A widow whose multi-millionaire husband died in a helicopter crash has lost a three year inheritance battle over an additional £3.75 million pay-out, which she desired to continue funding her lavish lifestyle.
Under the Inheritance Act 1975 – introduced to help surviving dependents left without sufficient money to get by – Thandi Woolridge claimed to need £372,000 per year to fund the extravagant lifestyle she had become accustomed to after meeting her late-husband, Ian.
The widow intended to persist with the frequent purchase of big-ticket items such as luxury cars and long haul holidays.
However, a Judge ruled that the 50-year-old, who had already acquired £5.8 million in assets from her husband’s will – including their £4.25 million family home – should not be entitled to the pay-out.
Mrs Woolridge’s claims were opposed by her stepson, Charlie – who, along with his brother, Rhett, was left his father’s £40-million-per-year construction business, and feared that his stepmother’s entitlement to the money would damage its future operation.
In a ruling at Central London County Court, Judge Karen Walden-Smith threw out Mrs Wooldridge’s claim.
“I expressly reject that her lifestyle ever involved expenditure of the level she now claims. That figure is not substantiated by any hard evidence and is contradicted by the evidence that is available.
“It is a claim which is not supported by her current expenditure and is a figure that she has gradually been building upon over the years that this claim has persisted.
“In my judgment, the will does make reasonable provision for Thandi. Thandi has enough,” said Judge Walden-Smith.
Stepson Charlie Woolridge said: “The businesses will now remain with Rhett and me, exactly as dad had wanted, giving us both the opportunity to continue what dad started.
“It’s a relief that the case is over as it has been a very tough three years.”