The legal dispute surrounding Dolly Parton’s estate has taken another unexpected turn.

Bryan Seaver, Parton’s nephew and longtime head of security, is asking for more time to find an attorney as he faces a temporary restraining order and lawsuit brought by She’s Alive LLC, the company established to manage and protect Parton’s business interests following her death.

But while Seaver says he has been trying to secure legal representation, the estate has made a very different claim.

In newly filed court documents, attorneys for She’s Alive allege that Seaver attempted to avoid being served with legal papers by putting up a “No Trespassing” sign and placing barbed wire across the entrance to his home.

The allegation adds another layer to an increasingly complicated legal dispute involving the late country music icon’s estate.

Bryan Seaver Asks for More Time to Find a Lawyer

Seaver, 49, filed a motion on Oct. 2 asking the court to postpone a hearing that had originally been scheduled for Oct. 9.

According to court documents reported by PEOPLE, Seaver said he needed additional time to retain an attorney. He stated that after being served with a restraining order and lawsuit on Sept. 23, he immediately began looking for legal representation.

He said he had been unable to meet with his preferred attorney until Oct. 5.

A judge subsequently granted his request, moving the hearing to Oct. 20.

The delay comes as Seaver attempts to defend himself against allegations made by She’s Alive, which has accused him and his private security company of threatening behavior and attempts to interfere with Parton’s business interests.

Seaver has denied the allegations.

The Estate Says Seaver Tried to Avoid Being Served

In response to Seaver’s request for additional time, attorneys for She’s Alive urged the court to reject the motion.

Their filing alleges that Seaver attempted to evade service of process and argued that the court should not reward such behavior.

According to the filing, representatives attempted to serve Seaver three times.

During one attempt, the process server reportedly observed four vehicles in the driveway but received no answer at the door.

The estate’s attorneys then described what they said they encountered during another attempt.

They alleged that a “No Trespassing” sign had appeared in Seaver’s front yard and that barbed wire had been placed across the handrails leading toward the front door.

Other reports have also described yellow caution tape around the entrance.

The estate used those circumstances to challenge Seaver’s claim that he had been actively trying to secure an attorney.

Its lawyers argued that his efforts to find representation should therefore be viewed with skepticism.

It is important to note that these are allegations contained in court filings, not findings that Seaver has been legally determined to have intentionally evaded service.

A Dispute That Began After Dolly Parton’s Death

The conflict between Seaver and Parton’s estate emerged shortly after the singer died on Aug. 25, 2026.

Seaver had been Parton’s longtime head of security and was also the family member who publicly announced her death through social media.

He was subsequently dismissed from his security role.

She’s Alive, the company created to oversee and protect Parton’s professional property and business interests, later sought a temporary restraining order against Seaver and his security company, Squadron Augmented Protection Services.

A Tennessee judge granted the temporary order in September.

The order restricts Seaver and members of his company from contacting or coming within 1,000 feet of She’s Alive employees, attorneys, and business partners.

The estate has accused Seaver of making escalating threats and attempting to interfere with Parton’s legacy and business operations.

Seaver has denied those accusations.

Seaver Says He Never Threatened Anyone

Seaver has publicly pushed back against the allegations.

In a statement reported by ABC News, he described the restraining order as a “publicity stunt” and denied threatening anyone.

He also argued that some of the comments presented in court documents had been taken out of context.

The dispute therefore involves two sharply different accounts.

The estate says Seaver’s behavior became increasingly threatening and disruptive.

Seaver maintains that he did not threaten people and disputes the characterization of his communications.

Those competing claims will ultimately have to be considered through the legal process.

The Emails Included in the Court Filing

The estate’s latest filing also included an email that it attributed to Seaver and said was sent just days before Parton’s death.

The message contained highly aggressive and profane language directed toward an unidentified recipient.

According to the filing, Seaver threatened to involve his lawyers in the dispute and used strong language to challenge the recipient.

The estate cited the email as part of its broader argument that Seaver’s communications had become increasingly confrontational.

Seaver, however, has maintained that statements described as threatening were taken out of context, including conversations involving Parton’s longtime manager Danny Nozell, who now operates She’s Alive.

Because the email and other communications are being presented as evidence in an ongoing legal dispute, their significance remains a matter for the court to consider.

Why the Estate Sought a Restraining Order

The legal action goes beyond the question of whether Seaver avoided being served.

She’s Alive has accused Seaver and his company of making threats and attempting to interfere with the estate’s business relationships.

A temporary restraining order was granted after a Tennessee judge determined that the allegations presented a continuing disruption and threat sufficient for the temporary relief requested.

The order does not represent a final finding that all of the allegations against Seaver are true.

Instead, it establishes temporary restrictions while the broader dispute proceeds through the court system.

That distinction is important as the case develops.

A Complicated Relationship With Dolly Parton’s Estate

Seaver’s connection to Parton makes the dispute particularly notable.

He is the son of Parton’s sister Cassie and spent more than two decades working as her head of security.

He was also entrusted with publicly announcing Parton’s death.

His later removal from that position and the legal dispute with the company now overseeing her professional interests mark a dramatic change in that relationship.

The case is therefore not simply a disagreement between unrelated business parties. It involves a member of Parton’s family and someone who had worked closely with the singer for many years.

What Happens Next?

The immediate issue is Seaver’s request for additional time to obtain legal representation.

That request has already been granted, with the next hearing moved to Oct. 20.

Meanwhile, the temporary restraining order and the allegations made by She’s Alive remain part of the ongoing legal proceedings.

The estate continues to argue that Seaver attempted to avoid being served, while Seaver maintains that he has been trying to secure an attorney to defend himself.

Neither side has had the final word.

As the case moves forward, the court will have to consider the allegations, the evidence presented by the estate, and Seaver’s responses.

For now, the story remains an unfolding legal dispute rather than a concluded judgment.

What began with a disagreement surrounding Dolly Parton’s estate has now developed into a court battle involving allegations of threatening communications, a temporary restraining order, a search for legal representation, and claims that a front porch was protected with a “No Trespassing” sign and barbed wire.

The next major development is expected when the parties return to court on Oct. 20.