Vernon v Watson; Estate Clarice Isabel Quigley dec'd [2002] NSWSC 600

New South Wales Supreme Court

CITATION : Vernon v Watson; Estate Clarice Isabel Quigley dec'd [2002] NSWSC 600 CURRENT JURISDICTION: Equity Division Probate List FILE NUMBER(S) : SC 108010/01 HEARING DATE(S) : 14, 15, 16, 17 May; 21 June 2002 JUDGMENT DATE : 5 July 2002

PARTIES : Elizabeth Ella Vernon and Esther Ruth Whitton (P) Isobel Jane Watson (D) JUDGMENT OF : Burchett AJ

COUNSEL : G E Underwood (P) W Haffenden (D) SOLICITORS : Ken Heasman (P) Cutler Hughes & Harris (D) CATCHWORDS : PROBATE- Suspicious circumstances- Weight of the onus raised- Meaning of the requirement to prove "the righteousness of the transaction"- Effect on gift of wife of legatee being a witness- Exclusion of solicitor drawing will from contact with his client- Secrecy- Only interested persons present when will executed- Whether subsequent failure to reveal the will was relevant, having regard to dicta of McPherson JA in Thompson v Bella-Lewis- Authorities as to costs orders in such a case- Probate refused, but costs to be paid out of residue. LEGISLATION CITED : Wills, Probate and Administration Act, 1898, s 13 Atter v Atkinson (1869) LR 1 P & D 665 Baker v Batt (1838) 2 Moore 317; 12 ER 1026 Barry v Butlin (1838) 2 Moore 480; 12 ER 1089 Brown v Fisher (1890) 63 LT 465 Farrelly v Corrigan [1899] AC 563 Fuller v Strum [2002] 2 All ER 87 Fulton v Andrew (1875) LR 7 HL 448 In re Breen [1927] VLR 164 In re Nickson, deceased [1916] VLR 274 CASES CITED : McKinnon v Voigt [1998] 3 VR 543 Miller v Miller; Estate Miller (2000) 50 NSWLR 81 Mitchell v Gard (1863) 3 Sw & Tr 275; 164 ER 1280 Nock v Austin (1918) 25 CLR 519 Paske v Ollat (1815) 2 Phill Ecc 323; 161 ER 1158 The Public Trustee v McKeon (1917) 17 SR (NSW) 157 Re Herbert (1990) 101 FLR 279 Tanner v Public Trustee [1973] 1 NZLR 68 Thompson v Bella-Lewis [1997] 1 Qd R 429 Tyrrell v Painton [1894] P 151 Wintle v Nye [1959] 1 WLR 284 DECISION : Proceeding dismissed.