BLACKMORE v ALLEN & ANOR [2000] NSWCA 162

New South Wales Court of Appeal

CITATION : BLACKMORE v ALLEN & ANOR [2000] NSWCA 162 FILE NUMBER(S) : CA 40276/99 HEARING DATE(S) : 13 June 2000 JUDGMENT DATE : 5 July 2000

PARTIES : Susan Blackmore - Appellant Steven Edward Allen and Nicole Allen - Respondents JUDGMENT OF : Priestley JA at 1; Sheller JA at 2; Foster AJA at 43

LOWER COURT JURISDICTION : Supreme Court - Equity Division LOWER COURT 4847/97 FILE NUMBER(S) : LOWER COURT Master Macready JUDICIAL OFFICER :

COUNSEL : L Ellison - Appellant P Nash - Respondents SOLICITORS : Teece Hodgson & Ward - Appellant Peter Ash & Associates - Respondents CATCHWORDS : Succession - Claim under family provision legislation by children of testator - Whether adequate provision for advancement in life - Where testator left bulk of estate to life partner - Family Provision Act 1982, ss 7,9 - NR LEGISLATION CITED : Family Provision Act 1982 Suitors' Fund Act 1951 House v The King (1936) 55 CLR 499 CASES CITED: Singer v Berghouse (1994) 181 CLR 201 McCosker v McCosker (1957) 97 CLR 566 DECISION : 1. Appeal allowed; 2. Set aside Master Macready's order that each plaintiff receive a legacy of $80,000 and in lieu thereof order that each plaintiff receive a legacy of $20,000; 3. Confirm the Master's orders as to costs; 4. The respondents to pay the costs of this appeal but to have a certificate under the Suitors' Fund Act 1951 if so qualified; 5. To the extent to which the appellant's costs of the appeal exceed the amount recoverable from the respondents they should be paid or retained on an indemnity basis out of the estate.