Siblings face £59k bill after family row saw mother’s body left unburied for four years

A family dispute has left two siblings facing a £59,000 bill after their mother's body remained unburied for four years due to prolonged disagreements among the family members. Laura Collins, who passed away in 2022 after contracting COVID-19, did not leave behind a will, leading to complications in settling her affairs. Her eldest son, Godfrey, 59, initially arranged the funeral alongside his sister Joan, 57. However, an extended period of conflict and confusion delayed the burial significantly. Laura Collins, a mother of five, moved to London from Grenada in the 1960s and worked in healthcare before raising her children in the capital. She fell ill with COVID-19 and was admitted to Charing Cross Hospital in 2022, where she remained for six months until her ventilator was turned off and she died. Following her death, a legal challenge arose from Godfrey and Joan regarding the decision to discontinue life support. They were reportedly unable to accept that the hospital was not at fault for her death. In the years that followed, the younger siblings, Michael, 49, Cheryl, and Clint, faced numerous obstacles. They were informed there was a potential case against the hospital and that an inquest was pending, although the court later clarified that no such inquest ever took place. Additionally, discussions emerged about repatriating Laura's body back to Grenada, adding another layer of complexity to the situation. Michael Collins, supported by his siblings Cheryl and Clint, eventually filed a lawsuit against his older brother and sister, seeking control of his mother's body and her £725,000 estate through the High Court in London. He described feeling frustrated with the delays, stating he had been "messed about" by his older siblings. At one point, he even messaged Godfrey about the delay, receiving a response that indicated Godfrey was preoccupied with other matters. Chief Master Karen Shuman presided over the case and ultimately appointed Michael as the administrator of the estate, granting him authority over the funeral arrangements and the distribution of the inheritance. The judge emphasized the need for a single individual to oversee the process to ensure the family could move forward with dignity. "There must be one person in charge to allow the family to come together as far as possible in dignity," she stated, highlighting the importance of resolving the issue promptly. The court learned that Laura's body had been stored in an undertaker's drawer in Leyton, east London, at a daily cost of £20. Over the course of four years, this expense accumulated to £5,500. Despite the substantial financial burden, the primary concern remained the unresolved matter of laying her body to rest. The judge noted the unusual nature of the case, emphasizing that no formal grant had been issued within nearly four years of Laura's death, and more concerning, her body had not been buried. The siblings were found to have equal rights to manage their mother's estate, given that she died intestate. However, the judge deemed it necessary to assign Michael as the sole administrator under these unique circumstances. The ruling underscored the urgency of the situation, with the judge expressing astonishment at the duration since Laura's passing. The case highlighted the emotional and logistical challenges faced by the family, ultimately resulting in a resolution aimed at ensuring Laura Collins could be laid to rest with the respect and dignity she deserved.