Voice UK star wins inheritance dispute with her viscount brother

The aristocratic singer and TV star Bo Bruce has won a court battle against her brother Thomas Brudenell-Bruce, Viscount Savernake, over their inheritance after their mother died.

Rebecca Armstrong Associate Solicitor reports on this recent case.

Bruce, whose full title is Lady Catherine Anna Brudenell-Bruce, was a runner up on the TV series, The Voice and has had chart success with the top 10 album, Before I Sleep.

She and her brother are the children of Lady Rosamond, the former Countess of Cardigan, and David Brudenell-Bruce, Earl of Cardigan, who divorced in 2009. 

Lady Rosamond received the property Leigh Hill House in the divorce, and when she died in 2012 it was left to the two children in equal shares.

Initially, both siblings wanted to keep the house in the family, but that changed in 2015 when Bruce found herself in “parlous financial circumstances”.

Thomas, who lived in the house, was made administrator of the will. He chose not to sell it and split the proceeds.

Bruce was pursuing her music career and was desperate for money. She spent years trying to persuade Thomas to sell the house or buy her share, but he wouldn’t do either as he maintained he wanted to keep it in the family.

Instead, he offered to pay her £20,000 a year rent as she was half-owner.

He also advanced her regular loans and paid £11,000 towards her wedding to Zero 7 star Henry Binns in 2016.

However, he made no effort to initiate a buyout or to put the property up for sale.

Bruce took legal action against Thomas and the High Court ruled in her favour.

Judge Linwood said that Thomas had ignored his responsibilities to his sister as executor of the will and that he should be replaced as estate executor.

He said there had been ‘no wrongdoing’ by Thomas but he should be replaced by an independent executor who would act in the best interests of both beneficiaries.

This would pave the way for the property to be sold.

If you would like more information about the issues raised in this article or or any aspect of contentious probate, please contact Rebecca on 01228 516666 or click here to send her an email.