Christine Anne Lumsden v Ian Ross Sumner as executor of the estate of the late Dorothy Jean Lawliss [2012] NSWSC 1440

Supreme Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Christine Anne Lumsden v Ian Ross Sumner as executor of the estate of the late Dorothy Jean Lawliss [2012] NSWSC 1440 Hearing dates: 19 September 2012 Decision date: 30 October 2012 Jurisdiction: Equity Division Before: Slattery J Decision: Order for provision made for the plaintiff out of the estate of the deceased by way of a legacy of $135,000. Order the estate to pay the plaintiff's costs on the ordinary basis. Order that the defendant's costs be paid out of the estate on the indemnity basis. Catchwords: SUCCESSION - family provision and maintenance - whether the plaintiff is an eligible person under Succession Act, s 57(1)(e) - whether the plaintiff, a niece of the deceased, was 'dependant' on the deceased - whether adequate provision made for the plaintiff out of the estate of the deceased - whether an order for provision should be made for the plaintiff under Succession Act, s 59. Legislation Cited: Succession Act 2006 (NSW) Cases Cited: Amaca Pty Ltd v Novek (2009) 9 DDCR 199; [2009] NSWCA 50 Ball v Newey (1988) 13 NSWLR 489 Brown v Faggoter (unreported, NSWCA, 13 November 2011) Churton v ChristianI (1988) 13 NSWLR 241 Diver v Neal [2009] NSWCA 115 Drury v Smith [2012] NSWSC 1067 Estate of Hakin; Simons v Public Trustee [2005] NSWSC 223 Evans v Levy [2011] NSWCA 125 Meers v Permanent Trustee Co Ltd [2000] NSWSC 1108 Morgan v Public Trustee [1999] NSWSC 1112 Penfold v Perpetual Trustee [2002] NSWSC 648 Petrohilos v Hunter (1991) 25 NSWLR 343 Porthouse v Bridge [2007] NSWSC 686 Re: Fulop Deceased (1987) 8 NSWLR 679 Singer v Berghouse (No. 2) (1994) 181 CLR 201 Category: Principal judgment Parties: Plaintiff:- Christine Anne Lumsden Defendant:- Ian Ross Sumner Representation: Counsel: Plaintiff:- B. Ralston Defendant:- A. Hill Solicitors: Plaintiff:- Michael Geoffrey Todd Niven, Baldock Stacy & Niven Defendant:- Andrew Darryl Dunshea, Messrs Steel & Co File Number(s): 2011/393352 Publication restriction: No