Starr v Miller [2022] NSWCA 46

Court of Appeal Supreme Court New South Wales Medium Neutral Citation: Starr v Miller [2022] NSWCA 46 Hearing dates: 22 November 2021 Date of orders: 29 March 2022 Decision date: 29 March 2022 Before: Macfarlan JA at [1]; Meagher JA at [72]; White JA at [73] Decision: Appeal dismissed with costs. Catchwords: SUCCESSION — contested probate application —whether the deceased had testamentary capacity at the time she gave instructions for and executed the will — whether the deceased knew and approved of the terms of the will — whether deceased's statement that she was not agreeable to one of her daughters getting any money was a reference to a testamentary gift — whether any "suspicious circumstances" Legislation Cited: Succession Act 2006 (NSW) Cases Cited: ASIC v Hellicar (2013) 247 CLR 345; [2012] HCA 17 Bailey v Bailey (1924) 34 CLR 558; [1924] HCA 21 Banks v Goodfellow (1870) LR 5 QB 549 Boughton v Knight (1873) LR 3 P&D 64 Drivas v Jakopovic (2019) 100 NSWLR 505; [2019] NSWCA 218 Frizzo v Frizzo [2011] QCA 308 Jones v Dunkel (1959) 101 CLR 298; [1959] HCA 8 Mekhail v Hana; Mekail v Hana [2019] NSWCA 197 Nicholson v Knaggs [2009] VSC 64 Payne v Parker [1976] 1 NSWLR 191 Zorbas v Sidiropoulous (No 2) [2009] NSWCA 197 Category: Principal judgment Parties: Susan Maree Starr (Appellant) Margo Anne Miller (First Respondent) David Patrick Brough (Second Respondent) Bradford Frederick McInnes Stuart (Third Respondent) Representation: Counsel: R D Wilson SC (Appellant) C Harris SC (Respondents)