A LANDMARK ruling which saw the courts award a daughter a third of her mother’s estate – despite her mother leaving all her money to animal charities – could open the floodgates for similar claims, according to a Redditch legal expert.
Jan Thompson of Kerwoods Solicitors, said the ruling could significantly weaken people’s right to leave money to those they want to inherit it.
Her comments follow the ruling in the case of Heather Ilott of Ware in Hertfordshire who went to court after her mother left her £486,000 estate to animal charities when she died in 2004. The Court of Appeal has ruled that Ms Ilott should receive a third of the estate – £164,000.
Mrs Thompson said: “This emphasises just how important it is to ensure that you have your Will professionally drafted and that you make sure that it fully lays out and explains your intentions and wishes.”
