What Went Wrong in Lord Penwood’s Estate Plan?

Dearest Gentle Reader, 

Approximately 39.7 million people, this author included, watched the second half of Season Four of Bridgerton during its opening weekend on Netflix. Inspired by Julia Quinn’s novels, the series delivers its viewers a Cinderella-style romance between Benedict Bridgerton and Sophie Baek. Some admired the Regency-inspired costumes or the orchestral renditions of familiar modern songs. Whatever their reason for watching, the season captured the attention of audiences far beyond just the upper-class social circle it portrays. 

Yet amid the romance and spectacle, a quieter drama unfolded. It is one that may escape notice unless one has spent a career attending to estates, wills, and the consequences of poorly made plans. This author speaks, of course, of the late Lord Penwood and the fate of his daughter’s inheritance. 

For those unfamiliar with the tale, allow a brief account. Years before the events of the season, Lord Penwood fathered a child with a maid. That child is our heroine, Sophie Baek. To avoid scandal, he raised her as his ward rather than publicly acknowledging her as his daughter. In private, he cared for her deeply. He helped ensure her education and promised that she would always be provided for. 

Later, Lord Penwood married Lady Araminta Gun, a widow with two daughters, Rosamund and Posy. Only after the marriage did Lady Penwood learn the truth of Sophie’s parentage. From that moment on, her resentment was evident. 

When Lord Penwood died, Lady Penwood assumed control of the household. She informed Sophie that her father had left her nothing. For years, Sophie believed this to be true, until the events of the show revealed the truth. 

In fact, Lord Penwood’s will directed that Lady Penwood receive £4,000 ($615,000 USD) for each year Sophie remained in her care. The will also divided a substantial dowry equally among Sophie, Rosamund, and Posy for a total of £18,000 ($2.78 million USD) each. Instead of honoring these terms, Lady Penwood concealed the will and diverted Sophie’s share for her own use. Sophie spent years laboring as an unpaid maid in the very house where she had been raised, while Lady Araminta Gun continued to receive the money. 

Although the story ends happily for Sophie, her father’s planning left her exposed to exploitation. His intentions were generous. His execution lacked safeguards that might have reduced risk. 

Blended Family Planning 

Blended families were far less common in Regency England than they are today, but the risks remain much the same. When children from prior relationships and new spouses share a household, clarity matters. Estate planning becomes especially important in these scenarios to make sure that both the children and new spouses are taken care of. 

Lord Penwood relied on his wife to carry out his wishes. He should have relied on structure instead. 

A separate testamentary trust for Sophie could have helped protect her inheritance. The trust could have paid Lady Penwood a defined amount for Sophie’s housing and support, while preserving the remaining assets for Sophie herself. At a chosen age, Sophie could have received the balance outright. The same approach could have safeguarded her share of the dowry until marriage. 

English trust law predates the Regency era by centuries. This was no novel device beyond Lord Penwood’s reach. He simply failed to use it. 

Picking Trustees 

I must say, Lord Penwood’s most damaging decision may have been leaving Lady Penwood in control of Sophie’s inheritance. He knew of the strained relationship between them. Flashbacks show Lady Penwood excluding Sophie from lessons and family life even during Lord Penwood’s lifetime. 

Despite this knowledge, he appointed no independent trustee. He allowed Lady Penwood to manage the household funds without oversight. No third party monitored Sophie’s welfare or the use of funds meant for her benefit. 

Financial control demands trust in both character and circumstance. Lord Penwood had reason to doubt both. 

What this author proposes is that a neutral third party could have helped ensure that distributions occurred as intended and that Sophie received proper care. Today, families may choose from professional trustees, corporate fiduciaries, attorneys, or advisors with experience managing assets for beneficiaries. 

A man in Lord Penwood’s situation today could engage a professional trustee to manage the funds on Sophie’s behalf and make the appropriate distributions to her. This third party could have looked in on Sophie’s wellbeing as well, to make sure she was being treated with care. Picking a trustee can be one of the hardest decisions anyone makes in their estate plan, but it is essential. 

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Knowing Your Legal Rights 

While this author cannot confirm that this was the case in Regency England, today’s beneficiaries under a will typically enjoy protections Sophie lacked. Most state laws require that beneficiaries receive a copy of the will and have an opportunity to review its terms and contest if need be. Additionally, trustees owe beneficiaries a fiduciary duty and face legal consequences for abuse or mismanagement of assets under their control. 

These safeguards exist to prevent the very harm Sophie endured. Her effective disinheritance resulted not from her father’s wishes, but from unchecked authority placed in the wrong hands. 

This author advises any beneficiary to seek legal counsel to understand their rights and financial guidance to manage inherited assets. An inheritance should provide security, not uncertainty. 

And so, dear reader, may you take this lesson to heart. An estate plan must do more than express good intentions. It must protect those intentions from human frailty. May yours be worthy of the family it is meant to serve. 

This is intended for informational purposes only. You should not assume that any discussion or information contained in this document serves as the receipt of, or as a substitute for, personalized investment advice from Savant. Please consult your investment professional regarding your unique situation. 

Presented By:

Alaina B. Davalos Wealth Transfer Advisor JD

When Alaina was an attorney in private practice, she focused on both family planning and tax planning. She earned a bachelor of arts degree from the University of Richmond and a JD degree from Emory University School of Law in Atlanta. She is a member of the State Bar of Georgia.