29th October 2024 – Myerson Solicitors, a Top UK 200 law firm based in Altrincham, Cheshire, has successfully defended a client in the high-profile contentious probate case Neate v Heselden, which has attracted media attention due to its unusual circumstances, involving a valuable stamp collection and a longstanding friendship between the Deceased and his former cleaner, Susan Pope.
His Honour Judge Gerald, sitting at the County Court at Central London, delivered judgment on the 24th October 2024, confirming the validity of the will of the late Raymond Watts, dated 2nd May 2019, as modified by a codicil on 12th November 2020. This ruling upholds the Deceased’s wish to leave legacies to his biological children and name his good friend Susan Pope as the primary beneficiary of his estate. In doing so, he dismissed the claims of the Deceased’s stepdaughter, Beverley Neate, who had contested the validity of the will.
Mrs Pope started working for the Deceased in 2011, after he had posted an advertisement for a cleaner. However, over the years, Mrs Pope became a close friend of the Deceased and shared in his hobby of philately, often taking the Deceased to stamp fairs across the country. The Deceased became ill in the latter years of his life and Mrs Pope acted as a carer for him, taking him to all his medical appointments, visiting him in hospital and generally supporting him with daily living. As HHJ Gerald commented during the trial, Mrs Pope was the “single biggest constant” in the Deceased’s life, and as a thank you for her unwavering friendship and support, the Deceased wanted to gift Mrs Pope his stamp collection and leave the majority of his estate to her on his death.
In contrast, towards the end of the Deceased’s life, Mrs Neate, the Deceased’s stepdaughter, started acting in ways described by the Deceased as “disrespectful and distressing.” Her actions included entering his property and changing the locks whilst he was ill in hospital. As a result of the upset caused by Mrs Neate’s behaviour, the Deceased decided that he no longer wished to make any meaningful provision for her in his will. To reflect this, he made the 2020 codicil to modify his 2019 will and reduce Mrs Neate’s legacy from £15,000 to £1.
Mrs Neate sought to establish that the 2019 will and 2020 codicil were invalid. She brought her claim on the grounds that the Deceased did not know and approve the content of the will or codicil and argued that his estate should be administered in accordance with his previous will dated 8th June 2007. The first and second Defendants are the executors and trustees of the 2019 will and remained neutral in the proceedings.
Mrs Neate’s claim was dismissed, and she was ordered to pay the costs of the first, second and third Defendants on an indemnity basis.
Mrs Pope, the third Defendant was represented by Senior Associate Eleanor Clarke of Myerson Solicitors with support from the wider Contentious Trusts and Probate team including Jade Smith and Olivia Shorrock. Mrs Pope was represented at court by barrister Elis Gomer of 5 Stone Buildings.
Reflecting on the judgement, Myerson’s Eleanor Clarke said: “This is a fantastic result for Sue after such a long, bitter and stressful battle. She is happy that Ray’s wishes for her and his children are finally being carried out. Sue was pleased with the kind comments from the Judge and wanted to thank everyone who has helped and supported her through the last difficult 4 years.”
While this matter was ultimately resolved through trial, it is important to note that most contentious probate cases are settled outside of court, through mediation and direct negotiations. In 2023, only 122 contested probate cases went to trial, up from 116 cases in 2022, according to the Ministry of Justice Family Court Statistics. Yet, it is estimated that as many as 10,000 will disputes arise in England and Wales every year. Myerson’s Probate Litigation Team is one of the largest in England and Wales. Helen Thompson leads the team and handles contentious probate cases nationwide. The team is recognised for its expertise and has been consistently ranked as tier one in the Legal 500 and recognised by Chambers and Partners.
For more information about our Contentious Probate Team, visit:
https://www.myerson.co.uk/personal/contested-probate
Note to the editors – About coverage of the case in the press
The case was covered in the following publications:
Stamp enthusiast gave £200,000 collection to his cleaner in snub to children before death
Will row after man, 90, sells £200,000 stamp collection to cleaner for £1
Note to Editors – About Myerson Solicitors
Founded in 1982 in Altrincham, Cheshire, Myerson Solicitors is a Top 200 UK and ‘Top Tier’ Legal 500-rated law firm. It provides expert commercial and private legal services to businesses and individuals nationwide and beyond. With a dedicated team of over 150 employees including 25 partners, Myerson has consistently demonstrated its commitment to excellence in the legal field.
Notably, Myerson has received recognition from The Times as one of the “Top 200 Best Law Firms” in 2019, 2021, and 2023. This distinction reflects its consistent dedication to delivering top-quality legal advice to clients across a wide spectrum of business and personal services and sectors.
Myerson Solicitors are ranked Band 2 in the Chambers and Partners 2024 High Net Worth Guide for both Private Wealth Law in Manchester and surrounds, and Private Wealth Disputes in the North West.
Furthermore, Myerson takes pride in its status as a “Best Companies World Class Employer 2023,” reaffirming its commitment to fostering a positive and supportive workplace environment for its employees.
In September 2024, Myerson Solicitors became the first law firm in Manchester to convert from an LLP to a 100% employee-owned business. Myerson Solicitors operates through Myerson Limited (company number 15557117; SRA ID – 8007783), which is wholly owned by an Employee Ownership Trust (EOT), established for the benefit of all its employees.
For more information about Myerson Solicitors and its outstanding legal services, please visit its website at www.myerson.co.uk
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