Couple inherits $40 million estate from elderly neighbor after her death – her family got nothing

In the most astonishing of events, a family was left empty-handed after the passing of their wealthy elderly relative. But what amazed them the most was how two strangers were declared the rightful owners of the multi-million dollar estate. Here’s the full story!

As humans, we prefer to be in control of situations and don’t always like things getting out of control. When something goes against our wishes, we often feel hurt, disillusioned and hopeless.

Regaining balance and finding a way out may not always be easy, even if it lasts for a moment. Something similar happened to an Australian family when life surprised them in ways they never thought possible.

Purchase of a new house

In 1999, David Moore and his partner, Dee Andreasen, bought a house at 70 Louisa Road in Birchgrove, Sydney’s inner west area. They described their then new residence as the “worst house on the best street.”

But her hopes and wishes were apparently dashed.

The wealthy neighbor

When they began living in the affluent suburb, the couple met Barbara Murphy, who owned 66 and 68 Louisa Road properties. Murphy had rented out the other units and was the only tenant living upstairs at 68 Louisa Road, Birchgrove.

According to Bev Maunsell, another neighbor who lived across the road for over three decades, Ms. Murphy up during the Great Depression. Maunsell said she attended every auction event in Birchgrove, was a careful money manager and knew the value of every property.

Meanwhile, Moore and Andreasen, who originally lived down the street, ended up forming a close friendship with Murphy after moving next to her. It was something neither party had anticipated, but it was a pleasant experience.

Mrs. Murphy’s Will

Mrs. Murphy sadly died at her waterfront home in Sydney in 2015 at the age of 83. She reportedly changed her will a year before her death, giving her neighbors, Moore and Andreasen, $25,000.

But she left his entire estate worth $11 million to his brother and sister, Don and Marion. They were to split the share equally, but if Murphy survived them, the entire profit would go to two hospitals in Sydney.

Bringing the case to court

Curiously, Moore decided to contest the late Ms. Murphy’s will in court. He and Andreasen even visited her siblings, Don and Marion, at their home on the New South Wales Far North Coast to try to settle the case out of court.

While the sibling duo seemed surprised by their sister’s decision, especially with the brother unaware of the property’s value at the time, they didn’t budge. After their refusal, Mr. Moore wait for the court’s decision.

Empty handed & broken

The legal battle lasted six years, during which Don and Marion died, and legal fees continued to mount. Finally, in October 2020, Mrs. Murphy’s neighbors won the case and received their long-awaited windfall.

The shocking news devastated Marion’s stepchildren, Carol Gaarde, David Hickman and Shirley Archer. They believed that after Marion’s death they would automatically be entitled to the state.

Hickman said she and her family took care of Marion and earned their share of the property. She was also amazed at how the court could supersede something as significant as a will.

In addition to Hickman, another person who was devastated by the court’s verdict was Gaarde. Given her financial circumstances, she had hoped to use her share of the inheritance to improve her situation. But her hopes and wishes were apparently dashed.

A promise made years ago

So how did Mr. Moore and Ms. Andreasen win the challenging legal battle? When they first started living next door to Ms. Murphy, they wanted to renovate their house. The duo even planned to sell their waterfront home at a high price.

But they decided to abandon renovation plans during the course of their friendship with Mrs Murphy. Per Mr. Moore, the wealthy old lady promised to leave them all her property, but she had two conditions.

First, she urged the couple not to extend their property so that her lovely view of the harbor would not be blocked. Second, because she had no children and no close relatives in Sydney, she asked them if they would be interested in taking care of her so that she would not spend the rest of her life in a nursing home.

Keep their word and win the case

Mr. Moore and his partner told the court they kept their side of the promise. They said Mrs Murphy was so pleased with them that she promised to leave her entire estate in their names.

In the end, the judge ruled in their favor after considering how brilliantly they kept their word to the late Sydney resident. After the, Moore and Andreasen were declared the rightful owners of the $40 million estate in return for staying true to their promise to Mrs. Murphy.

What are your thoughts on this story? Do you agree with the court’s decision to hand over the deceased elderly woman’s multi-million property to her neighbours?