HEIRESS HUGUETTE CLARK'S WILL FILED in NY SURROGATE'S COURT

The very wealthy heiress, Huguette Clark's will was filed in New York County Surrogate's Court on Wednesday.

Huguette M. Clark was the daughter of the "Copper King" and one time senator William A. Clark . William Clark made his fortune in Montana's Mining Industry, in building Railways across the country as well as the founding of Las Vegas. Clark County, Nevada is named after William Clark.

Huguette Clark's estate is $400 million. Of the $400 million Huguette Clark has left most of it to the Arts. The Corcoran Gallery of Art has been given Claude Monet's water lilies painting which has been unseen by the public for over 25 years. The painting is estimated to be worth tens of millions of dollars. According to Ms. Clark's Will she has created a foundation to support the Arts to which she has left approximately $300 million which includes the value of the Monet painting. Ms. Clark also owned Renoir's, John Singer Sargent's, and other works of art that will be moved to the foundation's new home in Santa Barbara, California. This is the location of Ms. Clark's childhood home "Bellosguardo Estate ". Ms. Clark's long-time nurse, Hadassah Peri is to receive 60 percent of what is left of an estimated $100 million (this made Ms. Peri the biggest beneficiary). Another 20 percent is to go to Wanda Styka, Ms. Clark's goddaughter. Wallace Bock, her lawyer and Irving H. Kamsler, her accountant have each been bequeathed $500,000.00.

The distant relatives who claimed that Huguette Clark was being taken advantage of by her lawyer, Wallace Bock and her accountant, Irving H. Kamsler have been left out of the heiress' Will.

Just because the Will has been filed, it does not prevent the distant relatives from contesting the Will should they so choose. Huguette is said to have signed the Will in 2005 at the age of 98. It will be very difficult since she died at 104 to prove that she was incompetent at the time of the Will signing. Ms. Clark had been a recluse for over 30 years, seeing only her nurse, lawyer and accountant during these years.

Did they have undue influence? Did they structure the Will to hide their influence? Should the Will be contested it will be up to New York County Surrogate's Court to make a decision.