Millionaire mother cuts son out of £5 million will after affair

A 70-year-old man, Gary MacDougall, has found himself excluded from his mother’s £5 million fortune following revelations about his marital infidelity, a court heard this week.

Gary had expected the estate of his late mother, Jeanne MacDougall, to be divided fairly between him, his sister Sandra Thomas, 65, and her husband, Lloyd ‘Philip’ Thomas.

Excluded from the £5 million will

However, after a revision of Jeanne’s will in 2011 and a series of property sales and gifts, Gary claims he was left with virtually nothing when his mother passed away in April 2020.

He is now suing his sister and brother-in-law at the High Court, alleging they misappropriated £1.685 million of his mother’s money while she was still alive.

Gary denied claims that he was disinherited because of his affair, telling the judge, “She wasn’t happy, no – she was delighted when it concluded. She reminded me of my responsibilities, but it was a very brief fling. If she had been cross with me, mum would’ve let me know. She would’ve given me both barrels.”

Claims of misappropriation and undue influence

Legal representatives for Mrs Thomas argued that Jeanne, as a member of an older generation, may have felt disappointed with Gary’s behaviour.

They also maintained that Jeanne was capable of making decisions regarding her will and had legitimate reasons for the 2011 revision, including her daughter and son-in-law’s support in her old age.

Gary claims the Avenue Crescent property, valued at £1.7 million and gifted to Mrs Thomas, was promised to him and that undue influence was exerted while his mother lacked full independence.

He is also pursuing claims on other estate funds he says were spent on holidays, cars, and family celebrations by his sister and her husband.

The trial continues as the High Court examines claims of undue influence and the validity of the disputed will.