A woman’s £340,000 estate is the subject of a dispute between her partner and four charities.
Before she had met her partner Richard Guest, Tracey Leaning wrote a will in 2007, leaving her entire estate to charity. Prior to her death, however, Leaning wrote a second will in 2014 which she left her property to Richard, on the proviso that he kept her three dogs.
However, the validity of this second will is being contested by the four charities – Dogs Trust, Friends Of The Animals, World Animal Protection and Heart Research UK – in regard to the caveat on the initial will left by Leaning.
Expressing his distress at the case, Mr Guest stated: ‘They have put me through hell. I’ve had to relive my loss and face financial hardship to defend the wishes of someone I loved. I almost lost the will to live.
‘It was only the realisation there would be nobody to care for Tracey’s dogs and the fact that she was relying upon me to do so which kept me going.
‘Thinking they may end up alone in an animal shelter, or separated, would have broken her heart. It’s ironic that three animal charities are pushing this case when all I want to do is fulfil Tracey’s heartfelt desire that the dogs stay together in a familiar place.
‘They are trying to say the second will is invalid because the paper with the signature on it wasn’t stapled to the other part, but it was in the same sealed envelope and was only opened by her solicitor.’
A statement delivered on behalf of the charities highlighted the value of charitable donations in wills, reading: ‘‘Charities are extremely grateful to receive gifts from wills as they enable them to make a real difference to people and animals.
‘If it is not possible to reach agreement about this, then the parties will need to ask the court to decide.’
