Parents Leave a $3 Million Family Farm to Charity

Christine Gill was shocked to find out that her parents had disinherited her from their will and left their $3 million family farm to Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. This news was particularly stunning because Gill had devoted most of her life to taking care of the farm, and later, of her elderly parents. She based her school and career decisions on the ability to care for the family enterprise. To Gill, loosing the farm is like having her heart and soul ripped out.

Gill always thought that the farm would remain in the family, and her parents never gave her any indication to the contrary. It was not until after her mother’s death in August of 2006, that Gill found out the provisions of her parents’ will. She is now fighting for the farm by filing an appeal under the British 1975 Inheritance Act. RSPCA stated that while they could not comment on the details of this case, they were aware of Gill’s claim and were hoping to resolve matters without reverting to litigation.

See Paul Sims, Daughter’s shock as parents’ £1.5m farm is left to the RSPCA, dailymail.co.uk, Oct. 4, 2007.

Special thanks to Joel Dobris (Professor of Law, UC Davis School of Law) for bringing this article to my attention.