Three brothers win court battle with tennis coach sister over mother’s £1m will

Three brothers, David, Nino and Remo Rea have succeeded at the High Court in a claim against their sister, Rita Rea when the brothers were cut out of their mother’s will.

Their mother Anna left nearly all her estate, totalling circa £1m to her daughter in 2016, however, the Judge said the evidence suggested Rita had exercised ‘undue influence’ over her  mother such that she was ‘overborne’.

‘First, there is Anna’s frailty and vulnerability,’ he said in his judgment. ‘Wheelchair-bound, hard of hearing, and requiring constant care and attention, Anna’s quality of life was limited.

‘She seemed to spend much of her life colouring in children’s books. This is to be contrasted with what I find to be Rita’s argumentative and forceful personality, and her forceful physical presence.’

Anna’s estate will be split four ways, as directed by the earlier 1986 will.  The judge stated that he would give Rita  21 days to launch a challenge to the decision with the Court of Appeal.

Our Litigation Solicitors have handled cases involving;

• Pursuing or defending Inheritance Act claims
• Probate claims, including disputes as to the validity of Wills due to allegations of lack of capacity or undue influence and seeking to prove Wills.
• Applications in respect of the removal or appointment of Personal Representatives or trustees
• All aspects of contested claims between beneficiaries, personal representatives, Executors and trustees in relation to estates and trust funds

Call Vijay Srivastava or Shalish Mehta in the litigation department on 0161 624 6811(Option 6) or email vjs@wrigleyclaydon.com or sm@wrigleyclaydon.com.

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