Dolly Parton’s nephew Bryan Seaver is asking a Tennessee court to delay an upcoming hearing in his escalating legal dispute with the late country music star’s estate. According to TMZ, Seaver requested Monday that his October 9 hearing be postponed by roughly 10 days because he has been unable to secure legal representation.
The latest development comes after a judge granted a temporary restraining order against Seaver and his private security company, Squadron Augmented Protection Services. The order followed allegations from Parton’s estate that Seaver made escalating threats and attempted to interfere with the management of her business interests. Seaver has denied that his statements constituted threats.
Why Bryan Seaver Says He Cannot Find an Attorney
TMZ reports that Seaver has approached multiple attorneys in Tennessee but says each potential lawyer has ties to Pinnacle Bank, which is involved with the trust at the center of the dispute. Those connections could create conflicts of interest and prevent the attorneys from representing him.
With the October 9 hearing approaching, Seaver is now seeking additional time to find counsel who can take his case.
The hearing concerns the restraining order obtained by She’s Alive, the entity established to manage and protect Parton’s business interests following her death. The order restricts Seaver’s access to the estate’s properties and its employees and business partners.
Seaver, the son of Parton’s sister Cassie, previously worked as a security executive for the singer and her properties. He was dismissed from the role in September, along with his security company, as tensions between him and the estate’s management intensified.
The estate subsequently accused Seaver of making threatening statements toward Danny Nozell, Parton’s longtime manager, and others involved in managing her affairs. A Tennessee judge later found the allegations sufficient to issue a temporary restraining order, describing the alleged conduct as a continuing disruption and threat to She’s Alive.
Seaver has disputed the estate’s characterization of his messages. In comments previously reported by The Guardian, he said his comments were made in a private context and insisted that they were not intended as threats.
The dispute has become one of the first major legal battles surrounding Parton’s estate following her death on August 25, 2026, at age 80. Seaver had previously been the family member who publicly announced her death, highlighting his close connection to Parton before the conflict emerged.
His request for additional time now puts the immediate focus on whether the court will grant the delay and give Seaver an opportunity to secure legal representation before the next stage of the estate dispute.