Poche v Poche [2020] NSWSC 835

Supreme Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Poche v Poche [2020] NSWSC 835 Hearing dates: 29, 30 and 31 July 2019. Last written submissions dated 12 August 2019. Date of orders: 30 June 2020 Decision date: 30 June 2020 Jurisdiction: Equity Before: Henry J Decision: See paragraph [353] Catchwords: SUCCESSION – Family provision – claim by adult son – whether adequate and proper provision made for plaintiff by modest provision in will – where plaintiff's financial situation deteriorated after deceased made her will – where defendant, the other adult son, had a strong competing claim to deceased's estate – extent of provision made by deceased to plaintiff and defendant during lifetime – where plaintiff took over the family business – where plaintiff and defendant provided with property – where defendant had legitimate expectations to bulk of estate comprising 50% interest in property – where plaintiff's income significantly reduced and unable to service debt and expenses – where value of remaining cash assets in deceased's estate not small – further provision ordered COSTS – Family provision – excessive costs – where legal costs disproportionate and exceed claim for provision – where total legal costs far exceed the value of cash assets available for distribution – where probate and other claims made and abandoned prior to and at hearing – whether costs capping order should be made – family provision costs capped at $125,000 – other costs orders made Legislation Cited: Civil Procedure Act 2005 (NSW), ss 60, 98 Succession Act 2006 (NSW), ss 59, 60 Uniform Civil Procedure Rules 2005 (NSW), r 42.1, 42.19(2), 42.4 Cases Cited: Askew v Askew [2015] NSWSC 192 Bates v Cooke [2015] NSWCA 278 Baychek v Baychek [2010] NSWSC 987 Blendell v Byrne [2019] NSWSC 583 Brown v Grosfeld [2011] NSWSC 1429 Chan v Chan [2016] NSWCA 222 Chapple v Wilcox (2014) 87 NSWLR 646; [2014] NSWCA 392 Cringle v Cringle [2018] NSWSC 1558 Drivas v Jakopovic [2018] NSWSC 1803 Gorton v Parks (1989) 17 NSWLR 1 Grant v Roberts; Smith v Smith; Roberts v Smith; Curtis v Smith [2019] NSWSC 843 Hampson v Hampson [2010] NSWCA 359 Harris v Harris [2018] NSWSC 552 Lloyd-Williams v Mayfield (2005) 63 NSWLR 1; [2005] NSWCA 189 McCosker v McCosker (1957) 97 CLR 566; [1957] HCA 82 Meres v Meres [2017] NSWSC 285 Nudd v Mannix [2009] NSWCA 327 Perpetual Trustee Co Ltd v Baker [1999] NSWCA 244 Re the Estate of Hodges; Shorter v Hodges (1988) 14 NSWLR 698 Rogers v Rogers [2018] NSWSC 1982 Sgro v Thompson [2017] NSWCA 326 Shorten v Shorten (No 2) [2003] NSWCA 60 Singer v Berghouse (1993) 114 ALR 521; [1993] HCA 35 Slack v Rogan; Palffy v Rogan (2013) 85 NSWLR 253; [2013] NSWSC 522 Squire v Squire [2019] NSWCA 90 Steinmetz v Shannon (2019) 99 NSWLR 687; [2019] NSWCA 114 Steinmetz v Shannon [2019] NSWCA 114 Stone v Stone [2019] NSWSC 233 Vigolo v Bostin (2005) 221 CLR 191; [2005] HCA 11 Walker v Harwood [2017] NSWCA 228 Whisprun Pty Ltd v Dixon (2003) 200 ALR 447; [2003] HCA 48 Wilson v Porada; The Estate of Peter Wolfgang Porada, late of Pericoe (No. 2) [2017] NSWSC 1362 Texts Cited: Nil Category: Principal judgment Parties: Adam Poche (Plaintiff) Wayne Poche (Defendant) Representation: Counsel: C Birch SC (Plaintiff) L Ellison SC (Defendant)