Amy Winehouse was just 27 years old when she passed away on July 23, 2011.

The singer, who died from alcohol poisoning, did not leave a will – and so her $5.3 million fortune was left to her parents, Mitch, 68, and Janice, 63, by default, as reported by Rolling Stone.

Her ex-husband, Blake Fielder-Civil, who she divorced in 2009, received nothing.

But now, eight years after the singer’s untimely death, the 37-year-old is making a $1.8 million legal claim on her estate, The Sun reports.

Fielder-Civil is demanding a lump sum, plus a monthly allowance, claiming he's entitled since she released some of her most successful songs during the six years they were together.

According to reports, Winehouse gave Fielder-Civil a $450,000 pay-off when they divorced but lawyers say the detail of that settlement will be key when it comes to Fielder-Civil's legal claim.

If the payment was specified as a “clean-break” then he has no real grounds for demanding more money. If not, he may have a case.

The claim is no doubt a huge blow to Winehouse's family, who spent years enduring the ups and downs of the couple's turbulent and destructive relationship.

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Amy Winehouse met Blake Fielder-Civil in a London pub in 2005. Winehouse was in the early stages of her music career while the tall and tattooed Fielder-Civil was working as a video production assistant. The pair played pool together and took over the jukebox, according to The Sun.

Fielder-Civil was in a relationship with someone else at the time, but within a month of meeting, he and Winehouse were an item.

She had "Blake" tattooed on her chest, while he got her name inked behind his ear.

But just six months into their whirlwind romance, Fielder-Civil broke things off, going back to his ex-girlfriend.

Soon after, Winehouse told The Mirror: "I was really depressed. I was in love with someone and it fell through. A lot of it was to do with bad choices and misgivings. We were both to blame for the split."

It was around this time Amy began drinking more heavily, going on all day binges to block out the pain. Amy's management managed to convince her to go to rehab, but her stint didn't last long.

She said: "I asked my dad if he thought I needed to go. He said ‘no’, but that I should give it a try. So I did, for just 15 minutes. I went in said ‘hello’ and explained that I drink because I am in love and have f***ed up the relationship. Then I walked out."

Instead, Amy channelled her heartbreak into her work and it was during this time that she penned most of the songs on her iconic Back to Black album.

"The songs I wrote on the album are from times when I was so messed up in the head. I had literally hit rock bottom. I hate to use such a phrase, since I’m sure I will sink lower at some point," Amy said. "But I was clinically depressed and I managed to get something I’m so proud of out of something that was so horrible," she told The Mirror.

In early 2007, after Amy had ended a brief romance with radio executive Alex Jones-Donnelly, Blake walked back into her life.

This time their connection was even more destructive and all consuming.

The couple's relationship was all consuming. Image: Getty 

Blake introduced Amy, who had previously only smoked cannabis, to hard drugs, which he admitted to the News of the World in 2008.

"I made the biggest mistake of my life by taking heroin in front of her," he told the newspaper. "I introduced her to heroin, crack cocaine, and self-harming. I feel more than guilty."

The couple became known for their public fights and erratic behaviour. After one huge row, Amy was photographed covered in scratches and bruises, with blood on her shoes.

Speaking about their relationship years later in 2015, Blake's brother, Harry Fielder-Civil told the Washington Post: "They seemed hell-bent on destroying each other and didn't care about dragging others down with them. It was like watching two speeding trains hurtle towards each other before a violent crash.'

"I felt guilty because everyone knows it was Blake who introduced Amy to hard drugs. I didn't speak to him for about two years because I blamed him for so many things. I didn't hate him. I just wanted Amy to be still alive. We got back in touch only a couple of weeks ago. It destroyed our family."

The couple announced their engagement in April 2007 and shocked their families and Winehouse's fans by eloping the following month, marrying in Miami with only a court clerk to officiate.

A month after the wedding, Amy appeared to be spiralling. During an interview with US rock magazine, Spin, the singer used a shard of mirror to carve the words "I love Blake" on her stomach.

That August, she was rushed to hospital where her stomach was pumped after a heavy binge on heroin, ketamine, cocaine and ecstasy, as reported by The Mirror.

Then, just six months after the couple got back together, Blake was arrested, charged with attacking a pub landlord and later perverting the course of justice by trying to bribe a witness not to turn up in court.

He was jailed for 27 months.

Meanwhile, Winehouse continued to sell millions of records, winning five Grammys including best new artist, song of the year, and album of the year. She dedicated her awards to her parents – and to Blake.

But after spending time in rehab and then in St Lucia, Winehouse began to realise just how toxic her marriage was.

After being photographed on the island cuddling with actor Josh Bowman, she told News of the World: "For the time being I’ve forgotten I’m married."

Shortly after his release from prison, Fielder-Civil filed for divorce, citing adultery. The papers also stated that he found it "intolerable" to live with the star. The divorce was granted in July 2009.

Winehouse continued to struggle with her drinking. Her European tour was cancelled after a shambolic gig in Belgrade, in which she threw her microphone to the ground and walked off stage.

A month later, the singer was found dead in her bedroom by her live-in bodyguard, Andrew Morrison.

At an inquest, the cause of death was revealed to be alcohol poisoning.

After being informed by prison officials of Winehouse's death, Fielder-Civil told The Sun newspaper: "I’m beyond inconsolable...my tears will never dry."

In 2018, Fielder-Civil criticised Mitch Winehouse for "cashing in" on his daughter's death after he announced plans for a hologram tour.

Blake Fielder-Civil met his current partner, Sarah Aspin, in rehab shortly after splitting with Winehouse. The couple has two children, Jack and Lola.