Gray v Mather [2016] NSWSC 699

Supreme Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Gray v Mather [2016] NSWSC 699 Hearing dates: 16, 17 May 2016 Date of orders: 02 June 2016 Decision date: 02 June 2016 Jurisdiction: Equity Before: Hallen J Decision: Stands the proceedings over for any argument as to costs and for the making of orders in favour of the Plaintiff, which reflect the reasons for judgment and to enable the Defendant to precisely identify the bank account holding the amount sufficient to satisfy the order for provision to be made in favour of the Plaintiff, any interest thereon, and any costs ordered to be paid out of the notional estate Catchwords: SUCCESSION – FAMILY PROVISION – Claim for family provision order under Part 3.2 of the Succession Act 2006 (NSW) – The Defendant, the executor of the Will of the deceased and the person with whom the deceased person was living in a de facto relationship at the time of his death – Probate granted – Defendant the sole beneficiary named in Will – Actual estate consisting of small amount of cash – Notional estate said to be deceased's interest as joint tenant in real estate and in joint bank accounts held with Defendant – Jointly held property transmitted to the Defendant – Order sought designating deceased's interest in jointly held property as notional estate – Whether adequate and proper provision not made in Will of the deceased for the Plaintiff – Whether order designating property as notional estate should be made – Nature and quantum of provision, if any, that ought to be made for the Plaintiff. Legislation Cited: Family Provision Act 1982 (NSW) Probate and Administration Act 1898 (NSW) Succession Act 2006 (NSW) Cases Cited: Akkerman v Ewins [1999] NSWCA 386 Andrew v Andrew [2012] NSWCA 308; 81 NSWLR 656 Boettcher v Driscoll [2014] SASC 86; (2014) 119 SASR 523 Bondelmonte v Blanckensee [1989] WAR 305 Bosch v Perpetual Trustee Co Ltd [1983] AC 463 Bowditch v NSW Trustee and Guardian [2012] NSWSC 275 Butcher v Craig [2009] WASC 164 Chandler v Coulson [2015] NSWSC 172 Chapple v Wilcox [2014] NSWCA 392; 87 NSWLR 646 Christie v Manera [2006] WASC 287 Collicoat v McMillan [1999] 3 VR 803 Cross v Wasson [2009] NSWSC 378 Crossman v Riedel [2004] ACTSC 127 de Angelis v de Angelis [2003] VSC 432 at [45] Edgar v Public Trustee for the Northern Territory [2011] NTSC 5 Flathaug v Weaver [2003] NZFLR 730 Foley v Ellis [2008] NSWCA 288 Goodman v Windeyer [1980] HCA 31; 144 CLR 490 at 498, 505 Goodsell v Wellington [2011] NSWSC 1232 Gorton v Parks (1989) 17 NSWLR 1 Grey v Harrison [1997] 2 VR 359 Hawkins v Prestage (1989) 1 WAR 37 Henry v Hancock [2016] NSWSC 71 Hughes v National Trustees Executors and Agency Co of Australasia Ltd [1979] HCA 2; (1979) 143 CLR 134 Hyland v Burbidge [2000] NSWSC 12 In re Allardice; Allardice v Allardice (1910) 29 NZLR 959 In re Allen (Deceased); Allen v Manchester [1922] NZLR 218 Kavalee v Burbidge; Hyland v Burbidge (1998) 43 NSWLR 422 Kleinig v Neal (No 2) [1981] 2 NSWLR 532 Kohari v Snow [2013] NSWSC 452 MacGregor v MacGregor [2003] WASC 169 Marks v Marks [2003] WASCA 297 Marshall v Carruthers [2002] NSWCA 47 Mayfield v Lloyd-Williams [2004] NSWSC 419 McCosker v McCosker [1957] HCA 82, (1957) 97 CLR 566 McGrath v Eves [2005] NSWSC 1006 McKenzie v Topp [2004] VSC 90 Morier v Liem [2016] NSWSC 582 Phillips v James [2014] NSWCA 4; 85 NSWLR 619 Pogorelic v Banovich [2007] WASC 45 Pontifical Society for the Propagation of the Faith v Scales [1962] HCA 19; (1962) 107 CLR 9 R (on the application of M) v Slough Borough Council [2008] UKHL 52; [2008] 1 WLR 1808 Re the Will of Sitch (deceased); Gillies v Executors of the Will of Sitch [2005] VSC 308 Re Buckland, Deceased [1966] VR 404 Salmon v Osmond [2015] NSWCA 42 Sellers v Scrivenger & Anor [2010] VSC 320 Singer v Berghouse [1994] HCA 40; 181 CLR 201 Smith v Johnson [2015] NSWCA 297 Stern v Sekers; Sekers v Sekers [2010] NSWSC 59 Sung v Malaxos [2015] NSWSC 186 Taylor v Farrugia [2009] NSWSC 801 Tobin v Ezekiel [2012] NSWCA 285; (2012) 83 NSWLR 757 Underwood v Gaudron [2015] NSWCA 269 Verzar v Verzar [2012] NSWSC 1380 Verzar v Verzar [2014] NSWCA 45 Vigolo v Bostin (2005) 221 CLR 191; [2005] HCA 11 Vincent v Lewis [2006] NZFLR 812 White v Barron [1980] HCA 14; 144 CLR 431 Wilcox v Wilcox [2012] NSWSC 1138 Category: Principal judgment Parties: Peter Gray (Plaintiff) Suzanne Joy Mather (Defendant) Representation: Counsel: Mr PW Bates (Plaintiff) Mr D Jenkins (Defendant)