The estranged husband and daughter of Virginia Giuffre have been formally added to court proceedings in the legal battle over her estate, which includes a reported £12 million pay-off from Prince Andrew. Ms Giuffre, a victim of paedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein, died last year without a formal will, sparking a family dispute over who should administer her wealth.
Supreme Court Justice Natalie Whitby ordered Robert Giuffre and the couple's minor daughter to be added as defendants to a counterclaim, alongside sons Christian, 19, and Noah, 18. Registrar Danielle Davies noted that the deceased's husband should be joined or at least notified. Ms Giuffre's sons initially applied to become administrators of the estate.
However, her barrister Karrie Louden and former carer Cheryl Myers challenged that application, arguing that Ms Giuffre had written an informal will outlining her wishes before her death. They claim the document appoints them as executors and trustees. A hearing earlier this year considered how to add Mr Giuffre and the daughter, including appointing an independent guardian for the child.
A legal source explained that the dispute centres on whether the informal document is legally valid under Western Australia succession law, who should administer the estate, and how it should be handled. Court documents filed by the sons state: “The deceased did not intend for such instructions to constitute her will.” The case returns to court in Perth on 3 July.
Ms Giuffre took her own life in April last year at her farm near Neergabby, north of Perth. The exact value of her estate remains unclear after legal costs from the Andrew settlement. Meanwhile, pressure mounts on Buckingham Palace over emails allegedly showing the former prince shared confidential information while a trade envoy.
