PERTH, AUSTRALIA – A Western Australian court has appointed an interim administrator to manage the multi-million dollar estate of Virginia Giuffre, a prominent accuser of the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, who died in April 2025 without a valid will. The ruling, made on Monday, 24th November 2025, EAT, allows several high-profile legal cases that were paused following her death to proceed.

The Supreme Court of Western Australia appointed lawyer Ian Torrington Blatchford to oversee the estate, which is believed to include the remainder of a significant out-of-court settlement Giuffre received from Prince Andrew in 2022. Reports at the time suggested the settlement was worth up to £12 million (approximately KSh 2.4 billion). Giuffre had alleged that Prince Andrew sexually abused her when she was 17 after being trafficked by Epstein; the Prince has consistently denied the allegations.

Giuffre, 41, was found dead at her farm 80km north of Perth in April 2025. Her family stated she died by suicide, describing her as a "lifelong victim of sexual abuse and sex trafficking." Western Australia Police have stated her death is not being treated as suspicious and that a report is being prepared for the coroner.

Legal Challenges and Resumption of Lawsuits

The appointment of Mr. Blatchford, whose services are valued at A$400 (approximately KSh 35,000) per hour, resolves a challenge that had stalled legal proceedings across the globe, from Perth to New York. Giuffre's two sons, Christian and Noah, had initially sought to be appointed as administrators of their mother's intestate estate. However, this move was legally contested by Giuffre's lawyer, Karrie Louden, and her housekeeper, Cheryl Myers, according to court documents.

With an administrator now in place, several lawsuits can resume. One of the most significant is a US$10 million defamation case filed against Giuffre in a New York federal court by Rina Oh. Oh, who also alleges she was abused by Epstein, claims that Giuffre wrongly portrayed her as an accomplice of Epstein in social media posts and a podcast, causing severe damage to her reputation. In April 2025, a New York appeals court ruled that Oh's defamation claim could continue against Giuffre's estate.

The court orders also authorise the administrator to act as the legal representative for Giuffre's estate in an arbitration involving US attorney Alan Dershowitz, against whom Giuffre had previously dropped a defamation lawsuit. Furthermore, the administrator will manage matters related to Giuffre's posthumously published memoir, "Nobody's Girl."

Global Significance and Local Context

While this case has no direct ties to Kenya, its developments are of significant international interest due to the high-profile individuals involved and the broader themes of justice for survivors of sexual abuse. The legal complexities arising from Giuffre dying intestate—without a valid will—serve as a critical reminder of the importance of estate planning. In Western Australia, when a person dies intestate, their assets are distributed according to a formula set by legislation, which may not align with the deceased's wishes and can lead to family disputes and legal complications.

Giuffre became a global figure after she publicly detailed her experiences of being trafficked by Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell, who is serving a prison sentence for her role in the abuse. Giuffre's advocacy included founding the nonprofit organization Speak Out, Act, Reclaim (SOAR) to support survivors of sex trafficking. Her legal battles, particularly the 2021 lawsuit against Prince Andrew, brought intense scrutiny upon the British royal family and forced a public reckoning with the allegations surrounding Epstein's powerful associates. The eventual settlement in February 2022 included a substantial donation to Giuffre's charity.

The appointment of an administrator marks a pivotal step in settling Giuffre's complex legal and financial legacy, ensuring that ongoing legal matters can finally move towards resolution. The outcomes of these cases will be closely watched internationally by legal experts and survivor advocacy groups.