Holograph Will handwritten by Dallas Cade deals with $30 million estate
A recent story serves as an interesting example of an estate dispute based on a handwritten will. The deceased testator is Bra Boys member Cade Dallas. The Bra Boys are a gang centered on surf culture and founded in Maroubra in Sydney, New South Wales. They gained international fame in 2007 with a documentary entitled Bra Boys: Blood is Thicker than Water. Mr. Dallas also founded a successful clothing business and amassed a fortune. His estate is estimated to be worth upwards of $30 million dollars.
The dispute is the result of a holograph will leaving his estate and business to be divided equally between his children. The will was signed with a smiley face. A copy of the will is found below. Mr. Dallas died in 2012 after a two week party binge in Bali, Indonesia.
Dispute between Mr. Dallas’ widow and mother
Mr. Dallas’ widow, Veny Amelia, commenced litigation against his mother, Kerrie Dallas. Ms. Amelia is alleging that Mrs. Dallas took control of her son’s business, a clothing chain named “Somewhere” which makes over $100,000 per month. Ms. Amelia is also claiming that Mrs. Dallas used the will to convince Indonesian authorities she had been appointed executor of the estate with Ms. Amelia’s permission. Additionally, it is alleged that Mrs. Dallas is spending her son’s fortune to fund a lavish lifestyle in Bali.
Ms. Amelia is seeking a declaration that she is her son’s sole guardian in order to access his father’s estate.
Conversely, Mrs. Dallas has claimed that her son’s company was insolvent when her son died. She also claimed that the company “Somewhere” had collapsed as her son indulged in drugs and alcohol resulting in his eventual death. She also takes the position that under Indonesian law, her grandson Keanu cannot receive his father’s inheritance until he is an adult.
The case is before South Australia’s highest Court. None of the allegations have been proven in Court. Ms. Dallas is also seeking to have the case heard in Denpasar, Bali under Indonesian law.
The validity of the handwritten will is in question. There is also an issue with respect to the jurisdiction of the Court as Mrs. Dallas is seeking to have the matter heard under Indonesian law. It will be interesting to see what happens in this dispute.
More on this story here.
Alleged handwritten Will of Dallas Cade.