Virginia Giuffre, a prominent accuser in the Jeffrey Epstein sex trafficking scandal, passed away without a will, leading to a contentious legal battle among her relatives over her substantial estate. Giuffre, 41, died by suicide on her family farm in Western Australia in April 2023, leaving behind an estate valued at millions, including multiple properties and settlements stemming from her allegations against high-profile figures.
The estate’s value includes at least $12 million received from Prince Andrew in 2022 as part of a settlement related to accusations of sexual misconduct, which she claimed occurred when she was a minor. The payment, reportedly influenced by the late Queen Elizabeth II, came despite Andrew’s persistent denial of any wrongdoing. The settlement allowed him to avoid a court case but resulted in the loss of his royal titles.
Giuffre’s death has led to complications, as she did not leave a formal will, a situation referred to as dying intestate. According to the *Telegraph*, an interim administrator is currently overseeing her estate, with a case management hearing set for Friday at the Supreme Court of Western Australia. This legal framework sets the stage for a family dispute that is expected to be fiercely contested.
Under Australian inheritance laws, Giuffre’s estranged husband, Robert Giuffre, may be entitled to up to a third of her estate. This potential claim is complicated by Giuffre’s previous communication with her attorney, in which she expressed a desire that her estranged husband not benefit from her estate. At the time of her death, the couple was in the process of divorce.
Challenging Robert Giuffre’s claim are Giuffre’s younger brother, Sky Roberts, and her half-brother, Danny Wilson. They are not only contesting Robert’s right to her estate but are also involved in a struggle over the control of a charity Giuffre was establishing, named Speak Out, Act, Reclaim. Other relatives have joined the fray, with Giuffre’s aunt, Kimberly Roberts, asserting that the estate should solely benefit Giuffre’s children.
The financial components of Giuffre’s estate are significant. In addition to the settlement from Prince Andrew, she received $500,000 from Epstein in 2009 to settle claims related to sex trafficking and abuse. Furthermore, she secured an undisclosed amount from Ghislaine Maxwell in 2017. There is uncertainty regarding whether future royalties from her posthumously published memoir, “Nobody’s Girl,” will factor into the estate dispute.
As the case unfolds, the implications of Giuffre’s death and the subsequent legal battles highlight the complex intersections of personal tragedy, financial negotiations, and the broader context of accountability surrounding high-profile abuse cases. The outcome of the hearings will likely set precedents for how similar disputes are resolved in the future, reflecting the ongoing societal dialogue about justice and restitution for victims of abuse.
