Henry v Hancock [2016] NSWSC 71

Supreme Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Henry v Hancock [2016] NSWSC 71 Hearing dates: 9, 10, 11, 14 December 2015 Date of orders: 16 February 2016 Decision date: 16 February 2016 Jurisdiction: Equity - Family Provision List Before: Brereton J Decision: Summons dismissed with costs Catchwords: SUCCESSION – family provision – application by adult daughter – where claim made nearly 6 years out of time – whether time should be extended – relevant considerations – where plaintiff decides not to claim because of hope of benefit from defendant – where expectation of inheritance from defendant falsified after time expired – unconscionable conduct – held, sufficient cause for not making application within 18 months established but subsequent delay not satisfactorily explained – held, extension refused – where only available estate is notional estate – whether special circumstances established – held, special circumstances not established – whether plaintiff left with inadequate provision – where plaintiff in circumstances of financial need that was associated with failure of her company's business – where strong competing claim of deceased's surviving spouse – where plaintiff has received substantial benefits from deceased during lifetime and defendant – held, not left with inadequate provision and alternatively, as a matter of discretion, provision should not be made Legislation Cited: (CTH) Corporations Act 2001, s 436A, s 439A (NSW) Testator's Family Maintenance and Guardianship of Infants Act 1916 (NSW) Family Provision Act 1982, s 7, s 9(2), s 9(3)(a), s 16, s 27(1)(a), s 28(5) (NSW) Succession Act 2006, s 90 Cases Cited: Alexander v Jansson [2010] NSWCA 176 Application of O and P [2005] NSWSC 1297 Baker v The Queen [2004] HCA 45; (2004) 210 ALR 1; (2004) 78 ALJR 1483 Barker v Magee [2001] NSWSC 563 Bladwell v Davis [2004] NSWCA 170 Burke v Burke [2015] NSWCA 195 Campbell v Chabert-McKay [2010] NSWSC 859 Cetojevic v Cetojevic [2006] NSWSC 431 Charnock v Handley [2011] NSWSC 1408 Dare v Furness (1998) 44 NSWLR 493 De Winter v Johnstone (NSWCA, 23 August 1995 unreported); BC9505226; [1995] NSWCA 120 Director-General Department of Community Services v The Adoptive Parents [2005] NSWCA 385 Diver v Neal [2009] NSWCA 54 Fancett v Ware (NSWSC, Needham J, 3 June 1986 unreported) Foley v Foley [2008] NSWSC 233 Hastings v Hastings [2010] NSWCA 197 Hughes v National Trustees Executors & Agency Co of Australasia Ltd (1979) 143 CLR 134 John v John [2010] NSWSC 937 Kohari v Snow [2013] NSWSC 452 Lewis v Lewis [2001] NSWSC 321 Massie v Laundy (NSWSC, Wales, Young J, 7 February 1986 unreported) McGrath v Eves [2005] NSWSC 1006 Newman v Newman [2015] NSWSC 1207 Pitkin v Henderson [2001] NSWSC 207 Re Anderson (dec'd) (1975) 11 SASR 276 Re Fulop Deceased (1987) 8 NSWLR 679 Re Guskett [1947] VLR 212 Salmon v Osmond [2015] NSWCA 42 Seeto v Seeto [2013] NSWSC 1232 Sikorski v Michalowski [2007] NSWSC 666 Singer v Berghouse (No 2) (1994) 181 CLR 201 Slack v Rogan; Palffy v Rogan [2013] NSWSC 522 Smith v Johnson [2015] NSWCA 297 Stewart v McDougall (NSWSC, Young J, 19 November 1987 unreported) Stojcesvska v Tosevski [2001] NSWSC 274 Taylor v Farrugia [2009] NSWSC 801 Underwood v Gaudron [2014] NSWSC 1055 Vasconelos v Bonetig [2011] NSWSC 1029 Verzar v Verzar [2014] NSWCA 45 Vigolo v Bostin (2005) 221 CLR 191 Warren v McKnight (1996) 40 NSWLR 390 Zirkler v McKinnon [2002] NSWSC 285 Texts Cited: W Lonergan, The Valuation of Businesses, Shares and Other Equity, 4th ed (2003). Category: Principal judgment Parties: Donna-Lee Henry (plaintiff) William Charles Hancock (defendant) Representation: Counsel: M Bridger w J. Webb (plaintiff) R Brender (defendant)