The Estate of Maureen Laila Huber, of Cobram VIC; The Estate of Dolf Paul Huber [2020] NSWSC 1539

Supreme Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: The Estate of Maureen Laila Huber, of Cobram VIC; The Estate of Dolf Paul Huber [2020] NSWSC 1539 Hearing dates: 17 & 18 March 2020 Date of orders: 6 November 2020 Decision date: 06 November 2020 Jurisdiction: Equity Before: Slattery J Decision: Registrar's decision substantially upheld. Minor variations to the decision in favour of the executors. Directions given for the determination of the remaining issues of costs. Catchwords: CIVIL PROCEDURE - review of Registrar's decision under Uniform Civil Procedure Rules (UCPR) r 49.19 - claim for executors' commission – Registrar awards commission under Probate and Administration Act 1898, s 86 – beneficiaries allege maladministration of the estate by the executors, disentitling the executors from any award of commission – beneficiaries contend the Registrar's decision should be overturned. Legislation Cited: Civil Procedure Act 2005, ss 56, 57, 58, 60 Probate and Administration Act 1898, ss 85, 85 (1AA), 85(4), 86(3), 87, 87(1), 87(2), 87(3) Supreme Court Act 1970, s 53(3)(a) Supreme Court Rules 2006, Part 78, rr 81, 94 Trustee Act 1925, s 85 Uniform Civil Procedure Rules 2005, r 49.19 Cases Cited: Ford v Princehorn; Estate of Ford [2012] NSWSC 1165 Hawkins v Barkley-Brown [2010] NSWSC 48 In the Estate of Purton (1935) 53 WN (NSW) 148 In the Estate of Sheppard [1972] 2 NSWLR 714 In the Will of Jenkins (1904) 4 SR (NSW) 625 In the Will of Kerrigan (1935) SR (NSW) 242 In the Will of T.S. Douglas deceased (1951) 51 SR (NSW) 282 Lawrence v Gunner [2014] NSWSC 121 Lawteal Pty Ltd v Ofo [2005] NSWSC 984 Macartney v Macartney (1909) VLR 183 Re Bosworth (1889) 58 LJ Ch 432 Re Craig (1952) 52 SR (NSW) 265 Re Estate of Ghidella [2005] QSC 106 Re Estate Gowing; Application for Executor's Commission (2014) 11 ASTLR 128 Re Smith (1916) 16 SR (NSW) 422 The Estate of Barbara Dawn Orre (Supreme Court (NSW), Powell J, 19 December 1991, unrep) Tomko v Palasty (No 2) (2007) 71 NSWLR 61 Texts Cited: Eric S. Vance, Executors Commission (1969, Law Book Company) Category: Principal judgment Parties: First Plaintiff: Denzil Bruce Govett Second Plaintiff: David Corbo