Bell & Buxton Triumph in High Profile Contentious Probate Court Case

The dispute of the Estate of Local businessman, Roy Lilleyman, who died on 6th January 2010, has finally been settled after a 3 day court trial.

Chris and Nigel Lilleyman, Roy’s two sons, appointed Bell & Buxton’s senior partner, Mary Butler, and Alex Watkinson, Associate, to handle the case.

Mr Lilleyman died leaving an estate worth approximately £6 million, naming his two sons from his first marriage, as Executors and made the following provision for his second wife, Barbara who he married in 2007:

• All of his chattels and personal effects (worth approximately £18,000)
• A right to reside in the marital home of which they each owned a 50% share for the rest of her life
• A right to use the family holiday home in Bournemouth which was owned in Roy’s sole name for the rest of her life.
• Substantial annuity from outside of the Estate
• Significant lifetime gifts

Although approximately £5 million of the £6 million Estate was the value of Mr Lilleyman’s shareholding in the 3 family owned limited companies, which he ran with his two sons.  Barbara Lilleyman brought a claim against the Estate under the Inheritance (Provision for Family and Dependants) Act (1975) for financial provision on the basis that the Will did not make reasonable provision for her.

At the end of the 3 day trial, the judge awarded Mrs Lilleyman:
• The Estate’s  half share  of the matrimonial home outright; and

• Either the Bournemouth Property or its equivalent value in cash (£330,000)

• Half share of Lea Court (a residential property in Worksop)

Mr Lilleyman’s two sons had already accepted that the Will had not made sufficient provision for Mrs Lilleyman and had, eight months prior to the trial, offered her substantially more out of the estate than she was eventually awarded.

Mary Butler who led the team acting for the Lilleyman brothers commented:
“I am delighted that we achieved such a good result for Chris and Nigel. This case is already being cited as a precedent in ‘big money/short marriage’ type claims.”

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Authorised and regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority. Bell & Buxton is the trading name of Bell & Buxton LLP, a limited liability partnership, registered number OC322707, registered in England. A list of members is open to inspection at the above address.