Moss Family Inheritance Battle Erupts in High Court
The children of Formula 1 legend Sir Stirling Moss are embroiled in a bitter legal dispute over his £22 million estate, with extraordinary accusations of financial mismanagement and family betrayal emerging in court documents.
Allegations of Squandered Millions
Elliot Moss, 45, the racing star's son, has claimed in High Court submissions that his mother Lady Susie Moss "squandered and stole" millions of pounds that were specifically earmarked for him from his father's substantial fortune. The allegations form part of a complex probate battle that has divided the Moss family following the deaths of both Sir Stirling in April 2020 and Lady Susie in 2023.
The Core of the Dispute
At the heart of the conflict lies Lady Susie Moss's will, created in January 2022, which left her entire estate to Allison Bradley, 59, Sir Stirling's daughter from his second marriage to Elaine Barbarino. Elliot Moss, whose mother was Lady Susie, has lodged a caveat preventing the administration of her estate and launched a counterclaim contesting the will's validity.
In his legal submissions, Elliot Moss alleges that his mother went against his father's explicit wishes by not granting him the majority of the estate. He claims Lady Susie "robbed me of an incredible amount of things that my father had meant for me to have — literally millions squandered and stolen, as well as hugely valuable emotional items."
Conflicting Family Narratives
The court documents reveal dramatically different accounts of family relationships. Elliot Moss describes his sister Allison's relationship with Lady Susie as "strained," claiming they saw each other only once or twice annually before 2017 and that Allison visited fewer than a dozen times in the three years preceding Sir Stirling's death.
Allison Bradley has responded through her lawyer, Constance McDonnell KC, branding some of Elliot's accusations as "embarrassing" and describing her own relationship with Lady Susie as "loving and dependable." In her 38-page submission, she states that her father, who suffered from Alzheimer's before his death, always encouraged her to consider herself a "member of the Moss family."
Questions of Capacity and Influence
Elliot Moss's legal challenge centres on claims that his mother lacked the capacity to execute the 2022 will and that it was obtained under "undue influence" by family friend Richard Frankel. He alleges that Frankel, named as a trustee of Lady Susie's estate after her death, supplied his mother with alcohol and turned her against him.
The court documents detail Elliot Moss's claims about his mother's alcohol consumption, stating she would often consume one or two bottles of wine plus half a bottle of gin daily after Sir Stirling's death. He further alleges that Frankel poisoned his mother's thinking against him.
Proposed Resolution and Legal Status
Elliot Moss is calling for the court to recognise his mother's 2002 will instead, which would grant him 75% of the estate with the remaining 25% going to his half-sister Allison. This earlier document would represent a significant redistribution of the £22 million fortune.
Meanwhile, Allison Bradley's legal team has painted a different picture of family dynamics, suggesting Elliot Moss's relationship with his parents was "turbulent" and "difficult." They claim he became more distant from his mother after his father's death and often spoke about Lady Susie in "a hostile and derogatory manner."
Awaiting Judicial Resolution
The High Court has not yet set a hearing date for this complex family dispute, which combines substantial financial interests with deeply personal allegations. The case continues to unfold through legal submissions, with both parties presenting conflicting narratives about family relationships, testamentary capacity, and the true intentions of the Formula 1 legend regarding his substantial estate.
The outcome will determine not only the distribution of Sir Stirling Moss's £22 million fortune but also establish an official narrative about family relationships in the final years of the racing icon's life and the period following his death.
