A long running legal impasse has finally been resolved, enabling two elderly American women to inherit an English estate, reported The Daily Mail this week.
As a result of a legal provision, known as an entail, made around 100 years ago, Hoblyn Estate in Cornwall could only be inherited by a male heir. When John Paget Figg-Hoblyn became entitled to inherit the estate around forty years ago he did not complete the necessary legal formalities to complete title to the property.
As a result the property fell into disrepair and parts of it were sold off to pay duties and administration costs.
When Mr Figg-Holbyn died in June 2011 the Court of Protection in London was enabled to determine the fate of the property. According to the Daily Mail, it has decided that estate should be sold, and that the sale proceeds, after all costs are deducted, split between his elderly sisters.
