Verzar v Verzar [2012] NSWSC 1380

Supreme Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Verzar v Verzar [2012] NSWSC 1380 Hearing dates: 17 and 18 September 2012 Decision date: 16 November 2012 Jurisdiction: Equity Division Before: Lindsay J Decision: Judgment for the Plaintiff. Parties invited to make submissions about the form of relief and costs. Catchwords: SUCCESSION - family provision and maintenance - circumstances precluding relief - extension of time - plaintiff operating under a personal disability or financial constraints - defendant initiated separate proceeding against plaintiff - extension of time granted.

SUCCESSION - family provision and maintenance - failure by testator to make sufficient provision for applicant - single parent plaintiff in fear of financial insecurity - plaintiff worked hard to build up wealth with testator - defendant obliged to care for a disabled step-child - relief granted. Legislation Cited: Family Provision Act 1982 (NSW) Succession Act 2006 Limitation Act 1969 (NSW), s 14 Cases Cited: In Re Salmon, Deceased [1981] Ch 167 at 175B; Re Guskett [1947] VLR 212 at 214. Warren v McKnight (1996) 40 NSWLR 390 at 394E Dare v Furness (1997) 44 NSWLR 493 at 500C Thomas v Pickering [2011] NSWSC 572 at [84]-[90 Re Lauer [1984] VR 180 Neil v Nott [1994] HCA 23 at [9]-[10]; 68 ALJR 509; 121 ALR 148 Singer v Berghouse (1994) 181 CLR 201 at 208-211 Vigolo v Bostin (2005) 221 CLR 191 Bosch v Perpetual Trustee Company Limited [1938] AC 463 at 476. Devereaux-Warnes v Hall (No. 3) (2007) 35 WAR 127 at [72]-]77]. Pontifical Society for the Propagation of the Faith v Scales (1962) 107 CLR 9 at 19. Singer v Berghouse (1994) 181 CLR 201 at 209-211. Collins v McGain [2003] NSWCA 190 at [41]-[42] and [45]-[51]. Luciano v Rosenblum [1985] 2 NSWLR 65 at 69-70 Bladwell v Davis [2004] NSWCA 170 at [12] and [18]-[19]. Tchadovitch v Tchadovitch [2010] NSWCA 316 at [53]-[60]. Young v Queensland Trustees Ltd (1956) 99 CLR 560 at 566; Holler v Ayre [2005] 2 Qd R 410 at 415. Texts Cited: Family Provision in Australia JK de Groot and BW Nickel, (Lexis Nexis Butterworths, Australia, 4th ed, 2012) at paragraphs [5.8]-[5.14] Category: Principal judgment Parties: S Verzar TJ Verzar Representation: RD Wilson (P) PH Blackburn-Hart SC and T Anderson (D) Teece Hodgson Denes Ebner File Number(s): 2011 / 115485