Hons v Hons [2010] NSWSC 247

New South Wales Supreme Court

CITATION : Hons v Hons [2010] NSWSC 247

HEARING DATE(S) : 12 March 2010

JUDGMENT DATE : 1 April 2010

JURISDICTION : Equity Division Probate List

JUDGMENT OF : Ward J

DECISION : Plaintiffs' claim dismissed with costs.

CATCHWORDS : PROBATE AND ADMINISTRATION – accounts –– plaintiff sought order for administrator to file or file and pass accounts in compliance with statutory obligation under s 85 Probate and Administration Act 1898 – deceased died in 1980 –– defendant relied on incorrect legal advice as to obligation to file accounts –– estate records no longer available to defendant – HELD – laches/acquiescence not available as defences to claim based on existence of statutory obligation –– discretion in court whether to grant relief and, if so, time and manner in which accounts should be filed –– consideration of factors relevant to exercise of discretion (delay of plaintiffs in seeking relief –– reason for failure of defendant to comply with obligation –– incomplete records available to defendant –– small size of estate –– onerous nature of procedure for accounts to be taken likelihood that order will be futile due to defendant's inability to produce necessary documents for preparation of accounts –– disproportionate cost of such a process where estate so small) –– in exercise of court's discretion relief should not be granted –– plaintiffs' claim dismissed

Civil Procedure Act 2005 (NSW) LEGISLATION CITED : Probate and Administration Act 1898 (NSW) Supreme Court Rules 1970 (NSW) Trustee Act 1925 (NSW)

CATEGORY : Principal judgment

Allen v Tobias (1958) 98 CLR 367 Anglo-American Asphalt Co v Crowley Russell & Co [1945] 2 All ER 324 Asset Risk Management Limited v Hyndes [1999] NSWCA 201 Bartlett v Barclays Trust Co Limited (Nos 1 and 2) [1980] Ch 515 Batistatos v Roads and Traffic Authority (NSW) (2006) 226 CLR 256 Commonwealth v Verwayen (1990) 170 CLR 394 Dawson v Dawson (1737) 1 Atk 1; 26 ER 1 Dimos v Skaftouros & Ors [2004] VSCA 141 Doss v Doss (1843) 3 Moo Ind App 175; 18 ER 464 Fysh v Coote & Ors [2000] VSCA 150 Garcia v Delfino [2003] NSWSC 1001 Gray v Haig (1855) 20 Beav 219; 52 ER 587 Glazier v Australian Men's Health (No 2) [2001] NSWSC 6 Habib Bank Ltd v Habib Bank AG Zurich [1982] RPC 1 Hickson v Aylward (1828) 3 Molloy (Ir) 1 Ide v Ide [2004] NSWSC 751; (2004) 50 ACSR 324; (2004) 184 FLR 44 In the will of Lockett (1920) SR (NSW) 213; (1920) 37 WN (NSW) CASES CITED : Lord Chedworth v Edwards (1802) 8 Ves Jun 46; 32 ER 68 Ludwig v The Public Trustee [2006] NSWSC 890 Mayfair Trading Co Pty Limited v Dreyer [1958] HCA 55; (1958) 101 CLR 428 McLauchlan v Prince [2001] WASC 43 MLW Investments Pty Limited v Tacsum [2006] NSWSC 1256 Mulherin v Quinn Villages Pty Limited [2007] QSC 231 Nelson v Nelson (1995) 184 CLR 538 North-Eastern Railway Co v Martin (1848) 2 Ph 758; 41 ER 1136 Northey v Juul [2005] NSWSC 933 NWR FM t/a North West Radio v Broadcasting Commission of Ireland & Anor [2004] IEHC 109 Orr v Ford (1989) 167 CLR 316; (1989) 84 ALR 146 Pearse v Green (1819) 1 Jac & W 135; 37 ER 327 Rapid Metal Developments (Australia) Pty Ltd v Rosato [1971] Qdr 82 Re Craig (1952) 52 SR (NSW) 265; 69 WN (NSW) 205 Re Cyril Sharpe [1992] FCA 616 Strang v Strang [2009] NSWSC 760 The Ophelia [1916] 2 AC 206 Warman International Ltd v Dwyer (1995) 182 CLR 544