Alan Thicke's widow and sons wage a bitter legal war over the late actor's estate

Alan Thicke's widow Tanya Callau and sons fight over his estate. Photo/Getty Images

The sons and widow of TV dad Alan Thicke are waging a legal war over his estate, with both sides accusing the other of betraying the late actor's wishes.

Thicke's eldest sons, Robin and Brennan, filed a complaint in LA Superior Court on Tuesday seeking to enforce their father's living trust.

They say his widow, Bolivian-born actress Tanya Callau, is attempting to annul a prenuptial agreement in order to claim a larger portion of their father's estate.

Callau's lawyer argues she is not trying to invalidate the agreement, "even though it may be the worst document I've ever seen drafted by a lawyer".

"Tanya has never sought anything more than what her husband intended," lawyer Adam Streisand said.

Alan Thicke's sons say his widow, Tanya Callau, is attempting to gain a larger portion of their father's estate. Photo/Getty Images

At the centre of the dispute is Thicke's 11-acre (4.5 ha) ranch in Carpinteria, California.

In their complaint, his sons state Thicke bought the property in 1989 and intended to keep it "in his family forever."

But, the suit states that Callau now "claims that Alan repeatedly promised to leave the Ranch to her".

The 69-year-old star of Growing Pains died in December of an aortic rupture while playing hockey.

Before Thicke married Callau, his third wife, in 2005, they entered into a prenuptial agreement.

The prenuptial agreement grants Callau 25 per cent of the actor's entire estate and five acres of the Carpinteria property. Callau's lawyer contends that she is also entitled to certain community property.

Thicke's sons filed the suit after negotiations broke down.

Carter Thicke, Tanya Callau and Alan Thicke. Photo/Getty Images

"We have been working on this since very shortly after Alan's death, when we started getting claims that 'The prenup's not valid, he promised X, Y and Z,'" their lawyer Alex Weingarten said.

"We have been making every effort to resolve it, but it takes two to tango. It became very clear that as of right now that was not going to happen."

"All the boys want to do is honour their father's legacy and honour his intentions."