The sudden death of a wealthy London bachelor has unleashed a transatlantic legal storm, exposing a hidden double life and triggering a bitter inheritance battle between two families who never knew each other existed.
A Life of Secrets Unraveled
When 44-year-old City financier Andrew Le Cheminant was found dead in his Westminster apartment, his passing appeared to be the tragic end of a successful but solitary life. However, the administration of his £500,000 estate would reveal a startling secret: the confirmed bachelor had fathered children on both sides of the Atlantic.
Two Families, One Shocking Discovery
Le Cheminant's death certificate listed him as having 'no issue,' but soon after his passing, two separate claims emerged. In London, a woman came forward with their young son. Simultaneously, across the ocean, a second woman revealed he had fathered her daughter during his frequent business trips to Canada.
The situation escalated when Le Cheminant's elderly father, John, intervened from Guernsey, attempting to claim the entire estate by disputing the paternity of both children despite previously acknowledging them as his grandchildren.
DNA Evidence and Legal Wrangling
The case took a dramatic turn when posthumous DNA testing confirmed Le Cheminant was indeed the father of both children. This scientific evidence transformed a complex probate matter into an international legal showdown.
- Estate Value: Approximately £500,000 including London property
- Key Claimants: Two children from different mothers, grandfather
- Legal Venues: Courts in London, Guernsey, and Canada
- Central Issue: Whether the grandfather's earlier acknowledgment of the children undermines his current challenge
A Transatlantic Inheritance Battle
What began as a straightforward probate case has evolved into a multi-jurisdictional legal conflict that legal experts describe as exceptionally complex. The case raises profound questions about international inheritance laws, paternal rights, and the legal status of children born outside marriage.
"This is one of the most complicated inheritance cases I've encountered," noted a London probate lawyer familiar with the matter. "The cross-border elements and the emotional dynamics make it particularly challenging for all parties involved."
The Human Cost of Secret Lives
Beyond the legal complexities lies a deeply human tragedy. Two women who never knew of each other's existence now find themselves connected through their children's shared parentage. Meanwhile, an elderly grandfather's actions have created a family rift that may never heal.
The case continues to unfold in courts across three jurisdictions, with all parties awaiting a resolution that will determine not just the distribution of assets, but the legal recognition of family ties that death has revealed.
