Court Battle Begins Over Painter Thomas Kinkade's Estate

(CBS13) – The fight over the estate of the "Painter of Light" is getting dark.

There's a court hearing today in a battle over the estate of artist and Placerville-native Thomas Kinkade.

Kinkade died from a lethal level of alcohol in April at his Silicon Valley home.

His girlfriend and his estranged wife are fighting over the estate.

"The Mercury News" reports Kinkade's girlfriend has produced handwritten notes she says Kinkade wrote last fall giving her his house, and $10 million.