Perry v Perry [2021] NSWSC 1669

Supreme Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Perry v Perry [2021] NSWSC 1669 Hearing dates: 15 – 18 October 2018, 1 - 5 June 2019 and 14 April 2020. Final submissions received 18 August 2021. Decision date: 17 December 2021 Jurisdiction: Equity Before: Robb J Decision: See pars [500]-[504]. It will be necessary for the Court to make orders to give effect to these reasons after receipt of draft short minutes of order from the parties. Those short minutes of order should provide for a mechanism for the Court to deal with the question of costs, if the parties are unable to agree on that subject. Catchwords: CIVIL PROCEDURE — Probate and administration of estates — Administration suit — Where defendant appointed administrator of intestate estate 45 years ago — Where defendant has not yet finalised administration of estate — Where primary asset in intestate estate was land — Where plaintiff beneficiary alleged defendant has maladministered estate and sought accounting on basis of wilful default — Where evidence fallible and contemporary documents lacking — Where findings of credibility practically not possible — Where Court refused to order accounting unless defendant administrator pursues application for account to limit interest of estate in land to its unimproved capital value CIVIL PROCEDURE — Probate and administration of estates — Administration suit — Where plaintiff beneficiary sought revocation of grant of letters of administration to defendant administrator and appointment of replacement administrator — Where grant made 45 years ago — Where intervening events no longer necessitate orders sought — Where Court refused to make orders sought EQUITY — Trusts and trustees — Powers, duties, rights and liabilities — Power to provide for maintenance and advancement of minor beneficiaries — Where defendant administrator used beneficiaries' entitlements in estate to provide for their maintenance and advancement during their minority — Where plaintiff beneficiary argued defendant administrator not entitled to do that — Where plaintiff beneficiary attained majority over 20 years ago — Where defendant administrator single parent with limited source of income — Where Court found orders can be made authorising trustee to apply income of trust for maintenance, education and advancement of minor beneficiaries Legislation Cited: Administration of Estates Act 1954 (NSW) Evidence Act 1995 (NSW) Interpretation Act 1987 (NSW) Limitation Act 1969 (NSW) Probate and Administration Act 1898 (NSW) Trustee Act 1929 (NSW) Uniform Civil Procedure Rules 2005 (NSW) Cases Cited: Andrews v Partington (1791) 3 Bro CC 401; 29 ER 610 Barlow v Grant (1684) 1 Vern 255; 23 ER 451 Brown v Smith (1878) 10 Ch D 377 Campbell v Campbell [2015] NSWSC 784 Caterpillar Financial Australia Ltd v Ovens Nominees Pty Ltd [2011] FCA 677 Clay v Clay (2001) 202 CLR 410; [2001] HCA 9 Countess of Bective v The Federal Commissioner of Taxation (1932) 47 CLR 417 Cubillo v Commonwealth of Australia (No 2) (2000) 103 FCR 1; [2000] FCA 1084 Dark v Dark [2016] NSWSC 1223 Davis v Davis [2014] WASC 395 Department of Health and Community Services (NT) v JWB and SMB (Marion's case) (1992) 175 CLR 218; [1992] HCA 15 Evans v Braddock [2015] NSWSC 249 Ex parte Chambers, in the Matter of Chambers (1829) 1 Russ & M 577; 39 ER 221 Ex parte Green (1820) 1 Jac & W 253; 37 ER 372 Flourentzou v Spink [2019] NSWCA 315 Fountain v Alexander (1982) 150 CLR 615; [1982] HCA 16 Gillick v West Norfolk and Wisbech Area Health Authority [1986] AC 112 Hewer v Bryant [1970] 1 QB 357 Hons v Hons [2010] NSWSC 247 Hoste v Pratt [1798] 3 Ves Jun 730; 30 ER 1243 In re Cahill's Estate (1886) 12 VLR 228 In re Howarth (1873) LR 8 Ch App 415 In re Richards (1931) 31 SR (NSW) 565 In the Estate of Dwyer (decd) (1886) 12 VLR 303 Kerferd v Perpetual Executors and Trustees Association of Australasia Ltd (1893) 19 VLR 700 Maberly v Turton (1808) 14 Ves Jun 499; 33 ER 612 McEvoy v McEvoy (No 2) [2013] NSWSC 1162 Meshumar v Otmy (2018) 97 NSWLR 615; [2018] NSWSC 125 Muschinski v Dodds (1985) 160 CLR 583; [1985] HCA 78 Neale v Bank of Western Australia [2014] NSWSC 315 Pavlis v Pavlis [2021] NSWSC 1117 Re Application of a Local Health District; Patient Fay [2016] NSWSC 624 Re Moylan (1881) 5 AJR 67 Re Neeson (1869) 6 WW. & aB. Eq. 319 Re Pleash (as joint and several liquidators of Suncoast Restoration Pty Ltd (in liq) [2013] FCA 355; (2013) 93 ACSR 606 Re Walder; Townsend v Walder (1903) 3 SR (NSW) 375; 20 WN (NSW) 144 Reeves v Brymer (1801) 6 Ves Jun 516; 31 ER 1172 Robison v Killey (1862) 30 Beav 520; 54 ER 991 Sherwood v Smith (1801) 6 Ves Jun 454; 31 ER 1141 Singh v Singh [2017] NSWCA 234 Sisson v Shaw (1804) 9 Ves Jun 285; 32 ER 612 Spink v Flourentzou [2019] NSWSC 256 Warner v Hung, in the matter of Bellpac Pty Ltd (recs and mgrs apptd) (in liq) (No 2) [2011] FCA 1123; (2011) 297 ALR 56 Watson v Foxman (1995) 49 NSWLR 315 Texts Cited: G E Dal Pont and K Mackie, Law of Succession (2nd ed, 2017, LexisNexis Butterworths) J D Heydon and M J Leeming, Jacobs' Law of Trusts in Australia (8th ed, LexisNexis Butterworths) Category: Principal judgment Parties: Tanya Lynette Perry (plaintiff) Anne Lynette Perry (first defendant) Mark William Perry (second defendant) Michelle Perry (third defendant) Louise Anne Perry (fourth defendant) Representation: Counsel: J Needham SC/ M M Pringle (plaintiff) J Gooley/ R M Higgins (first to fourth defendants)