Slack v Rogan & Anor ; Palffy v Rogan & Anor [2013] NSWSC 522

Supreme Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Slack v Rogan & Anor ; Palffy v Rogan & Anor [2013] NSWSC 522 Hearing dates: 11-14 March 2013 Decision date: 10 May 2013 Jurisdiction: Equity Division - Probate List Before: White J Decision: Refer to paras [142] and [143] of judgment. Catchwords: SUCCESSION - wills, probate and administration - whether revoked will can be revived by informal instrument not complying with s 6 of the Succession Act 2006 - whether informal instrument operates as will under s 8 by reason of deceased's intention that it form part of her will - whether deceased had intention to revive will when deceased unaware that will had been revoked - meaning of "execution of a will" in s 15

SUCCESSION - family provision and maintenance - factors relevant to the making of a family provision order under s 59(1)(b) - provision required for "proper" maintenance and advancement in life under s 59(1) - difficulty of assessing community expectations - importance of testator's assessment of applicant's entitlement to testamentary bounty - importance of need of applicant in determining extent of provision that ought to be made Legislation Cited: Succession Act 2006 Wills Act 1936 (SA) Wills, Probate and Administration Act 1898 Family Provision Act 1982 Cases Cited: In the Estate of Blakely (1983) 32 SASR 473 In the Estate of Williams (1984) 36 SASR 423 MYT Engineering Pty Ltd v Mulcon Pty Ltd [1999] HCA 24; (1999) 195 CLR 636 In the Estate of Lynch (1985) 39 SASR 131 Trickey v Davies (1994) 34 NSWLR 539 In Re Earl of Caithness (1891) 7 TLR 354 McLeod v McNab [1891] AC 471 Oreski v Ikac [2008] WASCA 220 at [54]; Estate of Masters, deceased; Hill v Plummer (1994) 33 NSWLR 446 Hatsatouris v Hatsatouris [2001] NSWCA 408 Bell v Crewes [2011] NSWSC 1159 Re Gloria May Limpus, deceased [2013] QSC 66 In re Baker [1929] 1 Ch 668 In re Pearson, deceased; Rowling v Crowther [1963] 1 WLR 1358 In the Will of Killick [1960] VR 98 Re Anderson (deceased) [2009] SASC 400 Re Fulop, deceased (1987) 8 NSWLR 679 Graziani v Graziani (Supreme Court of New South Wales, Cohen J, 20 February 1987, unreported, BC8701578) Singer v Berghouse (1994) 181 CLR 201 Andrew v Andrew [2012] NSWCA 308; (2012) 81 NSWLR 656 Hunter v Hunter (1987) 8 NSWLR 573 Golosky v Golosky [1993] NSWCA 111 Bladwell v Davis [2004] NSWCA 170 Stott v Cook (1960) 33 ALJR 447 Nowak v Beska [2013] NSWSC 166 Gorton v Parks (1989) 17 NSWLR 1 Carney v Jones [2012] NSWSC 352 Wheatley v Wheatley [2006] NSWCA 262 Texts Cited: Certoma, The Law of Succession in New South Wales, 4th ed, Thompson Reuters Category: Principal judgment Parties: James Joseph Slack (Plaintiff 2011/247466) John Peter Palffy (Plaintiff 2011/220317) Mark Campbell Rogan (1st Defendant) Elizabeth Kate Rogan (2nd Defendant) Representation: Counsel: J B Whittle SC with D Neggo (Plaintiff 2011/247466) M Pesman (Plaintiff 2011/220317) G McGrath (Defendants) Solicitors: Roden Solicitors (Plaintiff 2011/247466) Aitken Wilson Lawyers (Plaintiff 2011/220317) Staunton & Thompson (Defendants) File Number(s): 2011/247466; 2011/220317