16
F
ormer prime minister
Bob Hawke passed away
in May of this year,
leaving behind an
astonishing Labor
legacy for everyday
Australians. But it took only
two months after his death for
the family he left behind to
become entangled in an ugly
battle over his estate.
Bob’s second wife Blanche
d’Alpuget received the lion’s
share of his vast, multi-million
dollar fortune, while his three
children Rosslyn, Susan and
Stephen, and stepson Louis
Pratt, received a one-off
payment of $750,000 each.
According to The New Daily,
Hawke’s youngest daughter
Rosslyn Dillon appointed
lawyers to contest the division
of his will. Rosslyn reportedly
engaged family law firm Tiyce
& Lawyers to fight the will,
citing “inadequate family
provisions”.
It is believed Rosslyn
told Blanche of her
intention to challenge
the will in a ‘tense’ phone
call in May.
If Rosslyn and Blanche
do not reach a private
agreement, it could reach
the NSW Supreme Court.
Leora Tius, Wills and Estates
Associate solicitor at Sydney’s
Atkinson Vinden Lawyers, told
New Idea that Rosslyn has a
strong chance in fighting the
provision of her father’s will.
“This is a very common
scenario where children are
claiming against an estate where
there is a step-parent,” Leora
says. “In a study it was found
that around three quarters of the
claims were successful.
“Being successful in a familyLAWYER REVEALS
DETAILS BEHIND
THE BITTER FEUD
FOR BOB’S
FORTUNE
Bob’s two
daughters,
Sue (left) and
Ros, were left
$750,
each.Former PM Bob Hawke was
married to his first wife Hazel
for almost 40 years – before
separating and marrying his
biographer Blanche d’Alpuget.BOB’S KIDS VS
BLANCHE