Briton v Kipritidis [2015] NSWSC 1499

Supreme Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Briton v Kipritidis [2015] NSWSC 1499 Hearing dates: 1 October 2015 Decision date: 14 October 2015 Jurisdiction: Equity Before: Ball J Decision: 1. Probate in solemn form of the will executed by Alexander Kipritidis on 9 October 1995 be granted to the plaintiff; 2. Order that the file be remitted to the Registry to complete the grant; 3. The cross-claim filed on 22 January 2015 be dismissed; 4. Stand the matter over to a date to be fixed with my Associate for any argument in relation to costs if the question of costs cannot be agreed. Catchwords: SUCCESSION – wills, probate and administration – the making of a will – testamentary capacity – legal test for testamentary capacity set out in Banks v Goodfellow (1870) LR 5 QB 549 – where deceased suffered from chronic schizophrenic disorder of a paranoid kind – whether paranoid delusions that deceased suffered from influenced the deceased's will – principle of testamentary freedom Legislation Cited: Protected Estates Act 1983 (NSW) Mental Health Act 1990 (NSW) Cases Cited: Bacon v Pianta [1966] HCA 44; (1966) 114 CLR 634 Bailey v Bailey (1924) 34 CLR 558 Banks v Goodfellow (1870) LR5QB 549 Boreham v Prince Henry Hospital (1955) 29 ALJR 179 Bull v Fulton (1942) 66 CLR 295 In the Will of Wilson (1897) 23 VLR 197 Frizzo v Frizzo [2011] QCA 308 Kerr v Badran [2004] NSWSC 735 King v Hudson [2009] NSWSC 1013 Parker v Felgate (1883) 8 PD 171 Re Crooks (Estate); Akerman v Brown (NSW Supreme Court), Young J, 14 December 1994, unreported) Re Estate of Griffith; Easter v Griffith (1995) 217 ALR 284 Re Estate of Hodges; Shorter v Hodges (1988) 14 NSWLR 698 at 706 The Public Trustee v Stretch [2002] WASC 147 Thomas v Nash [2010] SASC 153; (2010) 107 SASR 309 Timbury v Coffee (1941) 66 CLR 277 Woodhead v Perpetual Trustee Co Ltd (1987) 11 NSWLR 267 Worth v Clasohm (1952) 86 CLR 439 Zorbas v Sidiropoulous (No 2) [2009] NSWCA 197 Category: Principal judgment Parties: Robert Martin Briton (Plaintiff) John Kipritidis (First Defendant) Christos Michael Kipritidis (Second Defendant) Louise Vagiotis (Third Defendant) Helen Long (Fourth Defendant) Louise Michos (Fifth Defendant) Representation: Counsel: Mrs M Bridger (Plaintiff) In Person (First Defendant) Submitting Appearances (Second to Fifth Defendants)