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A young couple inherited a Rs 2.2 crore bungalow from a woman they never met. A legal battle ensued when a former student claimed the estate.
The couple accepted the inheritance as a stroke of luck. (Representational Image)
They had never heard of her. They had never met her. But when a distant and previously unknown relative left behind a bungalow worth Rs 2.2 crore in her will, a young couple thought fortune had smiled upon them. That joy, however, would soon take a dark turn, as their dream inheritance spiraled into a legal and emotional nightmare.
The bizarre twist of fate began in 2020 when Maureen, an elderly woman from Hertfordshire, UK, and a former teacher at The Barn School, passed away. Among her extensive assets – valued at over Rs 47 crore – was a luxurious bungalow that she unexpectedly bequeathed to Alex Renee and her husband Tom. The couple, stunned by the windfall, had never met Maureen, who was, it turned out, Tom’s step-grandmother.
The news came as a shock – albeit a welcome one. With no prior connection to Maureen, the couple accepted the inheritance as a stroke of inexplicable but welcome luck. Eager to begin a new chapter, they moved into the sprawling home. But soon after settling in, their good fortune began to unravel.
Almost immediately after they took possession of the property, a former student of Maureen came forward with startling claims. The student alleged that Maureen had in fact promised the entire estate to her, not to the couple. Backing her story with what appeared to be legal documents and the testimony of two supposed witnesses, she initiated a legal battle that would drag on for years.
The case was mired in uncertainty for three years, casting a shadow over the couple’s new life. With the authenticity of the will now under scrutiny, the legal proceedings placed Alex and Tom under immense emotional strain.
Finally, in October 2024, the truth emerged. The documents presented by the former student were proven to be fraudulent, and the court found the student guilty of attempting to falsify a will. She was sentenced 6.5 years in prison. The two individuals who had acted as her witnesses were also convicted and received separate sentences.
Speaking after the court’s decision, Alex reflected on the emotional toll the ordeal had taken. “It was a long and painful journey,” she said. “But in the end, justice prevailed, and we’re grateful to finally have peace.”
The couple, now the rightful owners of the Rs 2.2 crore bungalow, continue to reside in the house that nearly slipped from their grasp.
- Location :
United Kingdom (UK)
