Left out of her father's Will: Vera's story

Vera had always been close to her parents and after her mother passed away in a tragic accident, she spent years caring for her father.

But after he also passed, it became clear that his Will did not leave Vera much of his estate.

Vera's Story

Vera was born in Melbourne a few years after her parents emigrated from Germany.

She remembers a happy childhood, being close with her dad, and says they spent a lot of time together, going to the movies and theatre shows.

When Vera was 18 her mother was killed in a motor vehicle accident. She returned to her parents’ home to help take care of both her father and her younger sister, preparing meals and housekeeping.

When she was in her early 20s, Vera moved away. Her two sons were born in the years that followed, and when Vera became a single parent, she had sole custody of her children.

Like many Australians, Vera struggled financially. She’d raised her two sons on a single income and, despite advancing her career through further education, Vera couldn’t afford to buy her own home.  

Another death in the family

When Vera’s father became ill, she again returned to the family home to care for him, which involved cleaning, cooking, and arranging all the medical appointments she went to with him.

Vera’s father passed away in palliative care in January 2023.

That’s when she discovered the provision made for her in the Will was significantly less than she had anticipated.

The legal claim

Vera approached our Will Disputes team to understand her rights and explore her legal options.

"I felt that my father's Will was prejudiced against me and gave more for other family members. I sought legal advice to see whether I had a claim or not because I thought that I did. When I called Maurice Blackburn, they reinforced that, yes, I did have a claim."

With the expert support of our experienced legal team, Vera pursued a claim to contest her father’s Will based on his moral obligation to provide for her.

Vera says that knowing her experienced Will Disputes lawyer was on her side felt reassuring.

“The team were professional and compassionate towards my plea. They were understanding and explained everything really well so that I wasn't in the dark about anything. I knew exactly what was going on, what was happening and why it was happening.” 

Before seeking legal advice, Vera didn’t know she could access 'no win, no fee*' legal support. Knowing she wouldn’t have to pay if she didn’t win meant Vera could progress her claim with complete confidence.

For others who might be in a similar situation, Vera suggests taking the first step to explore your options. Will disputes have strict time limits, so acting quickly matters. Seeking expert legal advice will help you understand your rights and what to do next.

“Don't hesitate to just get the advice, and then you can decide whether you're going to continue or not. But the first step is to get that advice.”

If you feel that you have been left out of a Will, we can help. Contact us for a confidential chat with our Will Disputes team.