Family Triumphs in £700,000 Inheritance Battle Against Mother's 'Abusive' Partner
The family of a mother who died from breast cancer has emerged victorious in a substantial £700,000 court confrontation with her allegedly abusive boyfriend. The legal dispute centered on the partner's attempt to seize her estate using a forged will and a fabricated marriage certificate, which a High Court judge has definitively ruled as fraudulent documents.
Details of the Estate and the Disputed Claims
Kassy Sinar, aged 46, passed away in October 2023 after a battle with breast cancer. In a legitimate will drafted in 2022, she designated her entire £500,000 estate to be held in trust for the benefit of her 16-year-old daughter, Jocey. However, her partner, Cengiz Arif, who is also Jocey's father, contested this arrangement by presenting a document he claimed was Kassy's authentic last will, dated 10 May 2023. This disputed will allegedly bequeathed everything to him.
Arif further asserted that he and Kassy had been secretly married in Cyprus on 19 September 2006, a claim unknown to her close family. Following her death, he prohibited her relatives from attending her funeral in London, intensifying the familial rift.
Legal Proceedings and Judicial Findings
Kassy's brother, Ernest Sinar, initiated legal action on behalf of the family. Chief Master Karen Shuman of the High Court presided over the case and delivered a decisive verdict. The judge determined that both the marriage certificate and the 2023 will submitted by Arif were forged. Consequently, she upheld the validity of the 2022 will, ensuring all of Kassy's assets remain in trust for her daughter, with Arif receiving nothing from the estate.
In addition to dismissing Arif's claims, Judge Shuman ordered him to cover the legal costs incurred by Ernest, estimated at approximately £206,000. Arif did not appear in court to defend the allegations. The judge also removed him from his roles as executor of the 2022 will and trustee of the trust fund. Furthermore, she issued an injunction preventing him from handling or dissipating any properties or funds within Kassy's estate.
Background of the Relationship and Subsequent Conflict
The court proceedings revealed that Kassy, originally from Manchester and a proprietor of her own cleaning business, relocated to London, purchasing a property in Finsbury Park. Her relationship with Cengiz Arif was described as intermittent. Their daughter, Jocey, was born in 2009, but the couple separated between 2011 and 2018. During this period, Kassy reportedly declined a marriage proposal from Arif and described the relationship as abusive and toxic to friends.
Despite reconciling, Kassy was later diagnosed with breast cancer and ultimately died in a hospice in October 2023. Her passing precipitated a bitter familial dispute, with close relatives organizing a separate memorial service after being barred from her cremation by Arif.
Examination of the Fraudulent Documents
Arif's submission of the purported 2023 will, which included Kassy's London home and a secondary property in Burnley valued at £58,000, was accompanied by his claim of a secret marriage. However, the judge noted that Arif only asserted his marital status after Kassy's death. Suspicious, Ernest contacted Turkish authorities to verify the marriage certificate, receiving confirmation that no wedding occurred on the specified date and that the named registrar was not on duty. Authorities stated the marriage was not legally valid.
Judge Shuman emphasized, "I'm satisfied on the evidence that I have heard that this was an unhappy, toxic and abusive relationship. There is evidence of physical and emotional abuse. In her last weeks of life, he left her to travel to Cyprus for at least two weeks. She was never married to Cengiz, therefore he has adduced to the court a forged document."
Ruling on the Wills and Conclusion of the Case
Regarding the wills, Arif argued that the 2022 document was invalid due to amendments made by Kassy after its initial execution. The judge rejected this, affirming the will was duly executed. Conversely, she found the 2023 will to be a forgery, describing Arif's explanation of its preparation as "preposterous" and "incredible," and noting the signature did not match Kassy's.
"I'm satisfied on the basis of the evidence that has been presented to me that the 2023 will was forged. The will relied on by Cengiz was not the last will of Kassy. I also find that the marriage certificate was a forged document. The 2023 will is a forgery. I'm satisfied that there has been fraud in this case," Judge Shuman stated. She underscored that Kassy intended her estate to benefit her daughter, not her former partner.
Following the ruling, Verity Hudson of Rothley Law, representing Ernest, commented, "This was a complex and emotional case that required careful investigation. Having worked closely with the family since 2023, we're so pleased to have helped secure the right outcome for them."
