The woman files a motion and claims to be the wife of the Tejano legend

CORPUS CHRISTI, Tx — It’s been five months since the passing of Tejano music star and legend Johnny Canales, and already there’s a battle over his estate.

It’s no ordinary battle between family members, but a battle between Nora Canales’ widow and a woman who claims to be Johnny’s surviving wife.

The legal bombshell was filed Thursday afternoon in Nueces County Court.

A woman named Sylvia Ann Castillo claims to be Canales’ wife and that they are still married.

Her attorney, Esteban Lopez, filed a temporary injunction to prevent Johnny’s widow, Nora Canales, from selling or transferring any property owned by the estate, withdrawing money from checking, savings or other financial plans, or escaping of any of Johnny Canales’ financial records.

According to court documents, Castillo said she married the Robstown native on Aug. 13, 1980, in Duval County, Texas. According to publicdata.com, Castillo was 17 at the time and Canales was 37. Castillo said their marriage was never annulled by the state of Texas or dissolved by divorce.

Castillo claims she was legally married to the legendary TV host in March 1995, when Canales, 52, married Nora Canales, 23, in Maverick County, Texas.

In the court filing, Castillo states that because Johnny was legally married to her when he entered into a marriage with Nora, his marriage to Nora was void under Texas law.

Therefore, Nora is in possession of properties and funds belonging to Canales’ estate. A valid written will was dated May 20, 2024. It names Nora Canales as independent executor.

The host of “El Show de Johnny y Nora Canales” died on June 12.

Castillo asked the court to preserve and protect the property owned by Canales’ estate, which has a “probable value in excess of $50,000.”

At the time of Canales’ death, he owned a home on Fm 665 in Corpus Christi, Texas along with interest in the following properties:

• Cruz Calle property, 100 acres in Duval County, Texas
• Property of JMG Falcon, 37 acres in Duval County, Texas
• Quemado, 46 ​​acres in Maverick County, Texas
• TR 10, 7.46 acres in Nueces County, Texas

KRIS 6 reached out to the attorneys representing Castillo and Nora Canales and have yet to hear back.
A hearing will take place in the County Court on Law 3 on November 6 at 1:30 p.m.

This is a developing story. Keep it on kristv.com for latest updates.