Huge £1m inheritance feud explodes as mum leaves fortune to daughter and snubs sons
A bitter row ensued between siblings in London after their mother left her two sons out of her property inheritance.
A seven-year battle by three brothers to prevent their tennis coach sister inheriting their mother’s £1million home has been criticised as “out of control” by a judge.
David, Nino and Remo Rea have feuded with Rita Rea since 2017 after their mum Anna left her nearly all her fortune, claiming her sons had “abandoned” her.
The brothers believed they had won in July last year when Judge David Hodge at the High Court ruled that Rita had “coerced” Anna into making the will, adding it was an “aggressively fought” family row which was “out of control”.
But in February, the Court of Appeal awarded the Tooting, South London, house to Rita, overturning the High Court ruling. The sons are in court again, appealing the legal bills they must pay to Rita’s lawyers.
Anna, who emigrated to the UK from Italy, died aged 86 in 2016. She declared that Rita, who moved in to care for her in 2009, deserved her home because “she has taken care of me all these years”.
She stated: “My sons do not help me with their care and there has been numerous calls for help from me but they are not engaging with any help or assistance.” But the sons claimed the 2015 will was invalid because Rita used her influence to cut them out.
A 2019 judgment in Rita’s favour was overturned in 2022 after two appeals. After the brothers won last year, a previous 1986 will was deemed valid, splitting Anna’s fortune four ways until the Court of Appeal decision.
The brothers were ordered to pay £119,200 up front to Rita’s lawyers, ahead of a full assessment of costs.
Their barrister Teresa Rosen Peacocke told judge Master Francesca Kaye they are planning an appeal against the costs decision.
The case was in court as Rita’s lawyers asked for final charges over the brothers’ homes to secure the debt, meaning they could be sold.
