Former Wigan Athletic footballer Marlon King has won a court battle against his half-siblings over their father's £650,000 will, after a judge ruled the document was not properly witnessed. The case, heard at Manchester Civil Justice Centre, concluded that the estate of Carl Vincent King should be divided equally among his three children instead of being left solely to Marvin and Leisha King.
Background of the Dispute
Carl Vincent King died on March 1, 2025, at the age of 73. His will, dated 2019, stated that his estate should be divided between his son Marvin King and daughter Leisha King, explicitly excluding Marlon under a clause titled 'intentional exclusion'. The clause read: 'I have deliberately excluded my son Marlon Francis King from this my Will and it is my intention that the Excluded Person should receive no part of my Estate.'
Marlon King, 46, who also played for Hull City and Middlesbrough in the Premier League, disputed the validity of the will, claiming it was not properly signed by witnesses as required by law. Under Section 9 of the Wills Act, two witnesses must be present at the same time when the person making the will signs it.
Court Ruling and Evidence
Last month, a judge ruled in Marlon's favour, concluding that the will was invalid and that the estate should be divided three ways. One of the witnesses, Karen Jones, confirmed to the court that she did not sign the will correctly in accordance with the law. A letter from solicitors Awdry Law stated that the other witness, Bianca Lilley, also confirmed she did not attest the will in accordance with the requirements.
Marvin King, who was designated executor of the will, has been ordered to pay two-thirds of Marlon's legal costs, assessed at £17,066.94. Speaking after the hearing, Marvin, 37, expressed his frustration: 'You're a multi-millionaire, you didn't come to his funeral, but you'll show up to take a third of everything. Honestly, to this day, I can't understand it.'
Marlon King's Response
Marlon King told SWNS that he had notified his brother he was unable to attend the funeral and had never asked to be included in the will. He said: 'I have every single bit of evidence which went in front of the court. I'm sure you have asked necessary questions to how the outcome was what it was and I definitely didn't want my name on anyone's will in any circumstances.'
Details of the Estate
According to court documents, the assets in Carl Vincent King's estate totalled £650,100. A post-mortem report stated that Mr King died following an infection after a transcatheter tricuspid valve replacement, a procedure where an artificial valve is inserted into one of the heart's valves. A letter from King's College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust confirmed that Mr King was the first patient in the UK to receive the 'specific valve' used in his operation, and that the infection 'developed rapidly and without early symptoms, making it difficult to detect'.
Marlon King's Career and Controversies
Marlon King made 66 Premier League appearances over a 15-year career and played 24 times for the Jamaica national team. He also attracted controversy off the pitch, including serving several jail terms. His half-brother Marvin urged others to learn from the case: 'I want a lot of people in my demographic to know that you've got to follow the law to the tee, because something like this could happen.'
