The Voice singer, Bo Bruce wins bitter battle – £2mil inheritance dispute
by Rose Bobby
A brother’s refusal to sell the home led to an earl’s daughter being denied her inheritance.
What has happened to Bo Bruce?
After nearly a decade since their mother (Lady Rosamond) passing, aristocratic pop singer Bo Bruce (Lady Catherine Anna Brudenell-Bruce), wins a bitter court battle against her brother, Thomas (Viscount Savernake).
Bo Bruce, a runner-up in 2012 series of The Voice never received her rightful inheritance due to her brother refusing to sell the house despite the fact his sister, Bo, was in desperate need for money.
Lady Rosamond left her estate in equal shares to her two children. The countess’s home, worth £2 million was included in her estate. After a two-day hearing, Ms Bruce won £2million.
What are an executor/personal representative’s duties?
- They collect all assets due to the estate as soon as possible after death.
- They pay all outstanding taxes and debts from the estate.
- They distribute the estate to the people who are entitled to it as per the Will.
- They ensure that all the property owned by the person who has died is secured as soon as possible.
It is vital that Executors or Administrator must always act in the best interests of the beneficiaries of the estate even if this is contrary to their own personal interests.
Why is being an executor important?
This case reinforces the importance of the role of executorship. It is your responsibility to administer the estate in the best interests of the beneficiaries. As the judge asserts, Thomas has ‘ignored his responsibility’ to his sister as the executor of his mother’s Will
This case reinforces the importance of the duties and responsibilities of executorship. It is your responsibility to administer the estate in the best interests of the beneficiaries. As judge, deputy master John Linwood states, Thomas has ‘ignored his responsibility’ to his sister as the executor of his mother’s Will.
The commentary
Thomas Klemme, Associate, Wedlake Bell LLP comments on the case:
“The recent case involving the singer Bo Bruce, formally known as Lady Catherine Brudenell-Bruce, and her mother’s estate is a timely reminder not only of the duties of personal representatives (‘PRs’) to administer estates, but also the remedies available to beneficiaries to enforce their rights.”
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