Rothley Law Secures Victory in Complex Estate Fraud Case

Fraudulent will and marriage certificate exposed following thorough investigation

Rothley Law’s Disputed Wills and Trusts team has successfully represented Myles Sinar in a sophisticated estate fraud case which involved forged documents and false claims to a deceased woman’s estate.

The case

Kassy Jane Sinar had made a valid will in 2022, after being diagnosed with breast cancer. Under the terms of that will, she left her entire estate to her teenage daughter. She had appointed four executors, including her brother, Ernest Myles Sinar, and her partner, Ismail Cengiz Arif. Ismail had been abusive towards Kassy, and in early October 2023, she amended her 2022 will to remove him as an executor. However, the amendments did not comply with the formalities in section 9 of the Wills Act 1837 and so did not take effect.

Kassy sadly passed away at the end of October 2023. Ismail subsequently alleged that Kassy had made a later will in 2023 which appointed him as sole executor and beneficiary of her estate. He also produced a marriage certificate which allegedly showed that he had married Kassy in Cyprus in 2006.

Our investigation

Our legal team, led by Verity Hudson and Adam Draper, worked closely with the client from our initial instruction in December 2023 supporting them through this difficult and trying period following their bereavement. In the course of our investigation, we identified irregularities in both documents which revealed:

• The marriage certificate was fraudulent: Working with the Cyprus Supreme Court and the Representative Office of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC), we confirmed not only that no marriage was recorded on the alleged date, but also that the registrar named on Mr Arif’s document wasn’t even working that day.
• The will was a forgery: We obtained an expert handwriting report which provided a strong professional opinion that the signature was a simulation.

The legal process

We pursued dual proceedings on behalf of our client:

• Removal claim: Seeking to remove Arif as executor (issued May 2024)
• Probate validity claim: Challenging the authenticity of the fraudulent will (issued October 2024)

Throughout this deeply involved process, our team supported Mr Sinar and helped protect the inheritance rightfully belonging to the deceased’s daughter. The deceased’s daughter is now happily living with Mr Sinar and his wife.

A trial took place before Chief Master Shuman at the High Court of Justice in London, at the Rolls Building on 9 February 2026. She was satisfied that both the alleged 2023 will and the purported marriage certificate were both forged documents. She pronounced in favour of the 2022 will and appointed Mr Sinar as sole executor of Kassy’s estate. Kassy’s teenage daughter has been living with Mr Sinar and his wife near Manchester since December 2023 and he will now be able to protect the estate for her benefit.

“We’re thrilled to have secured the right outcome for them” – Verity Hudson, Senior Associate

Commenting on the case, Verity Hudson said “This was a complex and emotional case that required careful investigation and close collaboration. Having worked closely with the family since 2023, we’re thrilled to have helped secure the right outcome for them”

How we can help with wills

This case demonstrates the importance of thorough investigation when suspicious documents emerge in estate matters. Our expertise in contentious probate matters and our network of experts proved crucial in exposing this attempted fraud.

If you are concerned about the validity of a will or the conduct of an executor, our experienced team can help.