‘The widow executed a new will. Her children were unsure why’

The inside story of how a family fought in court after one son got power of attorney over his mother’s affairs

A recent High Court ruling has highlighted the emotional and financial cost to families who fall out over their parents’ estate.

The breakdown in relationships most commonly happens after death. With lifespans increasing, the Central Statistics Office predicts Ireland’s over-80 population will more than triple to 458,000 by 2041.

A likely byproduct of people living longer is an upsurge in the numbers without the capacity to manage their finances without assistance. Last year, ...