Costa and Another v The Public Trustee of NSW [2008] NSWCA 223

New South Wales Court of Appeal

CITATION: Costa and Another v The Public Trustee of NSW [2008] NSWCA 223

HEARING DATE(S): 11 July 2008

JUDGMENT DATE: 17 September 2008

JUDGMENT OF: Hodgson JA at 1; Ipp JA at 31; Basten JA at 53

(1) Appeal allowed. (2) Declaration that the deceased intended: (a) the informal document referred to in the judgment to constitute his last will; and DECISION: (b) the informal document to revoke his will made on 12 September 1995. (3) That probate of the informal document be granted to the appellants according to the tenor of the informal document. (4) That the application be remitted to the Registrar to complete the Grant. (5) That the costs of the Public Trustee be paid out of the estate of the deceased.

CATCHWORDS: APPEALS – Appeal by way of rehearing – Question of fact – inference from undisputed written evidence – Whether necessary for appeal court to find error – Discussion of principles. Supreme Court Act 1970 (NSW) s 75A - SUCCESSION – Informal document – Whether document purported to convey testamentary intentions – Whether deceased intended document to be his will. Wills Probate and Administration Act 1898 s 18A

Criminal Appeal Act 1912 (NSW), s 6(1) Conciliation and Arbitration Act 1904 (Cth) s 88F LEGISLATION CITED: Supreme Court Act 1970 (NSW) s 75A Supreme Court Rules Pt 78 rr 8, 34E, 34F, 34H, 34I Wills Probate and Administration Act 1898 s 18A

CATEGORY: Principal judgment

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