Peggy Dalton and Richard Dalton. Image Credit: The Independent
Peggy Dalton’s decision to leave almost all her £600,000 estate to one son and his wife was overturned by the High Court after her other son challenged the will. Richard Dalton, a retired electrician who volunteers at a charity shop, had been excluded from his mother’s inheritance following allegations that he stole money from her and attempted to murder his brother.
The judge found that dementia, isolation and possible undue influence had undermined Peggy’s ability to make a valid will, restoring an earlier arrangement that gave Richard a share of the estate.
The family circumstances raised concerns
Her husband William died in 2008 after suffering brain damage in a road accident, following years of care from Peggy. The family also lost daughter Christine in 2015 and son David in 2018, leaving Richard and Robert as her surviving sons. The Independent reported that Peggy told the will writers Richard had taken £100,000 from her and had been charged with attempted murder after attacking Robert. Master Katherine McQuail found that Peggy’s mental condition had deteriorated significantly by late 2020.
The judge therefore questioned how she had come to believe Richard had attempted to kill his brother. The Independent reported that family members were unable to administer Peggy’s medication, while social workers were denied access.
Peggy had not witnessed that incident herself, according to the court evidence. These allegations became central to the court proceedings, as Richard argued that his mother’s beliefs were mistaken and had been influenced by others. Medical professionals and relatives had also expressed concerns about Robert and Carly’s involvement in her financial affairs. The judge concluded that dementia had affected her ability to understand the document and the circumstances surrounding her decision.
Peggy had experienced considerable family loss before the inheritance dispute began.