Huge blow for sisters whose ‘disappointed’ grandad left them just £50 from his £500k will as they ‘didn’t visit enough’
FUMING sisters who were left just £50 from their grandad’s £500,000 will have suffered another crushing blow.
Frederick Ward Snr’s five granddaughters were gobsmacked when they heard how little their inheritance was.
It came after the former soldier was “disappointed” his relatives hadn’t visited him enough.
A court heard from Fred Snr’s children how there was evidence the “family did not care about him”.
It is not about the money. She believes her girls were fighting for what their dad would have wanted and what their grandfather had originally promised
A source close to Fred Jnr's widow
He was particularly upset after not being told about his great-granddaughter’s wedding, his daughter Susan Wiltshire claimed.
“He complained that he was not even sent a piece of wedding cake,” the court heard.
The “upset” and “strong willed” patriarch cut out his deceased son, Fred Jnr’s daughters, and left most of his fortune to living children Terry Ward and Susan.
It saw Carol Gowing, Angela St Marseille, Amanda Higginbotham, Christine Ward and Janet Pett handed envelopes containing a measly £50.
BITTER BATTLE
The raging sisters launched a legal attack on their uncle and aunt – suing them for one third of their late grandfather’s wealth.
They accused Terry and Susan of having “unduly influenced” Frederick Snr into changing his will.
It was alleged by the quintet that their grandad’s last will was invalid, because he was “an ill man” and “frightened” of Terry, who “coerced” him into making it.
They also accused their aunt Susan of exerting “undue influence” over Fred Snr.
In the latest development, the scathing five are now £220,000 out of pocket after losing their case.
High Court judge Master James Brightwell ordered them to pay the legal costs and ruled it was “entirely rational” for the “disappointed” grandad to cut out his grandkids.
FRESH BLOW
They are now strapped with their own lawyer fees, as well as their uncle and aunt’s.
In the twisted feud, the sister’s lawyer argued money should be taken out of Frederick Snr’s inheritance and accused their uncle of “proactive” behaviour.
The judge concluded: “Having heard the reading of the will spirits were high on both sides from the start and the die was cast for a bitter dispute from the outset.”
But, Ms Gowing and her sisters were ordered to fork out £100,000 up front towards a total defence legal bill estimated at £136,470, with VAT to be added later.
Despite a promise by Fred several years earlier to divide his estate between his children’s children if anything should happen to any of them, the 2018 will was in my view entirely rational
High Court judge Master James Brightwell
This is in addition to their own £85,688.50 legal costs.
It came after the judge determined that “the evidence does not come close to persuading me” that Terry had “coerced” his father or that Susan had “controlled” him such as to cast doubt on his will.
Fred Ward Snr, was described as an “independent and strong minded” former soldier, cable joiner and regular social club user who lived in Willow Road, South Ealing, London.
He sadly passed away aged 91 in 2020.
His will, which included a £450,000 maisonette, was originally going to be split between his three kids, Fred Jr, Terry and Susan.
However Fred Jr – father to the five sisters – died in 2015 and the family fell out which led to loss of contact.
‘TURNING IN HIS GRAVE’
Meanwhile, according to one source, Fred Jr’s widow Ann Ward said she has “no doubts” that her late husband would be infuriated by the £50 inheritance to his daughters.
“Ann is very clear. If her late husband was still alive he would have been absolutely fuming that his daughters had been disinherited like this,” the source told MailOnline.
“He would be turning in his grave. She has no doubts whatsoever about that.
“It is not about the money. She believes her girls were fighting for what their dad would have wanted and what their grandfather had originally promised.
Ward Family Tree
Grandfather – Frederick Ward Snr
Children – Terry Ward, Susan Wiltshire and Fred Jr (died in 2015)
Grandchildren (Fred Jr’s five daughters) – Carol Gowing, Angela St Marseille, Amanda Higginbotham, Christine Ward and Janet Pett
“There are a lot of serious questions to be asked about the judge’s ruling. Ann believes some key evidence appears not to have been fully taken into account.”
The court heard form the sisters’ barrister that Uncle Terry had a “hate” for his niece Carol Gowing after the property fuelled feud.
There was a “palpable dislike between the two sides of the family”, the court heard.
‘ENTIRELY RATIONAL’
In his conclusion, the high court judge said: “In those circumstances, and despite a promise by Fred several years earlier to divide his estate between his children’s children if anything should happen to any of them, the 2018 will was in my view entirely rational.
“This does not mean that I cannot understand the claimants’ disappointment at being essentially left out.
“Some may take the view that, as a general proposition, when a testator’s child has predeceased him, he generally ought to leave an equal share of his residue to that child’s issue.
“However, the decision not to do so and to split the residue and thus the bulk of the estate between his surviving children can hardly be said to be provision which no reasonable testator could make.”
What is the inheritance tax threshold and how does it work?
Here's everything you need to know about inheritance tax - including the threshold limit.
Inheritance Tax is a tax on the estate – the property, money and possessions – of a person who’s died.
There’s normally no Inheritance Tax to pay if the value of your estate is below the £325,000 threshold.
You can also avoid paying the tax if you leave everything above the threshold to your spouse, civil partner, a charity or a community amateur sports club.
If your estate’s value is below the £325,000 limit, you will still need to report it to HMRC.
If you give away your home to your children – including adopted, foster or step children – or grandchildren when you die, your Inheritance Tax threshold can increase to £500,000.
This is called the “main residence” band.
If you’re married or in a civil partnership and your estate is worth less than the upper limit, any unused threshold can be added to your partner’s when you die.
This means their threshold can be as much as £1million.
The standard Inheritance Tax rate is 40 per cent – but it is only charged on the part of your estate that’s above the threshold.