Family’s farm feud hits court

A sibling dispute over their parents’ estate spilled into the court room after a public relations specialist claimed her million dollar inheritance did not take into account her ‘‘economic needs’’.

But Jillian Talbot failed in her bid to overturn her parents’ wishes to gift the $4 million Timaru farm to her brother Graham failed with a judge ruling her parents had not breached any ‘‘moral duty’’ toward her.

Her brother Graham, who had lived and worked on the farm his entire life, inherited the land which had been in the Talbot family for four generations, since 1904.

Before their parents Edwin and Pamela Talbot passed away, they had met with their children to discuss how they would divide their estate.

Jillian, a public relations specialist, and her sister Rachel, a vet, were brought up on the farm and each inherited $1.1m.

But Jillian claimed in court her parents failed to meet their moral duties owed to her, and adequate provision had not been made for her proper maintenance or support in light of her financial position and her economic needs.

In the ruling released last week, Justice Gendall ruled against Jillian’s claim pointing out that she was in a financially stable position, and admitted having a ‘‘comfortable lifestyle’’ in which she and her fiance – the father of her three children – were able to afford travel and holidays overseass.

She could afford to take nannies away on overseas holidays, and in an email Jillian wrote to her mother saying that she no longer needed to continue working in paid employment.

In a joint statement, Graham and Rachel Talbot said the situation was ‘‘upsetting’’.

‘‘This whole process has been very upsetting for the whole family and we request you respect our privacy on this matter.’’