Public Trustee v Bennett & Anor (Revised) [2004] NSWSC 955

New South Wales Supreme Court

CITATION : Public Trustee v Bennett & Anor (Revised) [2004] NSWSC 955 HEARING DATE(S) : 05/10/04 JUDGMENT DATE : 15 October 2004

JUDGMENT OF : Gzell J DECISION : Answers given to questions of construction of the will. See par 33.

CATCHWORDS : SUCCESSION - Wills, Probate and Administration - Construction and effect of testimentary dispositions - Whether a trust engrafted on an absolute gift of residue - Whether the later provision was void for uncertainity or as infringing the rule against perpetuities - Whether the rule in Lassence v Tierney applied - Whether the later provision was a condition precedent or subsequent - Whether the later provision delayed vesting in interest or vesting in possession - Whether the gift of residue was a class gift - Whether the class closed on the death of the testator or at a later time Supreme Court Rules 1970 LEGISLATION CITED : Perpetuities Act 1984 Family Provision Act 1982 Lassence v Tierney (1849) 1 Mac & G 551 (41 ER 1379) Hancock v Watson [1902] AC 14 CASES CITED : Stead v Mellor (1877) 5 Ch D 225 Duffield v Duffield (1829) 3 Bl NS 260 (4 ER 1334 at 1358) Saunders v Vautier (1841) Cr & Ph 240 (41 ER 482) Belaney v Belaney (1867) LR 2 Ch App 138 PARTIES : The Public Trustee - Plaintiff Cheridyn lee Bennett & Sharni Jade Bennett - Defendants FILE NUMBER(S) : SC 3437/04 COUNSEL : Mr J Kildea - for the Plaintiff Mr S Hickey - for the Defendant SOLICITORS : B Maher, Solicitor to the Public Trustee Stewart and Stewart, Solicitors for the Defendants