Rathswohl v Court [2021] NSWSC 356

Supreme Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Rathswohl v Court [2021] NSWSC 356 Hearing dates: 19 – 22 October 2020 Date of orders: 9 April 2021 Decision date: 09 April 2021 Jurisdiction: Equity Before: Rees J Decision: Provision made for $500,000 plus costs. Catchwords: SUCCESSION – family provision – adult child – past drug addiction and alcohol problems – last Will left house to defendant, noting plaintiff had own business and house – plaintiff's business failed and house sold due to financial difficulty – future employment prospects slim – defendant spent father's money left to siblings in the Will – suitable accommodation suggested by plaintiff's counsel insufficient for plaintiff's needs and inconsistent with testator's statements – provision made. Legislation Cited: Succession Act 2006 (NSW) ss 57(c), 59, 60, 66 Cases Cited: Ameisen v Ameisen [2020] NSWSC 528 Barbanera v Barbanera [2017] NSWSC 357 Bondy v Vavros (Supreme Court (NSW), Young J, 29 August 1988, unrep) BC8802429 Burke v Burke (No 2) [2015] NSWCA 195; (2015) 13 ASTLR 313 Camernik v Reholc [2012] NSWSC 1537 DNF v NTS [2017] NSWSC 482 Foley v Ellis [2008] NSWCA 288 Ford v Simes [2009] NSWCA 351 Hastings v Hastings [2008] NSWSC 1310 Kleinig v Neal (No 2) [1981] 2 NSWLR 532 McGrath v Eves [2005] NSWSC 1006 Page v Hull-Moody [2020] NSWSC 411 Rathswohl v Court [2020] NSWSC 1490 Sgro v Thompson [2017] NSWCA 326 Shelley v Prager [2020] NSWSC 1393 Smith v Johnson [2015] NSWCA 297; (2015) 14 ASTLR 175 Underwood v Gaudron [2014] NSWSC 1055 Verzar v Verzar [2012] NSWSC 1380 Wheatley v Wheatley [2006] NSWCA 262 Category: Principal judgment Parties: Robert Rathswohl (Plaintiff) Yvette Court (Defendant) Representation: Counsel: Mr L Ellison SC / Mr B Searson (Plaintiff) Mr S Reuben