‘American Pickers’ star Frank Fritz’s father contests son’s will

Nearly five months after the death of “American Pickers” star Frank Fritz, his biological father is contesting his will.

William Fritz, who lives in Texas, filed a petition earlier this month to set aside son Frank Fritz’s last testament and have a jury determine what should be done with his son’s estate.

The probate case, including the will, has been sealed by an Iowa judge, meaning details of Fritz’s assets haven’t been made public. But some estimates value his estate at nearly $6 million.

Frank Fritz of American Pickers attends the A+E Networks 2012 Upfront at Lincoln Center on May 9, 2012, in New York City.
Defendants in the case, some of Fritz’s closest companions and caretakers, have retained lawyers “to protect his last wishes,” a close friend to Frank told the Des Moines Register.

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At issue is, first, whether Fritz was in sufficient command of his faculties to understand and sign a will after he had a stroke — one which was debilitating enough that he was placed into guardianship by the court.

And, second, who was closest to Fritz and would have understood his final desires best: his father or his best friends?

Was Frank Fritz competent to write a last will?

Fritz — known for his dark beard, quick smile and deep passion for vintage motorcycles — rocketed to fame with his friend Mike Wolfe, when their antique-hunting show “American Pickers” premiered on the History Channel in 2010.

Their folksy chemistry created reality show gold, securing celebrity status for the two friends and making “Pickers” both a ratings and rerun juggernaut.

Just before the COVID-19 pandemic, a nagging back injury forced Fritz to leave the show. His exit marked the beginning of a series of medical issues that would eventually lead to his death at age 60 in September.

In July 2022, Fritz was found unresponsive on the floor of his Davenport, Iowa, home and later determined to have had a stroke. While Fritz recuperated, a guardian was “necessary to avoid immediate harm,” a petition for emergency guardianship filed in August 2022 argued.

“Because of his stroke, Mr. Fritz’s decision-making capacity is so impaired that he is unable to care for his own safety, or to provide for necessities such as food, shelter, clothing or medical care,” the petition stated.

A judge granted the guardianship, citing a letter from Fritz’s doctor “indicating he is unable to make decisions for himself.”