Two siblings have been left facing a £59,000 bill following a family dispute which saw their mother’s dead body lying unburied for four years.
Mother-of-five Laura Collins died of Covid without a will in 2022. Her oldest son Godfrey, 59, organised his mother’s funeral along with sister Joan, 57. However, an “unusual” and “shocking” series of delays and an “extended disagreement between siblings” left Ms Collins’ body still stored in an undertaker’s drawer four years later.
Middle son Michael Collins, 49, backed by his other two siblings Cheryl and Clint, eventually sued his older brother and sister, asking the High Court in London to hand him control of his mother’s body, along with her £725,000 estate.
He told the court he had been “messed about” by his two older siblings. At one stage, he texted Godfrey asking about the huge delay in organising their mother’s funeral, with Godrey replying “I’ve got a lot on”.
A judge, Karen Shuman, has now appointed Michael as administrator of the estate, giving him control of his mother’s funeral and distributing her money between the siblings.
“There must be one person in charge to allow the family to come together as far as possible in dignity,” said the judge.
“The deceased can now be laid to rest with dignity. That is what ordinary humanity now demands.”
The court heard that Ms Collins from Grenada worked in healthcare and raised five children in the capital. However, she contracted Covid and was admitted to Charing Cross Hospital in 2022, where she would remain for six months until her ventilator was turned off and she died.
A shocking situation unfolded soon after, as Joan and Godfrey launched a legal challenge over the decision to turn the ventilator off. The older siblings “were unable to accept that the death of the deceased was not the fault of the hospital caring for her”, the judge said.
Years of delays followed, with the younger siblings being told there was “a case for prosecuting against the hospital” and that an inquest was pending – but which the judge said had never actually happened.
An “extended disagreement between siblings” followed during the years of delay, with Michael telling the judge that he had to go to court in the end “due to being messed about” by Godfrey and Joan.
“They wouldn’t confirm anything and kept on moving the goalposts,” he said.
Meanwhile, their mother’s body was being stored in an undertaker’s drawer in Leyton, east London, at a cost of £20 per day. It has racked up a £5,500 bill so far.
The court heard that all five siblings had an equal right to deal with their mum’s estate – which includes a £725,000 property in West Kensington – as she died without a will.
The judge went on to make an order appointing Michael the sole administrator in the “unusual” circumstances of the case.
“This claim is urgent. The deceased has yet to be buried four years after her death and furthermore there is an ongoing storage charge of £20 a day for her body.
“Funerals perform an important function and provide an opportunity for friends and family to accept the fact of death and to mourn.
“Ordinarily, no child enjoys priority over any other. However, where special circumstances exist, the court can pass over siblings to support the proper administration of the estate.
“It is necessary and expedient to pass over Godfrey and Joan. The overarching concern is that the body be disposed of with proper dignity and if possible, without further unnecessary delay.
“It appears to be the case that Joan and Godfrey were unable to accept that the death of the deceased was not the fault of the hospital caring for her. Many complaints were made about her care by Joan and Godfrey.
“Almost four years have passed since her death. The body remains in storage. That situation is unacceptable and cannot be allowed to continue.