The Legal Light Justin Stack Court rules man who inherited $2 million did not exist Sometimes courts must rule in very strange situations. Such was the recent case before the Supreme Court of Victoria, which had to determine whether a man who did not seem to exist could inherit $2.5 million. A Melbourne man made a will that left the bulk of his $2.5 million estate to a person he had only communicated with online. He never met the person presenting himself as an American called Kyle Stuart Jackson, but he fell in love with the online persona and planned to marry him. In 2022, after just six months of social media communication with the online love interest, he changed his will to name Jackson as his chief beneficiary and executor of his estate. Two months later the willmaker died. The will named his ex-wife as executor if Jackson was unwilling or unable to act, giving her $100,000. The will stated she would inherit if Jackson died before the willmaker did. The ex-wife's lawyers tried to contact Jackson, who replied by email from the address "oneluckysoull" that he did not want to be executor. But the writer demanded he be informed of every step of the process, saying he would take only 15 per cent of the estate, which he would give to charity. "My relationship with [the deceased] was special and I am yet to recover from his demise," Jackson wrote. The ex-wife and her lawyers smelled a rat, and hired a US private detective. It turned out nobody knew Jackson at the Pennsylvania address he gave. A US passport photograph Jackson sent to the lawyers was determined to be fake. A $1 million cheque he had earlier sent to the willmaker was false. The detective and the lawyers concluded Jackson did not exist and the willmaker had been the victim of a romance scam. In December 2025 Associate Judge Caroline Goulden ruled Jackson did not exist "in the manner contemplated by the deceased" and the ex-wife could "distribute the estate without further regard for Mr Jackson's interest". Anneka Frayne, director at Stacks Law Firm, said the situation required two separate court applications - one for probate, which would have to pass over Jackson as the first named executor, and one to determine how the estate should be distributed. "Sadly, this situation is happening more and more often as people fall victim to online scams, sending money or naming the scammer in their will. It is one of the reasons it is wise to consult an experienced lawyer when compiling a will," Ms Frayne said. Scamwatch says $23.6 million was lost to romance scams in a year, averaging $25,000 per scam victim. STACKS LAW FIRM Taylor Kennedy Lawyer 02 6592 6592 taree.stacklaw.com.au Partners in life The Legal Light Justin Stack Court rules man who inherited $ 2 million did not exist Sometimes courts must rule in very strange situations . Such was the recent case before the Supreme Court of Victoria , which had to determine whether a man who did not seem to exist could inherit $ 2.5 million . A Melbourne man made a will that left the bulk of his $ 2.5 million estate to a person he had only communicated with online . He never met the person presenting himself as an American called Kyle Stuart Jackson , but he fell in love with the online persona and planned to marry him . In 2022 , after just six months of social media communication with the online love interest , he changed his will to name Jackson as his chief beneficiary and executor of his estate . Two months later the willmaker died . The will named his ex - wife as executor if Jackson was unwilling or unable to act , giving her $ 100,000 . The will stated she would inherit if Jackson died before the willmaker did . The ex - wife's lawyers tried to contact Jackson , who replied by email from the address " oneluckysoull " that he did not want to be executor . But the writer demanded he be informed of every step of the process , saying he would take only 15 per cent of the estate , which he would give to charity . " My relationship with [ the deceased ] was special and I am yet to recover from his demise , " Jackson wrote . The ex - wife and her lawyers smelled a rat , and hired a US private detective . It turned out nobody knew Jackson at the Pennsylvania address he gave . A US passport photograph Jackson sent to the lawyers was determined to be fake . A $ 1 million cheque he had earlier sent to the willmaker was false . The detective and the lawyers concluded Jackson did not exist and the willmaker had been the victim of a romance scam . In December 2025 Associate Judge Caroline Goulden ruled Jackson did not exist " in the manner contemplated by the deceased " and the ex - wife could " distribute the estate without further regard for Mr Jackson's interest " . Anneka Frayne , director at Stacks Law Firm , said the situation required two separate court applications - one for probate , which would have to pass over Jackson as the first named executor , and one to determine how the estate should be distributed . " Sadly , this situation is happening more and more often as people fall victim to online scams , sending money or naming the scammer in their will . It is one of the reasons it is wise to consult an experienced lawyer when compiling a will , " Ms Frayne said . Scamwatch says $ 23.6 million was lost to romance scams in a year , averaging $ 25,000 per scam victim . STACKS LAW FIRM Taylor Kennedy Lawyer 02 6592 6592 taree.stacklaw.com.au Partners in life