Trusts & Estates

Challenge of Astor Will Called 'Absurd'

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Court-appointed guardians for socialite Brooke Astor, who died this week at the age of 105, are challenging her latest will and several amendments to it.

Court papers filed Tuesday argue Astor was incompetent or unduly influenced when she signed a 2002 will and the amendments, the New York Times reports. Astor’s estate is valued at more than $130 million and a trust that benefited her is worth more than $60 million.

Astor’s son, Anthony Marshall, stands to gain more from the later version of the will and a 2004 will amendment, the newspaper says.

The guardians, JPMorgan Chase & Co., and Annette de la Renta, are asking to be appointed co-administrators of the estate.

Marshall’s lawyer said he would “vigorously oppose” the application. “The attempt by Ms. de la Renta and Chase to go back to 1997 for a will is absurd,” he told the newspaper.

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