Opera Lover, Aromatherapist, and $1M Inheritance Fight

A legal battle over a million-dollar estate recently grabbed headlines as it unfolded in court. The story centered around the estate of an elderly opera lover, Eva Marie Easton, who passed away in September 2021 at the age of 89. Easton, a German migrant, had made a will in November 2020 that named the Sydney Opera House Trust as the sole beneficiary. Her wish was for the funds to support the promotion of German classical music performances.

This 2020 will replaced an earlier will from 2019, which left everything to her close friend Isabelle Agnes Peacock, an aromatherapist whom Easton had met in 2004 during monthly massage sessions. As their friendship deepened over the years, Peacock often assisted Easton with various tasks like driving her to appointments and providing support during her battle with cancer. Easton’s estate plans evolved over time, reflecting her changing relationships and circumstances.

Despite Peacock’s initial role in managing Easton’s affairs, their relationship soured in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic, leading to a falling out that prompted Easton to revise her will once again in November 2020, leaving her entire estate to the Opera House Trust. Peacock challenged the validity of this latest will, arguing that Easton lacked the mental capacity to make such decisions due to cognitive impairment. However, the court ultimately upheld the 2020 will, confirming Easton’s intentions to disinherit Peacock.

Legal experts involved in the case emphasized the importance of assessing a person’s capacity to make a will based on a comprehensive review of both lay observations and expert medical evidence. In the end, the court found that Easton understood the implications of her decisions, knew the contents of her previous will, and consistently expressed her desire to exclude Peacock from her inheritance. The legal battle shed light on the complexities of estate planning and the intricacies of determining mental capacity in such cases, highlighting the need for careful consideration and evidence-based decision-making in will disputes.