D H Singh & Anor v G K Singh & Ors; D J Singh v D H Singh & Anor; S Dillon v D Singh & Anor; G K Singh v D H Singh & Anor [2015] NSWSC 1457

Supreme Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: D H Singh & Anor v G K Singh & Ors; D J Singh v D H Singh & Anor; S Dillon v D Singh & Anor; G K Singh v D H Singh & Anor [2015] NSWSC 1457 Hearing dates: 30 June, 1 – 3 July, 8 September 2015 Decision date: 02 October 2015 Jurisdiction: Equity - Probate List Before: Black J Decision: Order that the Cross-Claims be dismissed. Grant probate of the will of the deceased dated 17 August 2006 in solemn form and refer to the Registrar to complete the grant. Direct the parties to submit agreed short minutes of order as to costs within 14 days or, if there is no agreement between them, their respective draft orders and submissions as to the differences between them. Catchwords: SUCCESSION – wills, probate and administration – probate and letters of administration – where executors sought grant of probate in solemn form – where some properties disposed of under the will were held in joint tenancy – whether the deceased lacked capacity – whether to grant probate in solemn form

SUCCESSION – wills, probate and administration – construction and effect of testamentary dispositions – suspicious circumstances – where deceased's adopted son assisted in giving instructions to solicitors – where the will was read to the deceased before he signed it – whether deceased knew legal effect of will – whether deceased had knowledge and approval of the will.

SUCCESSION – wills, probate and administration – application for rectification of the will under Succession Act 2006 (NSW) s 27 – application under Protected Estates Act 1983 (NSW) s 48 and NSW Trustee and Guardian Act 2009 (NSW) s 83.

SUCCESSION – family provision and maintenance – principles upon which relief granted – where eligible person suffers from disability – where eligible person failed to disclose full and frank financial position to the court – whether adequate provision was made under the will. Legislation Cited: - Civil Procedure Act 2005 (NSW) s 56 - Court Suppression and Non-Publication Orders Act 2010 (NSW) s 8(1) - Family Law Act 1975 (Cth) pt VIII, s 79 - Family Provision Act 1982 (NSW) ss 7, 9(2) - NSW Trustee and Guardian Act 2009 (NSW) s 83 - Protected Estates Act 1983 (NSW) s 48 - Succession Act 2006 (NSW) ch 3, ss 27, 27(1), 30, 58(2), 59, 59(1), 59(2) 60, 60(2) Cases Cited: - Andrew v Andrew [2012] NSWCA 308; (2012) 81 NSWLR 656 - Ashton v Pratt [2011] NSWSC 1092 - Aubrey v Kain [2014] NSWSC 15 - Celermajer Holdings Pty Ltd v Kopas [2011] NSWSC 40 - Chidiac v Bhatt [2014] NSWSC 1253 - Christensen v McKnight (Supreme Court (NSW), 2 March 1995, unrep) - Collings v Vakas [2006] NSWSC 393 - Dickman v Holley; Estate of Simpson [2013] NSWSC 18 - Estate of Stanley William Church [2012] NSWSC 1489 - Estate of the late Anthony Marras [2014] NSWSC 915 - Foye v Foye [2008] NSWSC 1305 - Frisoli v Kourea [2013] NSWSC 1166 - Hoff v Atherton [2005] WTLR 99 - Macquarie Developments Pty Ltd v Forrester [2005] NSWSC 674 - Manning v Hughes; Estate of Ludewig [2010] NSWSC 226 - Nock v Austin (1918) 25 CLR 519 - Paltos v Basil [2013] NSWSC 1408 - Petrovski v Nasev; Estate of Janakievska [2011] NSWSC 1275 - Ploder v Garcea (as executrix of the estate of the late Garcea) [2013] NSWSC 1360 - Rawack v Spicer [2002] NSWSC 849 - Re Fenwick [1972] VR 646 - Re Griffith; Easter v Griffith (1995) 217 ALR 284 - Re Hodges; Shorter v Hodges (1988) 14 NSWLR 698 - Re Nickson, Deceased [1916] VLR 274 - RJL v NSW Trustee and Guardian; the Estate of PBL [2011] NSWSC 200 - RL v NSW Trustee and Guardian (2012) 84 NSWLR 263 - Rosebanner Pty Ltd v Energy Australia [2009] NSWSC 43; (2009) 223 FLR 460 - Singer v Berghouse [1994] HCA 40; (1994) 181 CLR 201 - Tantau v Macfarlane [2010] NSWSC 224 - The Estate of Stanislaw Budniak; NSW Trustee & Guardian v Budniak [2015] NSWSC 394 - Tobin v Ezekiel [2012] NSWCA 285; (2012) 83 NSWLR 757 - Vernon v Watson; Estate Clarice Isabel Quigley Dec'd [2002] NSWSC 600 - Vescio v Bannister (Estate of the late Betty Tait) [2010] NSWSC 1274 - Vigolo v Bostin [2005] HCA 11; (2005) 221 CLR 191 - Wade v Frost [2014] SASC 162 - West v Mann [2013] NSWSC 1852 - Wheat v Wisbey [2013] NSWSC 537 Category: Principal judgment Parties: 2013/14137 Darran Harsewan Singh (First Plaintiff/First Cross-Defendant to First Cross-Claim/First Cross-Defendant to Second Cross-Claim) Paul William Campbell (Second Plaintiff/Second Cross-Defendant to First Cross-Claim/Second Cross-Defendant to Second Cross-Claim) Gurpal Kaur Singh (First Defendant/First Cross-Claimant to First Cross-Claim/Third Cross-Defendant to Second Cross-Claim) Sharon Leigh Dhillon (Second Defendant/Fourth Cross-Defendant to Second Cross-Claim) David John Singh (Third Defendant/Second Cross-Claimant to Second Cross-Claim) 2013/338156 David John Singh (Plaintiff) Darran Harsewan Singh (First Defendant) Paul William Campbell (Second Defendant) 2013/338196 Sharon Dillon (Plaintiff) Darran Singh (First Defendant) Paul Campbell (Second Defendant) 2013/350277 Gurpal Kaur Singh (Plaintiff) Darran Harsewan Singh (First Defendant) Paul William Campbell (Second Defendant) Representation: Counsel: P Smart (David John Singh) G J Smith (Darran Harsewan Singh and Paul William Campbell) P Davies (Gurpal Kaur Singh) S Clemmett (Sharon Dillon)