NSW Trustee & Guardian v Halsey; Estate of von Skala [2012] NSWSC 872

Supreme Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: NSW Trustee & Guardian v Halsey; Estate of von Skala [2012] NSWSC 872 Hearing dates: 25 July 2012 Decision date: 25 July 2012 Jurisdiction: Equity Division - Probate List Before: White J Decision: See paras [37] and [40] of judgment. Catchwords: WILLS, PROBATE AND ADMINISTRATION - wills - construction of will - informal testamentary instruments in existence prior to execution of will - intention to constitute will - duly executed will disposing of estate in accordance with handwritten instructions - whether deceased intended that handwritten instructions to form will, together with will of 15 August 2006 - informal instruments clearly embody deceased's testamentary intentions - applied intentionalist approach to construction Legislation Cited: Succession Act 2006 Wills, Probate and Administration Act 1898 Cases Cited: Hatsatouris v Hatsatouris [2001] NSWCA 408 Re Estate of Masters (decd); Hill v Plummer (1994) 33 NSWLR 446 Oreski v Ikac [2008] WASCA 220 Application of Kencalo; In the Estate of Buharoff (Supreme Court of New South Wales, Powell J, 23 October 1991, unreported, BC9101481) Bell v Crewes [2011] NSWSC 1159 National Australia Trustees Ltd v Fazey; Estate of Lees (late of Strathfield) [2011] NSWSC 559 Treacey v Edwards [2000] NSWSC 846; (2000) 49 NSWLR 739 In the Will of Robert Christopher Beveridge (1905) 6 SR (NSW) 125 University College of North Wales v Taylor [1908] P 140 In the Goods of Smart [1902] P 238 Van Straubenzee v Monk [1862] 3 SW & TR 6; 164 ER 1173; In the Goods of Mary Reid [1868] 38 LJ (P & M) 1 Jones v Jones [1942] Ch 328 Allen v Maddock (1858) 11 Moo PCC 427; (1858) 14 ER 757 Perrin v Morgan [1943] AC 399 Category: Principal judgment Parties: NSW Trustee & Guardian (Plaintiff) Trevor Geoffrey Halsey (Defendant) Representation: Counsel: M Meek SC (Plaintiff) A J Grant (Defendant) Solicitors: R Pollard, NSW Trustee & Guardian (Plaintiff) W K Cahill & Associates (Defendant) File Number(s): 2011/128226