A bitter inheritance battle, worth over £20 million, has erupted among the children of the late Sir Stirling Moss, a legendary British Formula One driver. At the heart of this dispute are allegations of probate fraud and other serious claims, which have come to light almost six years after Sir Stirling's passing.
The legal battle revolves around the will of Lady Susie Moss, Sir Stirling's third wife, who left behind a substantial fortune of £27.8 million upon her death in 2023. She had been the beneficiary of the majority of her husband's £22 million estate.
Lady Susie was survived by her son, Stirling Elliot Moss, and Sir Stirling's daughter from a previous marriage, Allison Bradley. It is Allison who has taken her half-brother, Stirling Elliot, to court, claiming that her stepmother's "last valid will" gave her the power to decide how her brother should benefit from the estate.
However, Stirling Elliot, a professional chef, disputes the legitimacy of that will, dated January 2022, and has filed a counterclaim, making a series of grave allegations. Among these is a threat allegedly made by his wife, Helen, to "allege probate fraud" against Lady Moss and Richard Frankel, a family friend and classic car collector, unless certain demands were met, including the transfer of all shares in Sir Stirling's company, Stirling Moss Limited.
Allison's legal team has responded with further accusations, including a claim that Helen's actions could have provoked Lady Moss to disinherit her own son. The document also quotes an alleged email from Stirling Elliot to Frankel, expressing his frustration over the potential sale of property portfolios by his mother, stating that he felt "robbed" of his rightful inheritance.
Furthermore, a draft letter of wishes written by Lady Moss in 2022 has been quoted, indicating her desire for Allison and her children to be the primary beneficiaries of her trust, with Elliot and his children as potential beneficiaries, but only if Allison decided so.
The law firm representing Stirling Elliot has stated that neither he nor his wife will comment on the ongoing legal proceedings. Elliot is seeking a ruling in favor of what he believes to be his mother's true will, made almost two decades earlier in 2002. His counterclaim states that this will was accompanied by a letter of wishes dividing the estate 75% to 25% in his favor.
Frankel, who is not a party to the proceedings, could not be reached for comment regarding the allegations made against him. Similarly, earlier this month, Elliot's legal submission claimed that Lady Moss's will was "procured by undue influence and/or fraudulent calumny" on the part of Frankel, who allegedly "poisoned" her mind against Elliot.
Allison's latest filing denies these claims, stating that Frankel held an honest belief in equal division of inheritance among children. Elliot had also alleged that Frankel visited Lady Moss during her husband's final years, slept in her bed, and supplied her with alcohol despite her son's pleas. Allison's submission acknowledges that Frankel may have provided Lady Susie with alcohol at her request but denies knowledge of the other matters pleaded.
Elliot further claimed that his mother suffered from alcohol dependency, depression, and brain damage, which affected her capacity to manage her affairs. Allison's submission denies this, except for acknowledging periodic alcohol dependency that had no impact on Lady Moss's ability to make a valid will.
The relationship between Allison and her stepmother is also a point of contention. Elliot alleged that their relationship was strained, while Allison's submission states that she enjoyed a loving and dependable relationship with Lady Susie for most of her adult life, and that Lady Susie made it clear she had two children.
The legal battle continues, with both sides presenting their cases and counterclaims. The outcome of this dispute will have significant implications for the distribution of Sir Stirling Moss's substantial fortune, and it remains to be seen how the courts will rule on these complex and controversial matters.
