<div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>A court battle over the estate of the former </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/prince-andrew" rel="" target="" title="prince Andrew"><span>prince Andrew</span></a><span> and </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/jeffrey-epstein" rel="" target="" title="Jeffrey Epstein"><span>Jeffrey Epstein</span></a><span> accuser </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/new-memoir-by-virginia-giuffre-claims-prince-andrew-thought-sex-was-his-birth-right/5e14c722-4b27-4301-b515-335f329ae3aa" rel="" target="" title="Virginia Giuffre"><span>Virginia Giuffre</span></a><span> looks set to drag on, as the parties wrangle over who should be part of the case.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Ms Giuffre, 41, who settled a sexual assault lawsuit against former Duke of York Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, was found dead in April at her farm in Western Australia without a valid will.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Her sons, Christian and Noah Giuffre, launched a legal case in the WA Supreme Court in June amid speculation their mother's estate could be worth more than $20 million.</span></div></div><div><div id="adspot-mobile-medium"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE: </span></strong><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/queensland-townsville-lavarack-barracks-almost-100-soldiers-injured-after-group-photo-goes-wrong/ca3d1788-d2eb-4388-b0e1-e5f63321b4d1"><strong><span>Almost 100 soldiers injured after group photo goes wrong</span></strong></a><strong><span></span></strong></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Court documents previously released to the media made no mention of the millions of dollars she reportedly received in legal settlements, with the value of Ms Giuffre's estate estimated to "at least ... exceed the sum of $472,000".</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Christian and Noah's statement of claim says their mother owned a horse, two cars, the contents of a country home, jewellery, personal effects, shares in a company named Witty River Pty Ltd and a slice of a family trust.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>She also had the potential right to receive royalties from her memoir Nobody's Girl about the abuse to which she was allegedly subjected by disgraced financier Epstein, his friend and associate Ghislaine Maxwell and the former prince when she was 17.</span></div></div><div><div class="OUTBRAIN" data-reactroot="" data-src="//www.9news.com.au/national/virginia-giuffre-death-battle-over-her-estate-inches-forward/1decf627-e25f-4d2d-8215-ed653ced659c" data-widget-id="AR_5"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Mr Mountbatten-Windsor has always denied the allegations.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Ms Giuffre's former lawyer, Karrie Jean Louden, and housekeeper and carer Cheryl Mary Myers are named as defendants.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Their counterclaim said the estate was worth at least $501,000.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The case returned to court in Perth on Friday when lawyers for the parties put different views forward about whether and how Ms Giuffre's daughter, who cannot be named for legal reasons, and her ex-husband Robert Giuffre should or could join the case as plaintiffs.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Registrar Danielle Davies said the matter should be decided by a judge or master and referred the issue to the court for a hearing.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Outside the court, defence lawyer Craig Hollett ran a media pack through the day's hearing, saying it was "about whether the right parties have been joined" to the case.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"In these kinds of proceedings, it is important that all necessary parties are joined so that they have the opportunity to be heard to ventilate any issues, and so that the court can make a decision which represents all of the parties' interests," he said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>At Christian and Noah's request, the court previously appointed an administrator who has been empowered to manage Ms Giuffre's estate.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Lawyer Ian Blatchford will represent Ms Giuffre's estate in any ongoing legal cases involving her, including in the United States.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Mr Blatchford will also take charge of Ms Giuffre's interests regarding her memoir.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Ms Giuffre figured prominently in the downfall of Epstein, who was found dead in his New York jail cell in August 2019 while he awaited trial on sex trafficking charges. His death was ruled a suicide.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>When confirming Ms Giuffre's death in April, Ms Louden said she was honoured to have worked with someone who was "so strong and powerful and willing to advocate for victims of sexual abuse".</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>A further case management hearing over the estate will be held on May 1.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>Support is available from the</span></strong><span> </span><strong><span>National Sexual Assault, Domestic and Family Violence Counselling Service</span></strong><span> </span><strong><span>at</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.1800respect.org.au/" title="https://www.1800respect.org.au/"><strong><span>1800RESPECT (1800 737 732)</span></strong></a><strong><em></em></strong></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>Readers seeking support can contact </span></strong><a href="https://www.lifeline.org.au/" rel="" target="_blank" title="Lifeline"><strong><span>Lifeline</span></strong></a><strong><span> on 13 11 14 or </span></strong><a href="https://www.beyondblue.org.au/" rel="" target="" title="Beyond Blue"><strong><span>Beyond Blue</span></strong></a><strong><span> on 1300 22 4636.</span></strong></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><em><span>NEVER MISS A STORY:</span></em></strong><span> </span><em><span>Get your breaking news and exclusive stories first by following us across all platforms.</span></em></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><ul><li><strong><em><span>Download the 9NEWS App here via</span></em></strong><span> </span><a href="https://apps.apple.com/au/app/9news/id1010533727" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>Apple</span></em></strong></a><span> </span><strong><em><span>and</span></em></strong><span> </span><a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=nineNewsAlerts.nine.com&amp;hl=en_AU&amp;pli=1" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>Google Play</span></em></strong></a></li><li><strong><em><span>Make 9News your preferred source on Google by</span></em></strong><span> </span><a href="https://9.nine.com.au/8x987w" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>ticking this box here</span></em></strong></a></li><li><strong><em><span>Sign up to</span></em></strong><span> </span><a href="https://login.nine.com.au/edm?client_id=nineatnine" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>our breaking newsletter here</span></em></strong></a></li></ul></div></div>