Chalik v Chalik [2024] NSWSC 117

Supreme Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Chalik v Chalik [2024] NSWSC 117 Hearing dates: 24, 26, 27 April, 24 May, 6 and 26 July 2023 Date of orders: 16 February 2024 Decision date: 16 February 2024 Jurisdiction: Equity Before: Henry J Decision: See at [536] Catchwords: SUCCESSION – Contested probate – validity of will excluding second of two sons – Testamentary capacity – deceased struggled with memory and taking care of herself – whether evidence showed significant cognitive decline in deceased – what weight to give expert report on capacity – what weight to give evidence of solicitor who made will –consideration of statement of reasons – Lack knowledge and approval – brief and simple will – where solicitor and deceased spoke neither English nor deceased's native language when making will – Undue influence – where first son was deceased's live-in carer – dominant and controlling – whether circumstances allowed inference of pressure or coercion – distinction between undue influence in probate and equity SUCCESSION – Probate and administration – extent of estate – whether either son owes debt to deceased's estate – unattested deed of loan between deceased and second son – whether enforceable as contract – whether consideration present – whether loan actually paid – whether intention to create legal relations – limitation period – where first son was deceased's guardian and power of attorney and withdrew funds for his own use – whether funds were loans or improper withdrawals SUCCESSION – Family provision – Claim by adult child in case will found invalid – moderate estate entirely in cash – last valid will divided estate equally between sons – interim provision to first son – where first son deceased's long-term carer – close relationship – poor employment prospects – 60 years old – dominant and controlling during deceased's old age – whether to make order for final provision – whether proceedings commenced within time Legislation Cited: Conveyancing Act 1919 (NSW) s 38 Civil Procedure Act 2005 (NSW) ss 56, 98 Evidence Act 1995 (NSW) s 140 Limitation Act 1969 (NSW) s 14(1)(a) Succession Act 2006 (NSW) ss 58, 59(1)(c), 60(1)(b), 60(2), 61(1) Uniform Civil Procedure Rules 2005 (NSW) rr 42.1, 42.2 and 42.20 Cases Cited: Alexakis v Masters (No 2) [2023] NSWSC 509 Antov v Bokan [2018] NSWSC 1474 Ballam v Ferro (No 2) [2022] NSWSC 1358 Bear v Bear; Jordan v Bear [2022] NSWSC 1687 Blendell v Blendell [2020] NSWCA 154 Blendell v Byrne [2019] NSWSC 583 Bracher v Jones [2020] NSWSC 1024 Bridgewater v Leahy (1998) 194 CLR 457; [1998] HCA 66 Burns v Burns [2016] WTLR 755; [216] EWCA Civ 37 Chan v Chan [2016] NSWCA 222 Chant v Curcuruto [2021] NSWSC 751 Chapple v Wilcox (2014) 87 NSWLR 646; [2014] NSWCA 392 Chidiac v Maatouk [2010] NSWSC 386 Croft v Sanders [2019] NSWCA 303 Dickman v Holley; Estate of Simpson [2013] NSWSC 18 Estate of Janakievska [2011] NSWSC 1275 Estate of Simpson [2013] NSWSC 18 Estate of Guamani; Guamani v De Cruzado [2023] NSWSC 502 Fox v Percy (2003) 214 CLR 118; [2003] HCA 22 Goldberg v Landerer [2010] NSWSC 1431 Grant v Roberts; Smith v Smith; Roberts v Smith; Curtis v Smith [2019] NSWSC 843 Hall v Hall (1868) LR1P&D 481 Heyward v Fisher (Court of Appeal (NSW), Kirby P, 26 April 1985, unrep) Hoff v Atherton [2003] EWCA Civ 1554 Kalaf v Grimanes [2013] WASC 327 Lewis v Condon [2013] NSWCA 204 Lim v Lim [2022] NSWSC 454 Lim v Lim [2023] NSWCA 84 Limberger v Limberger; Oakman v Limberger [2021] NSWSC 474 Ling v Beyond Development Group Pty Ltd [2022] NSWSC 685 Megerditchian v Khatchadourian [2020] NSWCA 229 Mekhail v Hana; Mekail v Hana [2019] NSWCA 197 Mendonca v Legal Services Commissioner [2020] NSWCA 84 Meres v Meres [2017] NSWSC 285 Mohareb v Saratoga Marine Pty Ltd [2020] NSWCA 235 Nicholson v Knaggs [2009] VSC 64 Nock v Austin (1918) 25 CLR 519; [1918] HCA 73 Oshlack v Richmond River Council (1998) 193 CLR 72; [1998] HCA 11 Page v Page [2017] NSWCA 141; (2017) 16 ASTLR 331 Plunkett v Bull (1915) 19 CLR 544; [1915] HCA 14 Quek v Beggs (1990) 5 BPR 11,761 Re Estate Rofe [2021] NSWSC 257 Re the Estate of Hodges Deceased: Shorter v Hodges (1988) 14 NSWLR 698 Romascu v Manolache [2011] NSWSC 1362 Roscorla v Thomas (1842) 114 ER 496 Salvation Army v Becker [2007] NSWCA 136 Schrader v Schrader [2013] All ER (D) 89 (Mar) Schrader v Schrader [2013] All ER (D) 89 (Mar); [2013] EWHC 466 Sgro v Thompson [2017] NSWCA 326 Singer v Berghouse (1994) 181 CLR 201; [1994] HCA 40 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 Stone v Stone [2019] NSWSC 233 Tobin v Ezekiel (2012) 83 NSWLR 757; [2012] NSWCA 285 Tobin v Ezekiel (2012) 83 NSWLR 757; [2012] NSWCA 285 Toll (FGCT) Pty Ltd v Alphapharm Pty Ltd (2004) 219 CLR 165; [2004] HCA 52 Underwood v Gaudron [2015] NSWCA 269 Veall v Veall (2015) 46 VR 123; [2015] VSCA 60 Vigolo v Bostin (2005) 221 CLR 191 Walker v Walker [1996] NSWSC 188 Watson v Foxman (1995) 49 NSWLR 315 Wingrove v Wingrove (1885) 11 PB 81 Winter v Crichton; Estate of Galieh (1991) 23 NSWLR 116 Zorbas v Sidiropoulous (No 2) [2009] NSWCA 197 Texts Cited: Nicholas Seddon, Seddon on Deeds (2nd ed, 2022, Federation Press) at [1.6] and [2.9] Category: Principal judgment Parties: Proceedings 2021/296823