Application by Elizabeth Marie Robinson [2015] NSWSC 1387

Supreme Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Application by Elizabeth Marie Robinson [2015] NSWSC 1387 Hearing dates: 1 and 2 September 2015 Date of orders: 17 September 2015 Decision date: 17 September 2015 Jurisdiction: Equity Before: Rein J Decision: See [34] Catchwords: EQUITY - Succession - Will construction - Clauses which state that a legacy and residue are to go to the deceased's son unless he "dies before attaining a vested interest" - Whether interest in property is vested - Meaning of "vest" Legislation Cited: Probate and Administration Act 1898 (NSW) Succession Act 2006 (NSW) Succession and Probate Duties Act 1892 (QLD) Cases Cited: Arnott v Kiss [2014] NSWSC 1385 Austin v Wells [2008] NSWSC 1266 Barnardo's Homes National Incorporated Association v Special Income Tax Commissioners [1921] 2 AC 1 Beattie v Sainsbury [2003] NSWSC 499 Browne v Moody [1936] AC 635 Commissioner of Pay-Roll Tax v R G Elsegood & Co Pty Ltd [1983] 1 NSWLR 223 Commissioner of Stamp Duties (Qld) v Livingston [1965] AC 694; (1964) 112 CLR 12 Fell v Fell (1922) 31 CLR 268 Gibb-Maitland v Perpetual Executors Trustees and Agency Co (WA) Ltd (1947) 74 CLR 579 Girardot & Anor v Perpetual Trustees Australia Ltd & Ors (BC 9802611) 12 June 1998 Greenhalgh v Bates [1870] 2 LR 47 Hume v Perpetual Trustee (1939) 62 CLR 242 at 256 In Re Edmondson's Estate (1868) LR 5 Eq 389 King v Cullen (1848) 2 De G. & S. 252 Leader v Duffey & Ray (1888) 13 App Cas 294 Marks v Trustees Executors and Agency Co Ltd (1948) 77 CLR 497 Official Receiver in Bankruptcy v Schultz [1990] HCA 45 Perpetual Trustee Co Ltd v Wright Re Will of James Paul Gee Cox Junior deceased (1987) 9 NSWLR Perrin v Morgan [1943] AC 399 Re Boden [1907] 1 Ch 132 Re Faulwasser (decd) [1967] VR 182 Reid v Wishart (1898) 16 NZLR 218 Reilly v Gengos [2006] NSWSC 139 Re Morris (1857) 5 W.R 423 Re Richard Arnold's Estate (1863) 55 ER 329 Re Wrightson Battie – Wrightson v Thomas (1904) 2 Ch 95 Sillick v Booth (1842) 1 Y. & C.C. 121 Towns v Wentworth [1858] 11 Moo PC 526; 14 ER 794 Watson v Ralph [1982] HCA 35; (1982) 148 CLR 646 Young v Robertson (1862) 4 Macq. 314 Texts Cited: 'Construction of Wills in Australia' (2007, LexisNexis Butterworths) 'Theobald on Wills' (2010, 17th ed, Thomson Reuters) 'Williams on Wills' (2008, 9th ed, LexisNexis Butterworths) Category: Principal judgment Parties: Elizabeth Marie Robinson (First Plaintiff) Jeanette Thomas (Second Plaintiff) Ludwig Haskins (First Defendant) Sandra Vandahl (Second Defendant) Amelia Haskins (Third Defendant) Representation: Counsel: J. Mitchell (Plaintiffs) D.L Warren (First Defendant) A. Hill (Second Defendant) L. Ellison SC (Third Defendant)