LONDON: An 83-year-old British Sikh widow has won her legal battle in the London high court to a “reasonable” share of 50% of her late husband’s estate, worth an estimated 1. 2 million pounds, after he died over a year ago leaving it all to their two sons in a will. Justice Robert Peel concluded in a ruling that he was satisfied that Karnail Singh did not make reasonable provision for Harbans Kaur, his wife of 66 years, despite her “full and equal contribution” to the marriage and also to their erstwhile clothing business. According to the court documents, one of the sons who is a beneficiary of the will did not oppose his mother’s claim, but the second son did not participate in the proceedings.
Justice Peel also directed that a sum of £20,000 should be “forthwith paid to the claimant” from the estate by way of monies on account of final distribution to her and her legal costs should also be met out of the estate. “She does not pursue a case, sometimes advanced in financial remedies proceedings, that she should receive a greater share than 50% in order to meet her needs. Her intention is to purchase a property near her daughter,” the judge notes.
The judgment follows a hearing earlier this month, which heard that Karnail Singh passed away in August 2021 and under a will dated June 2005, the estate was left in equal shares to their two sons. The reason why the will excluded his wife and their four daughters was that Singh had wished to leave his estate “solely down the male line”. Kaur is registered a disabled person.
Justice Peel also directed that a sum of £20,000 should be “forthwith paid to the claimant” from the estate by way of monies on account of final distribution to her and her legal costs should also be met out of the estate. “She does not pursue a case, sometimes advanced in financial remedies proceedings, that she should receive a greater share than 50% in order to meet her needs. Her intention is to purchase a property near her daughter,” the judge notes.
The judgment follows a hearing earlier this month, which heard that Karnail Singh passed away in August 2021 and under a will dated June 2005, the estate was left in equal shares to their two sons. The reason why the will excluded his wife and their four daughters was that Singh had wished to leave his estate “solely down the male line”. Kaur is registered a disabled person.