sabrina Morrissey?
Sabrina Morrissey is a New York-based estate attorney who was appointed by the court. You’ve likely heard her name pop up in those messy headlines about Wendy’s "involuntary confinement" or the fight over that Lifetime documentary. She was brought in after Wells Fargo froze Wendy’s accounts, claiming the talk show host was of "unsound mind."
The court sided with the bank.
Morrissey’s role is incredibly broad. She doesn't just manage the checkbook. She controls Wendy’s healthcare, where she lives, and even who gets to visit her. It’s a heavy-duty legal arrangement known in New York as an Article 81 guardianship. This means a judge decided Wendy couldn't take care of herself or her property.
Why the Family is Fuming
Wendy’s son, Kevin Hunter Jr., and her sister, Wanda, have been vocal about how much they hate this. They’ve been largely shut out. Kevin Jr. was actually Wendy’s power of attorney before the court stripped him of it. The bank accused him of spending too much of her money—about $300,000—but he says every dime was approved by his mom for her own care.
It’s a classic "he-said, she-said" with a multi-million dollar estate in the middle.
The family claims Morrissey has kept them at arm's length. There were reports that Wendy was living in a facility and her own brother couldn’t get a straight answer on which one. It’s messy. Kinda feels like the #FreeBritney movement all over again, doesn't it?
The 2025 Diagnosis Bombshell
For years, we were told Wendy had Frontotemporal Dementia (FTD) and Primary Progressive Aphasia. These are the same brutal conditions Bruce Willis is fighting. FTD basically shrinks the parts of the brain that handle personality and language.
But wait.
In late 2025, everything changed. Wendy’s new legal team, led by powerhouse lawyer Joe Tacopina, dropped a massive update. They claim a top neurologist in New York re-tested Wendy and found no signs of dementia. Zero.
If that’s true, the entire foundation of the guardianship might be a house of cards. Tacopina has been all over the news saying Wendy is "out" of the woods neurologically and just needs her life back. He’s even threatened a jury trial to get her free.
Where the Money Goes
When you’re under guardianship, you don't have an ATM card. You don't have a login for your bank app.
Wendy has described her situation as "prison-like." In one interview, she claimed she only had $15 to her name at one point. Whether that’s hyperbole or literal truth, it highlights the reality of being "guardianized." Every penny spent has to be accounted for by Morrissey and approved by the court.
- Legal Fees: A huge chunk of Wendy's fortune is reportedly going to pay the lawyers on both sides.
- Medical Care: She lives in a high-end facility in New York that provides 24/7 monitoring.
- Security: There’s almost always a bodyguard involved, someone Morrissey usually hires and manages.
The Role of Wells Fargo
We have to talk about the bank. Wells Fargo is the one who started this whole domino effect. They filed the initial petition for a temporary guardian back in early 2022. They told the court Wendy was a victim of "undue influence" and "financial exploitation."
They basically locked her out of her own life for "her own good."
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Critics say this is a massive overreach by a financial institution. Since when does a bank get to decide if you're mentally fit? But the court agreed, and here we are four years later, still fighting over the same pile of money.
What Happens in 2026?
The plan is simple: freedom. Wendy’s lawyers are pushing for the guardianship to end by the start of 2026. They are using the new medical tests to prove she is competent. If the judge refuses to budge, expect a massive, televised legal war.
Wendy wants her money. She wants her autonomy. She wants to decide if she has dinner with friends without a court-appointed guardian signing off on the Uber ride.
Actionable Insights for Families
If you're looking at the Wendy Williams saga and worrying about your own family, here is what you actually need to do to avoid this "court-appointed stranger" scenario:
- Draft a Durable Power of Attorney (POA): Do it while you are 100% healthy. Pick someone you trust implicitly. This document tells the court, "If I can't speak for myself, THIS person speaks for me." It makes it much harder for a bank or a stranger to step in.
- Set Up a Living Trust: Moving assets into a trust can keep them out of the hands of the probate court.
- Regular Medical Checkups: Keep a paper trail of your mental health. If you have a primary doctor who has known you for ten years, their testimony carries way more weight than a court-appointed evaluator who meets you once.
- Discuss "Undue Influence": Talk to your heirs about what you want your money used for. If they know your spending habits, they can defend you better if a bank starts asking questions.
The reality is that guardianship is supposed to be a last resort. In Wendy’s case, it became a permanent lifestyle. Whether Sabrina Morrissey remains in control or Wendy finally gets her keys back depends entirely on how the court views those new neurological tests.
One thing is for sure: Wendy Williams isn't going down without a fight. She’s spent her whole career talking. Now, she’s fighting just to have the right to speak for herself.