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Venus and Serena Williams’ Father’s Divorce Case Undergoes Fresh Twist As $1.4 Million Florida Mansion’s Fate Hangs in the Balance

Published 04/15/2024, 2:57 PM EDT

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USA Today via Reuters

Every tennis fan is already well aware of the crucial role that King Richard played in Serena Williams‘s growth as a legendary tennis player. However, taking a slight drift from their professional career, Richard Williams’ personal life came across three women that he married, out of which Lakeisha Graham is known to have a problematic past and present.

After being divorced by Serena’s mother Oracene, Richard decided to seek happiness once again and ended up tying the knot with Lakeisha Graham in 2010. But fate held something else for the renowned coach. Their marriage didn’t last long enough, and they both got divorced.

Lakeisha’s current situation gives out a terrible story, as she is on the brink of losing her family home in Palm Beach, Florida. The four-bedroom mansion, which was a crucial part of the Williams family for 29 years, is currently at risk due to a $600,000 debt associated with Lakeisha’s alleged actions.

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According to the court documents, Lakeisha, who previously worked as a stripper, is accused of forging her ex-husband Richard Williams’ signature on property documents to commit the offense of transferring ownership into her name and finally securing a hefty mortgage. The funds were reportedly squandered on failed business ventures and frivolous expenses.

Richard Williams divorced Lakeisha last year, and this update adds more intensity to their case. Despite multiple efforts to apply for foreclosure, which also includes bankruptcy filings, Lakeisha has fallen behind on repayments and therefore owes over $36,000 in addition to monthly installments.

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The primary creditor in the legal battle, David Simon, appears to be determined to recover the debt. In response to the ongoing situation, Simon stated, “We’re committed to resolving this matter fairly, but our priority is to recover the outstanding debt owed to us.” If rulings don’t favor Lakeisha, the family home could be seized, impacting not just Serena’s legacy but also numerous other creditors.

Serena Williams’ father stays firm on his stand for no reconciliation

Back when the divorce case involving Serena Williams’ father and stepmother caught the spotlight, Richard mentioned the fact that he was not ready to consider reconciliation. “I do not wish to reconcile,” he claimed, staying firm on his call for a separation.

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Richard initiated the legal proceeding of a divorce against Lakeisha back in 2017. According to the initial filing of his reports, it turned out that he alleged his ex-wife for forging his signatures to finalize a deal on the Florida family house that was owned by Richard.

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The need for this reconsideration came up after Lakeisha raised a request for their case to be dismissed. Although their divorce case finally came to an end, the ownership of their family home still remains under the shadow of dark clouds.

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Written by:

Akshay Kapoor

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Akshay Kapoor, a tennis writer at EssentiallySports, excels in crafting pieces that set new trends. His analytical skills riding on the back of certification in Digital Marketing help inject in-depth research as he covers the business undertakings of Tennis stars. Akshay’s articles touch the entire tennis spectrum, from iconic figures like Djokovic and emerging talents such as Holger Rune and Coco Gauff.
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Edited by:

Garima Yadav