Mother, girlfriend to split control of late Jose Fernandez's estate

The mother and girlfriend of late Miami Marlins star Jose Fernandez, who died in a September boat crash without a will, will share control of his estate, a Miami-Dade judge ruled Wednesday morning, according to multiple reports.

Maritza Gomez Fernandez, who survived a harrowing defection from Cuba with her son in 2007, and Maria Arias, who gave birth last month to Fernandez's daughter, Penelope, are now jointly responsible for managing the $2-million-to-$3-million estate, of which the family intends to name Penelope the sole beneficiary, a family attorney told ESPN's Katie Strang.

An ongoing legal battle could complicate matters, however, as the families of the two other men killed in the fatal boating crash - Eduardo Rivero and Emilio Macias - have filed suit against Fernandez's estate, seeking $2 million apiece in negligence and personal injury lawsuits.

Christopher Royer, who's representing the families of Rivero and Macias, said both groups are open to a resolution outside of the court room.

"We remain open to a settlement and are hopeful a prompt resolution can be achieved to spare these families, and that of Jose Fernandez too, from any additional suffering," Royer told NBC's Larry Walansky.