Estate Challenge

Estate Challenge

McDermott & Associates has acted in relation to many Will disputes and estate litigation. One client we recently acted for was the second wife of a man who passed away unexpectedly of a heart attack, leaving behind two children of his first marriage and two children of his second marriage. After his death it was discovered that he also had a de-facto partner living interstate who gave birth to their first child just a few days later, and another partner living overseas.

Despite the emotional stress on each of these woman, and the resentments which arose following the man’s death, McDermott & Associates was successful in working with the solicitors for the first wife and the de-facto partner to negotiate a unique settlement of the estate, using a formula based on the respective ages of the five children and their needs for care, avoiding the significant time and cost which would have been involved in contested Court proceedings.