Ocalewicz v Joyce [2012] NSWSC 1163

Supreme Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Ocalewicz v Joyce [2012] NSWSC 1163 Hearing dates: 12 September 2012 Decision date: 28 September 2012 Jurisdiction: Equity Division Before: Macready AsJ Decision: I propose to set aside the grant of probate in common form and I direct the parties to bring in short minutes to give effect to these reasons Catchwords: TESTAMENTARY CAPACITY - whether order of South Australian Guardianship Board prohibiting deceased from making a will has effect in New South Wales such that grant of probate should be revoked - full faith and credit provision - s 185 Evidence Act (Cth) - in the alternative, whether the deceased lacked testamentary capacity as a matter of fact Legislation Cited: Crimes Act 1900 Evidence Act 1995 (Cth) Guardianship Act 1987 Guardianship and Administration Act 1993 (SA) Guardianship Regulation 2010 Judiciary Act 1903 (Cth) Succession Act 2006 The Constitution Cases Cited: An Alleged Incapable Person FCC and the Protected Estates Act 1983, Re (1990) 19 NSWLR 541 Bass v Permanent Trustee Co Ltd (1999) 198 CLR 394 Brandy v HREOC (1995) 183 CLR 245 DEF and the Protected Estates Act 1993, Re [2005] NSWSC 534 EMG v Guardianship and Administration Board of Victoria [1999] NSWSC 501 Harris v Harris [1947] VLR 44 Hernando; Hernando v Sawtell, Re (1884) 27 Ch D 284 Kable v New South Wales [2012] NSWCA 243 PQR and the Protected Estates Act 1983, Re [2005] NSWSC 729 Sweedman v Transport Accident Commission [2006] HCA 8; (2006) 224 ALR 625 Virginie-Pitel v Campbell; Campbell v Virginie-Pitel [2010] NSWSC 1440 Texts Cited: Certoma, The Law of Succession in New South Wales, 4th ed Nygh's Conflict of Law in Australia, 8th ed Odgers, Uniform Evidence Law Victorian Law Reform Commission, Guardianship: Final Report 24, April 2012 Category: Principal judgment Parties: Mischa Ocalewicz (Plaintiff) Luise Joyce (Defendant) Representation: M Pesman with S Neumueller (Plaintiff) L Ellison SC (Defendant) C P White & Hetherington (Plaintiff) Roberts Mann Solicitors (Defendant) File Number(s): 2011/148679