Boland v Morton; Estate of Finlow [2004] NSWSC 1173

New South Wales Supreme Court

CITATION : Boland v Morton; Estate of Finlow [2004] NSWSC 1173 revised - 16/02/2005 HEARING DATE(S) : 20/09/04, 21/09/04, 22/09/04, 23/09/04,24/09/04, 30/09/04, 11/10/04, 05/11/04, 06/12/04 JUDGMENT DATE : 23 December 2004

JUDGMENT OF : White J DECISION : 1. Order that the claims for relief in the amended statement of claim be dismissed; 2. Counsel to be heard on the question of costs; 3. Direct that the exhibits not be returned to the parties until further order.

CATCHWORDS : PROBATE - Original will not located - Whether photocopies of the will are forgeries - Whether the original will stolen - No question of principle. LEGISLATION CITED : Guardianship Act 1987 (NSW) Wills Probate and Administration Act 1898 (NSW) Briginshaw v Briginshaw (1938) 60 CLR 336 CASES CITED : Welch v Phillips (1836) 1 Moo PC 299; 12 ER 828 McCauley v McCauley (1910) 10 CLR 434 Michael Durham Boland PARTIES : v Rhana Janette Morton; Estate of Phyllis Catherine Finlow FILE NUMBER(S) : SC 121325/02 COUNSEL : Plaintiff: R K Newton Defendant: M S Wilmott SC, M Sneddon SOLICITORS : Plaintiff: Maurice Buckley, C T Poole & Son Defendant: Lees & Givney Solicitors

IN THE SUPREME COURT OF NEW SOUTH WALES EQUITY DIVISION

WHITE J

Thursday, 23 December 2004

121325/02 MICHAEL DURHAM BOLAND v RHANA JANETTE MORTON; Estate of Phyllis Catherine FINLOW CONTENTS

Heading Paragraph No.

Introduction 1 The Alleged Will 5 An Initial Credit Issue 7 Mrs Finlow's Diaries and Mr Marshall 11 Mr Marshall's Claimed Acquaintance with the Finlows 15 Preparation and Signing of the Alleged Will 18 The Typing 28 Disowning the Defendant 32 Instructions for Cremation 34 Making Photocopies 36 The Freezer Chest 39 Mrs Finlow Considers Making a Will 41 Events of 5 January, 1996: Background 47 The Plaintiff's Verson of Those Events 50 Evidence of Sister Burrows 59 Findings About Events of 5 January, 1996 65 Mr Finlow's Estate: Correspondence from R L Whyburn & Associates 81 1996 Applications to the Guardianship Board 87 Plaintiff's 1999 Application to the Guardianship Tribunal 91 Mr Marshall's Work at Carlingford in July 2001 95 Events after Mrs Finlow's Death: Cremation or Burial? 97 The Expert Evidence 117 Conclusion on Application for Probate 132 Application to Remove Defendant as Administrator 138 Orders 148