John Berry Wild died leaving behind a legacy worth millions.In 2009, Wild created a family trust leaving his assets to his wife, son, daughterand six grandchildren. The trust was set up to be tax efficient. WJ Wild GroupLtd, worth £2.3 million, was property of the family trust and was supposed to be split four ways. Wildhoped the trust set up would prevent family discord and substantial tax bills.However, after Wild’s death his son brought his mother to court because hebelieved she was going to disinherit him. The court heard about the’long-standing animosity’ between the mother and son. Because of thedisagreements, the son, who was one of the trustees to the trust, refused to pay his mother £500,000 (her share) of Wild’s money. The court ruledthat the son had been unduly influenced and should be removed from his duty astrustee and that the funds immediately be released to Wild’s widow.
See Harriet Arkell, Family Torn Apart Over Father’s £2.3 Million Inheritance Row After Son Accuses Mother of Writing Him Out of Her Will, Dailymail.co.uk, Jun. 10, 2013.
Special thanks to Brian Cohan (Attorney at Law, Law Offices of Brian J. Cohan, P.C.) for bringing this article to my attention.
