Madden-Smith v Madden (Estate of the late Doris Linda Madden) [2012] NSWSC 146

Supreme Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Madden-Smith v Madden (Estate of the late Doris Linda Madden) [2012] NSWSC 146 Hearing dates: 23 February 2012 Decision date: 16 March 2012 Jurisdiction: Equity Division Before: Pembroke J Decision: Claim dismissed Catchwords: SUCCESSION - Family provision order - s58(2) of Succession Act 2006 - application out of time - no sufficient cause for extension of time - solicitor's oversight not sufficient cause of itself -relevance of prejudice - order refused SUCCESSION - Family provision order - freedom of testamentary disposition - relevance of testator's appreciation of claimant's virtues, failings and needs SUCCESSION - Family provision order - s59 of Succession Act 2006 - consideration of adequate provision for proper maintenance or advancement in life -standard of living that plaintiff entitled to expect - modest award would not make meaningful contribution to plaintiff's advancement in life - testator's knowledge of plaintiff's needs, virtues and failings SUCCESSION - Family provision and maintenance - s 60 of Succession Act 2006 - discretionary factors - delay and prejudice - unreasonable conduct of proceedings - character and conduct Legislation Cited: Succession Act 2006 (NSW) Cases Cited: Bosch v Perpetual Trustee Co (Ltd) [1938] AC 463 Cetojevic v Cetojevic [2006] NSWSC 431 Charles v Charles (unreported, NSWSC, 25 March 1988) Coates v National Trustees Executors & Agency Co Ltd (1956) 95 CLR 494 De Winter v John Stone (unreported, NSWCA, 23 August 1995) Goodsell v Wellington [2011] NSWSC 1232 In Re Gilbert (1946) SR (NSW) 318 In Re Salmon [1981] Ch 167 Hastings v Hastings [2008] NSWSC 1310 Kalmar v Kalmar [2006] NSWSC 437 Pontifical Society for the Propagation of the Faith v Scales (1961-2) 107 CLR 9 Singer v Gerghouse (1994) 181 CLR 201 Stott v Cook (1960) 33 ALJR 447 Vigolo v Bostin (2005) 221 CLR 191 Warren v McKnight [1996] NSWSC 419 Category: Principal judgment Parties: Susan Madden-Smith - plaintiff Glenn Anthony Madden - defendant Representation: Counsel Ms S Orman-Hales - for the plaintiff B Hull - for the defendant Solicitors: Maggie Orman - for the plaintiff Hansteins Lawyers - for the defendant File Number(s): 2010/263333