Daily Lessons from Life 09 November 2009

"Mon, Nov 09, 2009 The Straits Times - Brothers tussle over mum's $25m estate

TWO brothers are set to battle it out in court over whether a 2004 or 2009 will should be recognised following their mother's death in August.

At stake is Madam Lim Lie Hoa's substantial estate, worth more than $25 million, including property and assets in Singapore and Indonesia.


The matriarch's second son, Mr Ong Siauw Ping, 50, through Senior Counsel Philip Jeyaretnam, filed court papers last week seeking to affirm he is the sole executor of a will Madam Lim signed on July 9. The will, witnessed by lawyers Chan Wai Mun and Glenn Knight, is understood to have bequeathed varying portions of her estate to all three sons.

But youngest son Elton, 34, gave court notice through Senior Counsel Michael Khoo on Monday to contest this.


Madam Lim, 74, is said to have made a will in 2004 that provides for the two younger brothers and excludes eldest sibling Siauw Tjoan, 52, who is estranged from her and based in Kuala Lumpur.

Siauw Tjoan is also estranged from wife Jane Rebecca Ong, who was earlier embroiled in an 18-year-suit with Madam Lim over her share of the estate.


Elton wants the court to recognise the 2004 will as the valid one and he takes issue with the circumstances in which the 2009 will was signed. He had tried unsuccessfully to get joint management of his mother's estate earlier this year by having the High Court declare her of unsound mind.

The showdown in court is the latest episode in the increasingly strained relationship of the two brothers."

An interesting but yet familiar story of someones fighting over the inheritance of dead people!

Lessons for me are:

1. money is important in an urban and commercial society. The question is: how much is enough? What is the reason for wanting more instead of sharing the money equally if no wills or incomplete wills were made? If it is for consumption only, then it is probably not useful!!;

2. when one is rich, one better make sure the wills are fire-safe, manipulation-free! Also, be clear why you want to leave the money with your kids and not to the charity. Personally, giving them sufficient is good but not more than enough!;

3. leave your kids a legacy of wisdom, tolerance, caring and doing the right things is more important than leaving them your money!! This somehow is what the wealthy people tended to miss this out!

May the rich folks died with their kids in harmony!! ;-))