Brothers win £460,000 inheritance fight with their cheating dad's 'secret family'
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Two brothers have won a lengthy inheritance fight with their cheating dad's "secret family". Michael Gymer died at the age of 83 in December 2020, six months after his wife Julie, 81, passed away. Shortly after the death of their mother, the couple's children Shelley, Gregory and Lee were stunned to find out their dad had led a double life for decades which their mum never knew about.
The discovery of Michael's relationship with Beverley Madden - mum of secret half-siblings Joseph Gymer, 29, and Charlotte Gymer, 32 - led to a legal showdown over the father's £461,000 estate. Central London County Court heard how neither Michael nor Julie left a will, meaning Michael's estate stood to be split equally among his five children. But Shelley, 62, Gregory, 64, and Lee, 54, argued that was unfair, as Michael inherited Julie's share when she died - meaning her money was effectively being shared among her unfaithful husband's secret lovechildren.
Gregory and Lee sued and have now won a ruling cutting out about £170,000 from their dad's estate that would have otherwise been shared with their half-siblings. The judge awarded Gregory and Lee a third each - worth about £85,000 - of Julie's share of the couple's joint wealth. He ruled Gregory and Lee Gymer had pressing financial needs that justified them getting a third each of their mum's share, while their sister Shelley's needs were not so acute.
Recorder Jonathan Cohen KC explained how Michael's affair was "conducted secretly over decades from at least 1992". He said all five children were "innocent victims" of a "mess" created by their dad - although Charlotte and Joseph had known about his other family.
