A claim that a man’s £350,000 estate should be dealt with under the laws of intestacy has been challenged by the man’s former lover, who claims a will made in her favour was ‘suppressed’ by his children.
Under the laws of intestacy, unless she can prove to the satisfaction of the court that such a will existed and she was a beneficiary under it, his former lover will have no claim against the estate unless she is able to claim as a dependant of the deceased. She claims that the man, a businessman who in later life gave advice at his local Citizen’s Advice Bureau, understood the effects of intestacy and ‘must’ have left a will.
Until the matter is decided, the administration of the estate cannot be completed.
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