A “disappointed” grandfather who was “hurt” because five of his granddaughters didn’t visit him often According to a court decision, he bequeathed them only $60 out of an estate of $600,000.
Former soldier Frederick Ward sparked a bitter family feud after leaving nearly his entire fortune, including his $570,000 apartment, to his children Terry Ward and Susan Wiltshire when he died in 2020. And he avoided that part would go to another of his children, who died in 2015, who would welcome his five granddaughters.
The 91-year-old told his legal representatives he was upset because he had not received visits from five of his nieces while he was hospitalized three times for a lung disease.
After learning that they were almost disinherited, the five sisters (Carol Gowing, Angela St Marseille, Amanda Higginbotham, Christine Ward and Janet Pett) They sued, claiming they were entitled to a third of their grandfather’s money.
But High Court judge James Brightwell ruled the 2018 will was “entirely rational” given the grandchildren had “very limited contact” with their “disappointed” grandfather in his final years.
The man died at the age of 91 and left nothing to some of his grandchildren.The sisters argued that the 2018 will was “invalid” and that Uncle Terry and Aunt Susan had “improperly influenced” their grandfather to change his will and give them their share of his estate.
Just a few dollars
According to the granddaughters, they did not visit their grandfather because they did not know he was in the hospital.. This was due, firstly, to the regularity with which he was admitted to hospital and the fact that they maintained no contact with him, apart from “occasional short visits” when he was with other family members.
The evidence accepted by the judge shows that the family of the five granddaughters “did not care” about their grandfather, who didn’t even receive a slice of cake at the wedding of one of his nieces.
Of the fortune, the nieces received only an envelope with 60 dollars that Uncle Terry gave them.
Source: Clarin
Mary Ortiz is a seasoned journalist with a passion for world events. As a writer for News Rebeat, she brings a fresh perspective to the latest global happenings and provides in-depth coverage that offers a deeper understanding of the world around us.