Legal Challenge to Artist's Estate

An interesting legal battle has begun in England over the estate of one of the country's most famous contemporary artists, Lucian Freud, reports the Telegraph.

The painter died in 2011 at the age of 88 and left behind 14 children. His estate was valued at around £95.9 million and a substantial portion of this was distributed as legacies, as instructed in his Will. The remainder of his estate, around £42 million, was placed in a trust that is managed by a solicitor and one of Freud's daughters.

His other 13 children received nothing under the Will, and one of Freud's sons, Paul Freud, has now lodged a legal challenge in the High Court, contesting the legality of this trust in an attempt to gain a share of his father's estate.

According to the Telegraph, the two trustees have refused to reveal details of any instructions left by Freud regarding the trust. This has led Paul Freud to claim that there may be no specific instructions at all and therefore the money in the trust may not ever have been the subject of the Will.

Challenging a Will can be a complex matter, and professional legal advice is essential. The solicitors at Szabo & Associates will be able to advise you on the likelihood of your claim succeeding and discuss with you the best way to proceed with your claim.

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If you are thinking of contesting, making or updating a Will then it is important to seek expert legal advice as quickly as possible. Contact Szabo & Associates Solicitors today and speak with one of our specialist solicitors. Call us on (02) 9281-5088 or fill in the contact form to the right of this page.