Jennifer Scott, the former cleaner of the late multimillionaire Richard Scott, known as the “car boot king,” has emerged victorious in a legal battle against his son for a share of his £43 million estate. Richard, a larger-than-life tycoon and father of 19, married Jennifer, 28 years his junior, in 2016 after the death of his first wife.
Richard excluded his eldest son, Adam, from his will, leaving Jennifer to inherit his fortune, amassed from running the UK’s second largest boot fair on his expansive Cheshire farm. Adam, 62, contested the wills, claiming his father was not of sound mind when he signed them.
In court, Adam explained how he had devoted his life to working on his father’s farm, expecting to inherit it one day. Jennifer’s legal team argued that Richard was fully aware of his actions and that Adam had already received significant assets before Richard’s passing.
Following a trial, Mr. Justice Richards ruled in favor of Jennifer, stating that Richard’s decision to disinherit Adam was influenced by his personality rather than dementia. The court also heard about Richard’s successful business ventures and his tumultuous family relationships, including the disputes surrounding his estate.
Richard’s decision to exclude Adam from his will was upheld, with Jennifer now in control of the multimillion-pound estate. Despite the legal battle, the court recognized Richard’s capacity to make decisions regarding his inheritance, based on his personal beliefs and relationships with his family members.