More than three decades after Selena Quintanilla’s death, the business surrounding the late Tejano icon’s legacy has become the focus of a significant family legal dispute. Selena’s brother, musician and producer A.B. Quintanilla, has filed a lawsuit seeking more than $1 million from his sister Suzette Quintanilla-Arriaga and Q Productions, Inc., the family company responsible for managing many of Selena’s entertainment and commercial interests.
According to court documents reported by PEOPLE, A.B. filed the complaint on September 10, 2026, in Nueces County, Texas. The lawsuit alleges breach of contract and breach of fiduciary duty and centers on profits generated through Selena-related entertainment properties. A.B. claims he has not received the full amount he believes he is entitled to under an agreement established by members of the Quintanilla family following Selena’s death in 1995.
That agreement, according to the filing, divided net proceeds generated from Selena’s entertainment properties among members of the family and her husband, Chris Pérez. A.B. alleges that his share amounts to 25 percent of those net proceeds. He further claims that in the spring of 2025 he became aware that he may not have received all distributions owed to him and subsequently requested detailed financial information regarding revenues, expenses and payments associated with the properties.
The dispute places Q Productions at the center of the case. The company has played an important role in preserving and commercializing Selena’s legacy through intellectual property, entertainment projects and other ventures. Suzette has overseen the company as CEO since 2016, after being appointed to the position by their father and longtime family manager, Abraham Quintanilla Jr.
A.B.’s complaint alleges that the requested accounting information has not been adequately provided and asks the court to require an accounting that would clarify how much revenue has been generated, what expenses were deducted and what distributions were ultimately made. The lawsuit seeks monetary relief exceeding $1 million, although the final financial outcome would depend on the evidence and any subsequent court findings.
The filing follows an increasingly public disagreement within the Quintanilla family. Before formally filing the lawsuit, A.B. posted a statement on social media suggesting that circumstances involving his sister and late father had pushed him toward legal action. He described the situation as deeply personal and said he never expected a family conflict to reach that point.
Suzette and the siblings’ mother, Marcella Quintanilla, have strongly rejected allegations of financial wrongdoing. In a statement published through Selena’s official social media presence before A.B. filed the complaint, they said Suzette had never stolen, misappropriated or improperly taken funds or property belonging to A.B., Selena’s estate or other family interests. They also challenged A.B. to produce evidence supporting any allegation of misappropriation.
The legal fight carries particular weight because Selena’s cultural influence has continued to grow since her death. Her music, image and story remain deeply embedded in Latin American and U.S. Latino popular culture, while her estate and associated intellectual property have supported films, television projects, merchandise, archival releases and collaborations that have introduced her work to successive generations.
That enduring commercial value is precisely why the dispute extends beyond a typical disagreement between siblings. At issue is the management of one of the most recognizable legacies in Latin music, along with questions about who controls the business connected to that legacy and how its proceeds should be distributed.
For now, A.B.’s accusations remain allegations contained in a civil lawsuit, and Suzette has denied wrongdoing. The case will ultimately depend on contracts, financial records and the evidence presented through the legal process. What is already clear is that a family once united in building Selena’s career is now navigating a very public dispute over the business created in her name.