A High Court judge has ruled in favor of Judith Bisiker, 63, in a legal battle with her half-sister, Lindsay Bisiker, 50, over the ownership of a £2.7 million mansion. The property, named Moonhills, is a six-bedroom house with extensive grounds near Beaulieu in Hampshire.
Lindsay Bisiker had sued her half-sister, claiming the mansion, purchased by their father Jim Bisiker in 1984, was intended to be held in trust for the entire family. She alleged that Judith Bisiker unlawfully excluded her from the property in April 2023 by changing the locks while Lindsay was staying there with her dogs. Lindsay sought a declaration that the house was held in trust, the opportunity to purchase it at a discounted price, and compensation for her alleged eviction.
Judith Bisiker denied the claims, asserting she is the sole legal and beneficial owner of Moonhills, as their father purchased it in her name with the intention that it would belong to her. She stated that the lock change was necessary to prevent Lindsay from obstructing the sale and accused her sister of becoming “obsessed” with the property.
Master Matthew Marsh, presiding over the dispute among five adult siblings, rejected Lindsay's assertion that the family home was held in trust. The ruling supports Judith's claim that the property belongs to her outright. Evidence presented to the court indicated that a solicitor involved in the 1984 purchase recalled Jim Bisiker rejecting the idea of a formal declaration of trust for his children. Furthermore, the court found that statements attributed to Jim Bisiker from 2023 could not be relied upon due to his declining mental capacity.
Lindsay's legal team argued that their father always intended Moonhills to remain a family home and never wanted it sold on the open market. They presented written documents and a witness statement from Jim Bisiker dating from 2016 to 2023, supporting Lindsay's version of events. These documents suggested that Moonhills was intended as a family base, maintained by Jim Bisiker, and available for family use, including Lindsay's occupation.
Conversely, Judith's legal team contended that any family use of the property was an informal arrangement rather than a legal trust. They also argued that Jim Bisiker's more recent statements were unreliable due to his lack of mental capacity. Judith's counsel stated that Jim Bisiker purchased the property in her name with the intention of her being the sole owner in law and equity, partly to avoid inheritance tax.
Lindsay had described Judith as a