Burge v Burge [2014] NSWSC 1772

Supreme Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Burge v Burge [2014] NSWSC 1772 Hearing dates: 31 July, 17 October 2014 Decision date: 11 December 2014 Jurisdiction: Equity Division Before: Darke J Decision: Court not satisfied that testator intended informal testamentary document to form his will. Grant of probate made in respect of earlier will. Catchwords: WILLS - informal testamentary document - alterations made to draft of existing will - document dated and signed by testator - testator aware of formal requirements for execution of wills - informal document not found with earlier wills - whether testator intended document to form his will - Succession Act 2006 (NSW) s 8(2) Legislation Cited: Evidence Act 1995 (NSW) s 140(2) Succession Act 2006 (NSW) s 8 Wills Probate and Administration Act 1898 (NSW) s 18A Cases Cited: Briginshaw v Briginshaw and Another [1938] HCA 34; (1938) 60 CLR 336 Estate of Ivan John Gonda [2012] NSWSC 357 Estate of John James Dunn; Anderson v Scrivener [2002] NSWSC 900 Estate of Kouvakas; Lucas v Konakas [2014] NSWSC 786 Fast v Rockman [2013] VSC 18 Hatsatouris v Hatsatouris [2001] NSWCA 408 In the Estate of Kathleen Torr [2005] SASC 49 In the Estate of Masters (deceased) (1994) 33 NSWLR 446 Pahlow-Silady v Siladi (Court of Appeal (NSW), 22 April 1997, unrep) Williams v Public Trustee of New South Wales (No.2) [2007] NSWSC 974 Category: Principal judgment Parties: Anne Bell Burge (plaintiff/cross-defendant) Conrad Michael Burge (defendant/cross-claimant) Representation: Counsel: V F Kerr (plaintiff/cross-defendant) P Blackburn-Hart SC (defendant/cross-claimant) Solicitors: Lane and Lane (plaintiff/cross-defendant) Lane and O'Rourke (defendant/cross-claimant) File Number(s): 2013/137871 Publication restriction: Nil