New York Mining Heiress Huguette Clark’s Family Alleges Fraud In Her Estate
By Barry Zimmer on July 15th, 2014 in Probate, Wills & Trusts
Huguette Clark is Making News Again
A new book, Empty Mansions, http://www.emptymansionsbook.com/ is making Huguette Clark news again. In case you don’t remember who she is:
In the ongoing drama that is the Huguette Clark estate, the millionaire heiress’s family recently claimed that her former accountant, lawyer and nurse committed fraud and deprived the estate of millions of dollars.
Ms. Clark is the sole surviving heir of former senator and wealthy industrialist William Clark, who died leaving her a $400 million inheritance. Ms. Clark herself died in 2011 at the age of 104, leaving behind no children, and her nearest family members were half grand-nieces and has grand-nephews. Her Last Will left nothing to her family, but left more than $20 million to her nurse, and $500,000 each to her accountant and attorney.
The family is charging that Ms. Clark was not capable of making knowledgeable choices at the time of creating her Last Will, and that those closest to her unduly influenced her as she made her Will. They have asked the New York Surrogate’s Court to throw out the Will and adopt the second-oldest Will she had created a mere six weeks prior to her final Will.
Previously in the case, her attorney and accountant were removed as executors after the public official assigned to co-administer the case revealed evidence of mishandling and misappropriation.
If the court throws out the newest Will, her family Will stand to inherit much more, especially if the court decides to throw both Wills out.
Update on this case can be found Here