‘Greedy’ sons lose inheritance in court fight over father’s will
marriage – financial adviser Richard, 54, of Wandsworth, south London, and America-based Jonathan, 55 – against each other in court. Mrs Williamson Powell, of Littlebourne, Kent, said a will made in 2009 in which she was left £125,000 – equal to half of the remaining estate – was her husband’s last true will. The brothers were each bequeathed £62,500. However, the brothers said a will made in 2008, in which they split the estate three ways, was the last valid will. The widow’s barrister, Mark Dencer, said the case had only come about because the “avaricious” brothers did not like their stepmother.
They were simply trying to “enrich” themselves in the hope that the widow would “lack the stomach or means to fight”, he claimed.
Judge Dight rejected the sons’ claim that there was a real doubt about the 2009 will which necessitated an investigation into their father’s state of mind.
He said their “unreasonable” approach had been highlighted by their continued assertion that Mrs Williamson Powell had driven the will-making process.
He added: “They should, long before the trial, have recognised the force of the evidence and that their challenge was without hope.”
The court heard Mrs Williamson Powell had tried to settle the “uneconomical” case outside court and found it “inexplicable” that it had gone to trial.