Ugly court battle over Aussie artist’s $24 million estate, art collection

The death of a renowned Aussie artist has sparked a messy court battle over her $24m fortune with relatives, neighbours and a Serbian church all staking claim.

EXCLUSIVE

A messy court battle has broken out over the $24 million estate and art collection of a beloved Australian artist, with church organisations, relatives and neighbours fighting for their share.

Sydney artist Mimi Milka Berger, 86, who was known for her abstract colour art, died in November 2022. She had no children and was divorced.

Last week, the NSW Supreme Court heard from several of Ms Berger’s relatives and friends, due to uncertainty around the artist’s final wishes.

Serbian-born artist Mimi Berger. Picture: Instagram

Ms Berger left behind $24 million as well as her art collection. Picture: Instagram

The court heard how in the final 20 years of her life, Ms Berger made a number of wills, including an “original” which was torn up and put back together with sticky tape.

Ms Berger also changed solicitors three times throughout that time, engaging a new lawyer in July 2022 to execute a new will, but failing to do so before her death, the court heard.

Ms Berger’s original will stated she would give a “monetary gift” to her neighbours Srdja and Gordana Jankovic, with the remainder of the estate to go to the Serbian Orthodox Church.

However, Ms Berger changed this in 2015 to give her artworks and estate to her niece Bozica Dunderski and grand-nephew, Dusko.

In 2022, Ms Berger wrote a note to say she also wanted to leave her neighbours – the Jankovics – a house she owned in Commonwealth Street, Surry Hills – estimated to be worth more than $2 million.

Ms Berger died in November 2022. Picture: Instagram

However, she failed to add this to a new will she intended to make before her death.

The court heard from one of Ms Berger’s brother’s children Branka Jaksic-Repac – who would get 1/10th of the estate if it went into “intestacy”, which occurs when someone dies without a valid will.

NSW Supreme Court Justice David Hammerschlag said the claim from Ms Jaksic-Repac “must fail” and was satisfied Ms Berger had intended to make the new will.

“The deceased’s intentions stated on a number of occasions that the Jankovics would get the Surry Hills property and Bozica and Dusko the rest,” Judge Hammerschlag stated.

“I am satisfied that the deceased intended the Codicil to form her Will or an alteration to her Will.”

Justice Hammerschlag ordered all parties to make any applications in terms of legal costs within seven days of the judgment, which was handed down on March 25.