Wilcox v Wilcox [2012] NSWSC 1138

Supreme Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Wilcox v Wilcox [2012] NSWSC 1138 Hearing dates: 8 and 9 October 2012 Decision date: 12 October 2012 Jurisdiction: Equity Division - Expedition List Before: Pembroke J Decision: See paragraph [29] Catchwords: EQUITY - estoppel - need for clear and unambiguous representations EVIDENCE - proof of uncorroborated statements attributable to deceased person - need for caution and scrutiny WILLS AND ESTATES - family provision order - entitlement of grandchildren - absent special circumstances, generosity by grandparent including payment of school fees does not give grandchildren entitlement to share of estate WILLS AND ESTATES - adequate provision for proper maintenance, education or advancement in life - necessity for evidence to enable evaluative process to be undertaken - need to consider position of defendant WILLS AND ESTATES - family provision order - continuing importance of freedom of testamentary disposition Legislation Cited: Succession Act 2006 Cases Cited: Ashton v Pratt (No 2) [2012] NSWSC 3 Bowditch v NSW Trustee & Guardian [2012] NSWSC 275 Churton v Christian [1988] NSWCA 23; (1988) 13 NSWLR 241 Goodsell v Wellington [2011] NSWSC 1232 Legione v Hately [1983] HCA 11; (1983) 152 CLR 406 Madden-Smith v Madden [2012] NSWSC 146 Permanent Trustee Co Ltd v Fraser (1995) 36 NSWLR 24 Re Fulop Deceased (1987) 8 NSWLR 679 Singer v Berghouse [1994] HCA 40; (1994) 181 CLR 201 Summer Hill Business Estate v Equititrust [2010] NSWSC 776 Vigolo v Bostin [2005] HCA 11; (2005) 221 CLR 191 Watson v Foxman (1995) 49 NSWLR 315 Category: Principal judgment Parties: Robert William Wilcox - first plaintiff Benjamin Ian Alexander Wilcox - second plaintiff Patricia Anne Wilcox - defendant Representation: Counsel: J L Glissan QC with D H Nagle - for the first and second plaintiffs B J Skinner - for the defendant Solicitors: Pryor Tzannes & Wallis - for the first and second plaintiffs Newhams Solicitors - for the defendant File Number(s): 2010/426690