Estate of Theresa Katalinic; Vea & Katalinic v Katalinic [2020] NSWSC 805

Supreme Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Estate of Theresa Katalinic; Vea & Katalinic v Katalinic [2020] NSWSC 805 Hearing dates: 15 and 16 June 2020 Date of orders: 16 June 2020 Decision date: 26 June 2020 Jurisdiction: Equity Before: Hallen J Decision: The Court: 1. Orders subject to compliance with the Probate rules of Court that Probate of the Will dated 9 July 2018 of Theresa Katalinic, also known as Teresa Katalinic, be granted to Jenny Elizabeth Vea and Michael Robert Katalinic, the Plaintiffs. 2. Orders that the matter be remitted to the Senior Deputy Registrar in Probate to complete the grant. 3. Orders that the Defendant pay the costs of the Plaintiffs for the preparation of affidavits not read in relation to the grant of Probate and the appearances not otherwise necessary. 4. Orders that the Defendant pay the specified gross sum of $6,000 instead of assessed costs. 5. Makes no order as to the Plaintiffs' costs of the notice of motion filed 14 May 2020 as against the Defendant. 6. Makes no order as to the Defendant's costs of the proceedings. 7. Orders that the Plaintiffs' costs, calculated on the indemnity basis, not recovered from the Defendant in accordance with the order in Paragraph 4 above, be paid, or retained, as the case may be, out of the estate of the deceased. Catchwords: SUCCESSION – Wills, probate and administration – Caveat against grant – Proceedings commenced propounding Will in solemn form – No Defence and Cross-Claim filed by caveator – Notice of motion then filed that caveat cease to be in force and seeking summary judgment – Parties agree that there should be a grant of Probate of Will being propounded by Plaintiffs COSTS – Whether Court should make a specified gross sum costs order Legislation Cited: Civil Procedure Act 2005 (NSW), s 98 Succession Act 2006 (NSW), ss 103, 109 Supreme Court Rules 1970 (NSW), Pt 78, rr 66, 69, 71, 72 Uniform Civil Procedure Rules 2005 (NSW), r 42.1 Cases Cited: Application of JV Davey; Estate DV Wilson (Supreme Court (NSW), Hodgson J, 16 February 1996, unrep) Azzopardi v Smart (The Estate of Alice Ann Smart) (1992) 27 NSWLR 232 Barry v Butlin [1838] II Moore PC 480; 12 ER 1089 Beatson v Perry (1906) 6 SR (NSW) 167 Bullabidgee Pty Ltd v McCleary (No 2) [2011] NSWCA 343 Clocchiatti v Chadwick [2012] NSWSC 1308 Coshott v Parker (No 3) [2015] NSWSC 1195 Cushway v Harris [2012] EWHC 2273 (Ch) D'Apice v Farrell (Supreme Court (NSW), Powell J,15 May 1992, unrep) Hamod v New South Wales [2011] NSWCA 375 Harrison v Schipp (2002) 54 NSWLR 738; [2002] NSWCA 213 Howards Storage World Pty Ltd v Haviv Holdings Pty Ltd (2010) 182 FCR 84; [2010] FCAFC 5 In re Byrne [1937] VLR 33 In re Emery, Deceased; Emery v Emery [1923] P 184 In The Estate of William Plant (Deceased) [1926] P 139 In the Will of Elizabeth O'Driscoll (1929) 29 SR (NSW) 559; 46 WN (NSW) 176 Kazar (Liquidator) v Kargarian; In the Matter of Frontier Architects Pty Ltd (In Liq) (2011) 197 FCR 113; [2011] FCAFC 136 McGrath v Cherry, Re; Estate of Latimer (2012) 8 ASTLR 243; [2012] NSWSC 569 Mitchell & Mitchell v Gard & Kingwell (1863) 3 Sw & Tr 275; 164 ER 1280 Moran v Place [1896] P 214 Nichols v NFS Agribusiness Pty Ltd (2018) 97 NSWLR 681; [2018] NSWCA 84 Nobarani v Mariconte (2018) 265 CLR 236; [2018] HCA 36 Peterson v Spartalis (The Estate of Luke Evangelo Spartalis) (Supreme Court (NSW), Hodgson J, 7 April 1995, unrep) Re Dowling; sub nom NSW Trustee & Guardian v Crossley [2013] NSWSC 1040 Re Estates Brooker-Pain and Soulos [2019] NSWSC 671 Russo v Russo (No 4) [2016] NSWSC 1133 Stoddart (NSW) Pty Ltd v Kellyville Building Pty Ltd [2019] NSWSC 1480 Weinstock v Beck in the Estate of Weinstock (2007) 1 ASTLR 156; [2007] NSWSC 193 Texts Cited: Alexander Learmonth et al (eds), Williams, Mortimer and Sunnucks on Executors, Administrators and Probate (21st ed, 2018, Thomson Reuters) Thomas Henry Maxwell, Miller's Probate Practice (1900, J. Falconer) Category: Costs Parties: Jenny Elizabeth Vea (First Plaintiff) Michael Robert Katalinic (Second Plaintiff)