Colantuono v Colantuono; Colantuono v Colantuono [2009] NSWSC 1445

New South Wales Supreme Court

CITATION : Colantuono v Colantuono; Colantuono v Colantuono [2009] NSWSC 1445 This decision has been amended. Please see the end of the judgment for a list of the amendments.

HEARING DATE(S) : 16,17 and 18 November and 14 December 2009

JUDGMENT DATE : 18 December 2009

JURISDICTION : Equity Division

JUDGMENT OF : Ward J

DECISION : Orders for provision made.

CATCHWORDS : SUCCESSION - family provision and maintenance - principles upon which relief granted – application made by two adult sons for provision from mother's estate – mother survived by husband of 40 years, to whom entire estate left under will – breakdown in relationship between father and sons - whether inadequate provision made for sons – if so, what provision ought to be made – whether property held jointly by mother with father prior to her death ought be designated notional estate – held that inadequate provision made – jointly held property designated notional estate – legacies ordered.

Evidence Act 1995 LEGISLATION CITED : Family Provision Act 1982 Testators Family Maintenance and Guardianship of Infants Act 1916

CATEGORY : Principal judgment

Armstrong v Sloan [2002] VSC 229 Bladwell v Davis [2004] NSWCA 170, Ipp JA Caska v Caska [1999] NSWSC 289 Cetojevic v Cetojevic [2006] NSWSC 431 Collings v Vakas [2006] NSWSC 393 Cooper v Dungan (1975) 9 ALR 93 Cropley v Cropley [2002] NSWSC 349 D'Albora v D'Albora [1999] NSWSC 468 Diver v Neal [2008] NSWSC 304 Doyle v Smith (unreported, NSWCA 21 September 1994), Foley v Ellis [2008] NSWCA 288 CASES CITED : Howe v Lowry [2009] NSWSC 451 Jones v Dunkel (1959) 101 CLR 298 Kalmar v Kalmar [2006] NSWSC 437 McGrath v Eves [2005] NSWSC 1006 McLeod v Radnidge [2009] NSWSC 1105 Nicholls v Hall [2007] NSWCA 356 O'Loughlin v Low [2002] NSWSC 222 Petschelt v Petschelt [2002] NSWSC 706 Singer v Berghouse (No 2) (1991) 181 CLR 201 Strano v Jovsevski [2008] NSWSC 380 Varnel v Heyes [2008] NSWSC 978 Vigolo v Bostin (2005) 221 CLR 191 Wentworth v Wentworth (unreported, Court of Appeal, 3 March 1992)