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Blues legend Francis leaves his estranged sons out of will

Document Cited in Related
Vincent
Published date25 April 2024
Publication titleBirmingham Mail (England)
The former England forward, who died last July at the age of 69, made it crystal clear in his will that his sons James and Matthew are to be excluded from inheriting any part of his substantial estate

Details of the family rift came to light after the will was made public, showing that Francis, who played for and managed Birmingham City, had bequeathed his entire £1.9m estate to his siblings, Ian and Carolyn.

In the will, penned in February 2019, Francis explicitly stated his desire to leave nothing to his offspring.

His spouse Helen, who worked as a hairdresser, died in 2017 due to breast cancer.

Francis didn't mince words in his will, declaring: "I wish to make it clear in this my will that I have not included my children as beneficiaries due to the fact that we have become estranged following family differences over the last several months. Neither of my children are financially dependent on me."

The St Andrew's icon died of a heart attack at his Spanish residence, with his funeral held close to Marbella, which both of his sons attended.

According to the legal papers, his UK assets are to be split evenly between his brother Ian and sister

Carolyn, both Plymouth residents.

His property in Spain, reportedly including an apartment near Marbella, is to be dealt with under separate arrangements.

In 2013, Francis' son James was in court, accused of burgling the Warwickshire home of ex-Aston Villa midfielder Lee Hendrie.

James, who was acquitted of the charge...

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