€3bn Burlakov estate battle opens at Monaco court
By Zak Jackson, MonacoViews Editorial
The Court of First Instance in Monaco held a three-hour hearing on Thursday into Oleg Burlakov's disputed €3 billion estate.
A three-hour hearing at Monaco's Court of First Instance on Thursday opened proceedings in a dispute over the estate of Russian businessman Oleg Burlakov, valued at an estimated €3 billion. His widow and two daughters are challenging a handwritten will that reportedly leaves the bulk of the fortune to Burlakov's sister and her husband, rather than to his immediate family.
The case turns on the validity of the handwritten document, with lawyers for the widow and daughters arguing it does not reflect Burlakov's true intentions. No ruling was issued on Thursday, and further hearings are expected as the court works through the competing claims.
The proceedings underline Monaco's role as a jurisdiction where high-value international estates are frequently contested, given the number of wealthy families who hold residency or assets in the Principality. A judgment of this scale, should it proceed to a full ruling, would be closely watched by private wealth lawyers and family offices operating in Monaco.