Published on: 24th October 2016

Minimise the risk of any disputes over your Will

The widow of Ian Wooldridge, a construction entrepreneur, has taken her stepson to court for "a few million pounds more" from the family estate.

In October 2010, Mr Wooldridge died aged 52 in a helicopter crash in Northern Ireland. His Will divided up his £10 million gross fortune, including the family's Surrey home - Glanfield Manor. Thandi Wooldridge, his widow aged 50, inherited the £4.25 million property as well as other assets worth £1.6 million.

But Mrs Wooldridge is now after £3.75 million more, stating she needs £372,000 per year to cover her expenses and maintain her in the lifestyle she has grown accustomed to. Her stepson Charlie, who now works in his father's construction business, is aiming to stop her.

Penelope Reed, Charlie's lawyer, told Judge Karen Walden-Smith that the widow's demands were far too "extravagant." Mrs Wooldridge has said she needed a whopping £178,000 for social events, clothes, jewellery, personal care and general entertainment.

Reports say that Richard Wilson, QC for Mrs Wooldridge, accepted that she and her husband had lived "an extraordinarily luxurious lifestyle, vastly in excess of what most people could ever aspire to."

He said "That included numerous long-haul holidays, accompanied by the most luxurious travel and accommodation on offer." But he has denied that her demands are excessive as she had played a key part to her late husband's success in his businesses.

Mrs Wooldridge told the court that life policies intended to provide "liquid capital" had been depleted by the need to pay off debts.

Miss Reed said that Mrs Wooldridge had assets worth £10 million, including a £1.9 million pay out of compensation for her husband's death. She said to the court: "If you look at Charlie's needs and resources, the most important thing is that his present and future are tied up with the family businesses. Destroying these businesses cannot be justified simply to support the sort of extravagant lifestyle she is asking the court to fund."

Judge Walden-Smith reserved her ruling until a later date.

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