This recent Court case in Australia has caught my attention this week, involving an inheritance dispute over an estate reported to be worth in the region of £2.1million.
Valmai Roche, who died last year, aged 81, left her children and ex-husband the equivalent of just 90p each from her estate, in her Will.
Two of her daughters have claimed their mother was ‘delusional’ and are challenging her Will in the South Australian Supreme Court. The former Mayoress of Adelaide left ‘30 pieces of silver of the lowest denomination of currency’ to her family - which translates as 30 five cent coins each - claiming it was ‘blood money due to Judas’. The rest of her fortune is rumoured to have been left to charity.
The daughters therefore started a Court case, alleging that her ‘delusions’ meant she was incapable of ‘making a reasonable and proper disposition of her estate’, and claiming that they should be entitled to inherit their mother's fortune.
Ms Roche went as far as to ‘specifically exclude’ her children and ex-husband ‘from any further benefits’ claiming they ‘have been adequately provided for’ during the later years of her life.
The Court case continues next month, so no decision has yet been made, but this lady’s family are not alone. Hundreds of relatives are disinherited by their family members every year, and very often, for no apparent reason. It may be that, like as has been alleged in this case, the person making the Will was not mentally capable of doing so. Sometimes people are not even aware that they can bring a claim.
If you are in any doubt contact our specialist litigation team who deal with Inheritance Disputes on 01942 777777.
If you are of limited financial means, you may even be entitled to Legal Aid, and we can advise you of this quickly over the phone.
By consumer solicitor, Heather Korwin-Szymanowska