2020 Will & Estate Cases (NSW)

By Ari Katsoulas, Barrister
(02) 8915 2006 | akatsoulas@wentworthchambers.com.au

Below are my own records for WIll & Estate decisions of 2020. I have maintained a public list since 2014. Use at your own risk.

January 2020

• NSW Trustee and Guardian v Wardy [2020] NSWSC 18 (Slattery J) – [J]

February 2020

• Robinson v Robinson [2020] NSWCA 4 (Meagher JA at [1], Ward JA at [2], Gleeson JA at [229]) – Appeal concerning Section 95 Release [J]
• Colbourne v Colbourne [2020] NSWDC 37 (Judge Levy SC) Approval of Family Provision Settlement – District Court [J]
• Cowap v Cowap  [2020] NSWCA 19 (Bell P at [1]; Macfarlan JA at [2]; White JA at [61]) – Family Provision Claim by Adult Son against elderly Widow – consideration of competing interests [J]
• Bowers v Bowers  [2020] NSWSC 109 (Hallen J) – Family Provision claim by adult child – beneficiary of discretionary  testamentary trust [J]
• Application by Muhammad Elias Attia [2020] NSWSC 94 (Ward CJ In Eq) – Judicial Advice [J]
• Megerditchian v Khatchadourian (No 2) [2020] NSWSC 112 (Parker J) – Costs in Family Provision Claim – within District Court jurisdiction [J]
• Small v Phillips (No 3) [2020] NSWCA 24 (Brereton JA; McCallum JA; Emmett AJA) – Costs [J]
• Rodny v Weisbord [2020] NSWCA 22 (Meagher JA at [1], White JA at [99], McCallum JA at [150]) – Informal Document – Intention to form a Will [J]
• Re Estate Luce; Turch v Tripolone [2020] NSWSC 117 (Lindsay J) – Unsuccessful Family Provision Claim by Adult Son [J]

March 2020

• Harris v Carter  [2020] NSWSC 196 (Hallen J) – Family Provision Claim by minor child [J]
• The Estate of Milan Zlatevski; Geroska v Zlatevski [2020] NSWSC 250 (Henry J) – Contested Probate – Testamentary Capacity  [J]

April 2020

• Serwin v Dolso [2020] NSWSC 370 (Hallen J) – Construction Case
• Choras v Farmakidis [2020] NSWSC 367 (Parker J) – Application for seperate hearing on extension of time to bring a Family Provision Application – no extension granted, summons for provision dismissed.
• Page v Hull-Moody [2020] NSWSC 411 (Hallen J) – Family Provision claim by adult child -adequate and proper provision made, dismissed.
• Indjic v Stojanovic [2020] NSWSC 470 (Hallen J) – Family Provision claim by de facto wife – insufficient evidence of de facto relationship – no alternate category of eligibility – self-represented defendant

May 2020

• The Estate of Terence Byrne; Osborne v Stewart [2020] NSWSC 507 (Hallen J) – Rectification [J]
• Re The Will of Alexa [2020] NSWSC 560 (Hallen J) – Statutory Will [J]
• Estate Ameisen, Deceased [2020] NSWSC 528 (Lindsay J) – unsuccessful family provision claim by adult son against estate of mother – sibling competing beneficiary – $1.2mil estate [J]
• Ovens v Ovens; The Estate of the late May Enid Ovens [2020] NSWSC 568 (Slattery J) – claim by adult son for further provision – no further provision made [J]
• Rakovich v Marszalek [2020] NSWSC 589 (Hallen J) – successful family provision claim by “close friend” – partly dependent / member of household / alternatively, close personal relationship [J]

June 2020

• Grant v Grant [2020] NSWSC 760 (Rein J) – Family Provision claim by adult child abandoned during hearing
• Ng v Lau; In the Estate of Ken Kui Yuen Lau [2020] NSWSC 713 (Kunc J) – Family Provision for additional provision by widow of deceased – crisp order – further provision – contested probate (knowledge and approval)
• Estate of Lyn Burtonwood [2020] NSWSC 715 (Hallen J) – Letters of Adminstration on presumption of death following coronial inquest.
• Purnell v Tindale [2020] NSWSC 746 (Williams J) – Family Provision Claim by dependent member of household – Out of Time (11 months) – dismissed.
• Re estate of the late Stasha Berger [2020] NSWSC 750 (Ward CJ in Eq) – judicial advice – charitable gift.
• The Estate of Wendy Gwynne Price [2020] NSWSC 782 (Slattery J)
• Gooley v Gooley [2020] NSWSC 798 (Willaims J) – Appointment of administrator pendente lite pending determination of probate proceedings.
• Estate of Theresa Katalinic; Vea & Katalinic v Katalinic [2020] NSWSC 805 (Hallen J) – caveat against probate.
• MacAlpine v MacAlpine [2020] NSWSC 824 (Parker J) – Family Provision Claim by estranged Adult Child – Adult Son – Unsuccessful.
• Jalife v McIntyre [2020] NSWSC 799 (Davies J)
• Cooper v Atkin [2020] NSWSC 828 (Hallen J) – Family Provision Claim by Step Child (Daughter) – unsuccessful – “self-defeating litigation”.

