“This story deprived my children of almost all of their heritage”

Michel*, an architect in Paris, is an only child and when Irène*, his mother, an antique dealer in a large French city, died at the age of 85, he knew that he was her only direct heir. Coming from a bourgeois family, Irène leaves well-stocked bank accounts, life insurance, several real estate assets, including a luxurious apartment, her boutique and a splendid mansion filled with furniture, art objects, paintings and especially memories to which Michel is very attached. Summoned to the notary after the funeral, he unsurprisingly found Trevor*, his mother’s long-time companion, an 88-year-old Scot with whom she lived for more than twenty years without ever marrying him or signing a civil partnership or even certificate of cohabitation. It was their way of living and loving each other. And Michel, who knew Irene was a bit bohemian, had never gotten involved.

The atmosphere between the two men is cordial, but a little distant…