A woman who was left nothing in her father's will has succeeded in her claim under the Inheritance (Provision for Family and Dependants) Act 1975 for reasonable financial provision from his estate.
Her father had passed away in 2020, leaving an estate worth more than £1.4 million, including a successful radio business. By his final will, made in 2017, he left his estate to his mother, his sister and his two nephews. According to the solicitor who had drawn up the will, he had been adamant that his daughter should inherit nothing.
After she sought provision from his estate, Central London County Court heard that her father had belittled her and taunted her about her weight when she was growing up. She went on to develop bulimia and body dysmorphia and became estranged from her father in adulthood.
Defending the claim, her sister pointed out that she had had no contact with her father in the nine years before his death, and claimed that her father had viewed her as idle and had believed that she neglected her grandparents.
The woman had sought an award of £450,000 to be held on trust for her, to cover needs including a home, a new car and paying off debts. Awarding her £125,000, the Court found that she needed financial assistance but was not entitled to be bought a property out of the estate. The award includes an amount for cosmetic surgery: the Court found that she had been self-conscious about her body throughout her life, and was satisfied that this should be paid for by the estate.