July 2020

• Vella v Vella; Vella v Vella [2018] NSWSC 1226 (Williams J) – Family Provision Claims by two Adult Children – one successful and one unsuccessful.
• Brindley v Wade (No 2) [2020] NSWSC 882 (Hallen J) – Family Provision Claim by Former Spouse – Unsuccessful.
• Spiteri v Vassallo [2020] NSWSC 890 (Williams J) – Family Provision CLaim by De Facto Spouse of the Deceased – Lump Sum payment – competing interests with children of the deceased.
• Gill v Garrett[2020] NSWSC 795 (Slattery J) – Estoppel, Family Provision Claim, Breach of Fiduciary Duty – Unsuccessful.
• Ellem v Webber [2020] NSWSC 910 (Robb J) – Family Provision Claim by Adult Child (Daughter) – Successful.
• Keaton v Gumulak [2020] NSWSC 943 (Hallen J) – Family Provision Claim by Adult Child (Daughter) – Estranged – successful lump sum provision.
• Blendell v Blendell; Blendell v Blendell[2020] NSWCA 154 (Meagher JA at [1]; Gleeson JA at [76]; Leeming JA at [77]) – appeal – family provision claim by two adult children
• Lester and Ors v Lester and Ors; In the Estate of Dulcie Brown [2020] NSWSC 958 (Kunc J) – Family Provision Claim by adult son-in-law of the deceased (member of household/dependent) – family provision claim by adult grandchild (factors warranting)
• Application by NSW Trustee and Guardian (Estate of Edward Charles Turner) [2020] NSWSC 944 (Hallen J) – Benjamin order
• Armitage v Fraser [2020] NSWSC 979 (Hallen J) – family provision claim by adult daughter – successful lump sum provision.

August 2020

• Bracher v Jones [2020] NSWSC 1024 (Robb J) – Contested Probate – Testamentary Capacity
• Vella v Vella; Vella v Vella (No 2)[2020] NSWSC 1032 (Williams J) – costs
• Purnell v Tindale (No. 2) [2020] NSWSC 1047 (Henry J) – costs on unsuccessful family provision claim.
• Muir v Angeles [2020] NSWSC 1056 (Hallen J)
• Weiss v Weiss; Estate of Anita Hildegard Weiss [2020] NSWSC 1064 (Hallen J) – grant
• Dodd v Dodd [2020] NSWSC 1094 (Davies J) – claim for possession – defendant alleged claim under Succession Act 2006 – right to bring family provision claim does not give a caveatable interest.

September 2020

• Re The Statutory Will of Rolf Huenerjaeger [2020] NSWSC 1190 (Hallen J) – statutory will application
• Bailey v Palombo [2020] NSWSC 1209 (Hallen J)- distribution order – deceased died intestate leaving multiple spouse
• Watton v MacTaggart [2020] NSWSC 1233 (Ward CJ in Eq) – successful family provision claim by adult child (daughter) – extension of time.
• Linney v Solomou (No 2) [2020] NSWSC 1242 (Ward CJ in Eq) – section 95 release
• Grant v Grant; Grant v Grant (No. 2) [2020] NSWSC 1288 (Slattery J)
• The Estate of Frances Kedesch Michell [2020] NSWSC 1300 (Hallen J) – review of registrar’s decision.
• Megerditchian v Khatchadourian [2020] NSWCA 229 (Macfarlan JA; Payne JA; Emmett AJA) – Famiy Provision.
• Lewis v Lewis [2020] NSWSC 1306 (Parker J) – Testamentary Capacity.

October 2020

• Watton v MacTaggart (No 2) [2020] NSWSC 1351 (Ward CJ in Eq) – Costs on successful Family Provision Claim.
• Shelley v Prager [2020] NSWSC 1393 (Williams J) – Family Provision Claim by Adult Daughter (70 years of age) – Summons Dismissed.
• Estate of Maria Zbrozek; Katarzyna (aka Kasia) Duszyk v Charles Emmanuel Morgan – Interim Administrator of the Estate of the late Maria Zbrozek [2020] NSWSC 1591 (Rein J)
• Smith v Moore [2020] NSWSC 1446 (Williams J) – Unsuccessful Family Provision Claim by Adult Child.
• Usawai v NSW Trustee and Guardian [2020] NSWSC 1456 (Parker J)
• Crawford v Munden; In the Estate of Angel [2020] NSWSC 1463 (Kunc J) – Successful Family Provision Claim by Adult Daughter – $150,000 legacy – discount because of estrangement.
• Gill v Garrett & Ors (No. 2) [2020] NSWSC 1473 (Slattery J) – Costs on proceedings that including a family provision claim.
• Rathswohl v Court [2020] NSWSC 1490 (Rees J) – Admissibility of phone recordings of the deceased’s testamentary intentions in family provision claim.
• The Estate of Wendy Gwynne Price; Lanigan v Price (No. 2) [2020] NSWSC 1518 (Slattery J) – Administration Dispute .
• Behrens v Behrens [2020] NSWSC 1566 (Rein J) – Family Provision Claim by Adult Son – History of violence by claimant against deceased – 25 year estrangement – Summons Dismissed.

November 2020

• Shelley v Prager (No 2) [2020] NSWSC 1553 (Williams J) – Costs – Unsuccessful Plaintiff in Family Provision Claim.
• Torok v Becker [2020] NSWSC 1570 (Ward CJ in Eq) – Family Provision Claim y Adult Child – Designation of Notional estate – Unconscionable Conduct in Relationship of Undue Influence (Intervivos diminution of estate assets).
• Haertsch v Whiteway (No 2) [2020] NSWCA 287 (Macfarlan JA; Meagher JA; Leeming JA) – Cost where Plaintiff successful at first instance but unsuccessful on apeal.
• Smith v Moore (No 2) [2020] NSWSC 1640 (Willaims J) – Costs
• Sarant v Sarant [2020] NSWSC 1686 (Hallen J) – Family Provision Claim by Widow – Separation 4 years prior but continued living in same residence

December 2020

• Graham v Vukic [2020] NSWSC 1801(Parker J) – Successful Family Provision Claim by Adult Daughter