Inheritance Disputes from Beyond the Grave

The recent exhumation of Salvador Dalí’s remains represents an unpleasant and worrisome indicator of how far some will go to establish bogus inheritance claims. Pilar Abel’s now-debunked assertion that she is Dalí’s daughter served as her attempt to win 25% of a $1 billion estate.

In the UK, inheritance claims are becoming more convoluted and much more common. In 2016, claims issued under the Inheritance Act 1975 increased by almost 40%. For those planning their estates, it is important to put safeguards in place. The particular provisions required to protect an estate plan should be discussed with a professional. But, a first and free step advisors suggest to their clients is to engage in conversation with family members. Though disagreeable, such discussions may avoid estate challenges after death.  

See Lucy Warwick-Ching, Inheritance Disputes from Beyond the Grave, Financial Times, October 19, 2017.

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