Irwin Mitchell’s specialist Will Disputes team has successfully secured the son of an ex-rugby player 43% of his father’s £3m estate after an application for a statutory will was made.
74-year-old ex-rugby player, F, suffers with dementia and Alzheimer’s disease, which meant he was unable to make a valid will.
F’s family therefore requested guidance to place how his estate should be split between his partner, N, and the rest of his family.
This included our client, K, the 36-year-old son of F. Other family members disputed that F was K’s father, but positive DNA testing proved that K was in fact his son.
Irwin Mitchell’s specialist Wills Dispute team represented K and his mother, N, in this matter and K will now receive 43% of his father’s estate upon death.
N, who lived with F for 25 years, will also receive 35% of the estate.
All further assets would be shared between F’s other siblings and family members.
Commenting on the outcome, Louise Sykes, a Partner and head of the expert team at Irwin Mitchell, said: “This case highlights the importance of making a will and keeping it current by means of regular review.
“This ensures an estate will be distributed in accordance with wishes, rather than an independent body having to make distribution decisions. However, while we always urge people to make wills and talk to their loved ones about the decisions they have made, sometimes it is simply not possible.”
If you need to dispute a will, or want to make an application for a statutory will to be made, then contact Irwin Mitchell’s specialist Will Disputes team for advice.
Read more about Irwin Mitchell's expertise in relation to Will, Trust & Estate Disputes.
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