ProbateSharks.com: Heirs of Henry Ford II riches say mom's lawyer 'may have had them written out of her will so he can take their $304million inheritance after he wouldn't let them see her for a YEAR'

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Thursday, May 5, 2016

Heirs of Henry Ford II riches say mom's lawyer 'may have had them written out of her will so he can take their $304million inheritance after he wouldn't let them see her for a YEAR'

Kathleen DuRoss Ford's daughters haven't spoken to her directly for a year
They say her lawyer, L Frank Chopin, has kept them away
And they worry he's going to have them written out of the will
DuRoss Ford was left trust by husband Henry Ford II, CEO of Ford Motors
Chopin helped her get $1.5m trust payments increased to $10.5m in 1988
Her health has deteriorated since having back surgery

By James Wilkinson For Dailymail.com

Published: 10:34 EST, 29 April 2016 | Updated: 14:20 EST, 29 April 2016

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The step-daughters of multi-millionaire and former Ford Motor Company CEO Henry Ford II are worried that their share of his $350million estate might have driven off into the sunset.

Debbie Guibord called police Wednesday to complain that their mom's lawyer was keeping her and her sister from seeing their 75-year-old mother, Kathleen DuRoss Ford, Page Six reported Friday.

'The daughters have only been allowed to talk to their mother by phone with [lawyer L Frank Chopin] on the line in a conference call,' a source told the site. 'They’ve been completely shut out for nearly a year.'

Will: The daughters of Kathleen DuRoss Ford (right, pictured in 1981) say they are worried they won't receive the money her husband Henry Ford II (left) gave her when he died - which could now be $304.5million

Lawyer: DuRoss Ford's daughters say her long-time lawyer L Frank Chopin (right, with DuRoss Ford in 2012) is stopping them from seeing their mom, and believe he may have had them written out of the will

DuRoss Ford, the third and final wife of Henry Ford II, has been collecting $10.5million a year ever since he died in 1987 at the age of 70.

Including this year's sum, those payments would total $304.5million.

She currently lives in a trust-held mansion in West Palm Beach valued at $34.8million, according to Palm Beach Daily News.

But now Guibord and her sister Kimberly, both from DuRoss Ford's previous marriage, fear that Chopin is locking them out in order to get his hands on their mother's fortune.

They believe he may have encouraged DuRoss Ford, whose health deteriorated after back surgery, to write them out of her will, Page Six said.

If the claims are true, then their fight will mirror the battle their own mother waged to get her share of her husband's money when he died in 1987.

Henry Ford II left behind a $350million estate, to be divided up between DuRoss Ford, his three kids from his first marriage - Edsel, Ann and Charlotte - and his grandchildren.

DuRoss Ford was left a trust that would pay out at least $1.5million a year - and potentially more, if its trustees agreed.

An article from The New York Times in 1988, however, revealed that DuRoss Ford had hired Chopin to take Edsel to court, saying he and another trustee, his lawyer, had tried to lock her out of the money.

Battle: Henry Ford II's son Edsel (right, with uncle William Ford) was sued by DuRoss Ford in 1988, who said he was trying to stop her getting the money she was owed. She was represented by Chopin at the time

Daughters: DuRoss Ford settled out of court, accepting $10.5million a year. Including 2016, that would total $304.5million so far. Her daughters Debi (left) and Kimberly (right) are worried they won't see the money

According to the Times, none of the children liked DuRoss Ford, who met Henry Ford II in 1969 when she was an auto model with two kids and he was in his second marriage to Italian socialite Maria Cristina Vettore.

Charlotte and Ann, who were fond of his second wife, even spurned the couple's wedding in 1980.

And although Henry Ford II had left a video will hoping to placate all his loved ones, it wasn't enough to keep lawsuits at bay.

Before the case could hit the courts, however, a settlement was made giving DuRoss Ford $10.5 million a year, The LA Times reported.

At the time the Ford children and their lawyer said that the case was initiated by Chopin so that he could manage the day-to-day business of the trust.

Both Chopin and DuRoss Ford denied the claim - she called it 'sheer foolishness.'

But now it would appear Chopin is facing similar allegations.

Police confirmed to Page Six that an investigation is underway.

When contacted by the site, the DuRosses' lawer declined to comment and Chopin did not return calls.

Henry Ford II was the grandson of Henry Ford, who founded the Ford Motor Company in 1903. His net worth in today's money would have been $199billion, according to the NY Daily News.

Heir: Henry Ford II is pictured here as a baby, being held by his grandfather and Ford Motor Company founder Henry Ford

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