Carusi-Lees v Carusi [2017] NSWSC 590

Supreme Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Carusi-Lees v Carusi [2017] NSWSC 590 Hearing dates: 10 and 11 April 2017 Date of orders: 18 May 2017 Decision date: 18 May 2017 Jurisdiction: Equity Before: Hallen J Decision: The parties, within 14 days, are to consider whether any amendments to the proposed orders are required. The matter is stood over to a convenient date for any argument as to the nature and form of the orders proposed. Otherwise, any agreed amendments to the proposed orders may be forwarded to the Court, for consideration, in Chambers, or if no amendments are sought, the orders proposed will be entered and the adjourned date vacated. Catchwords: SUCCESSION – FAMILY PROVISION – The Plaintiff, an adult child of the deceased, makes a claim for a family provision order – No dispute as to the Plaintiff's eligibility as a child of the deceased – The Defendant the widow of the deceased and the sole executrix and beneficiary named in the Will - No application by Defendant for administration made at date of hearing – Whether grant of administration is necessary in order to deal with the Plaintiff's application –– Virtually no actual estate – Whether the deceased's interest in the proceeds of sale of jointly held property, or other jointly held property that passed by survivorship to the Defendant should be designated as notional estate – Property that may be designated as notional estate of large value – Significant provision made for the Plaintiff during the lifetime of the deceased - Competing financial claim advanced by the Defendant Whether family provision order should be made in favour of the Plaintiff, and if so, the nature and quantum of the provision to be made Legislation Cited: Civil Procedure Act 2005 (NSW) Family Law Act 1975 (Cth) Family Provision Act 1982 (NSW) Probate and Administration Act 1898 (NSW) Succession Act 2006 (NSW) Uniform Civil Procedure Rules 2005 (NSW) Cases Cited: Alexander v Jansson [2010] NSWCA 176 Andrew v Andrew [2012] NSWCA 308; (2012) 81 NSWLR 656 Andrew v Andrew [2011] NSWSC 115 Bates v Cooke [2015] NSWCA 278 Boettcher v Driscoll [2014] SASC 86; (2014) 119 SASR 523 Bondelmonte v Blanckensee [1989] WAR 305 Borebor v Keane [2013] VSC 35 Bosch v Perpetual Trustee Co Ltd [1938] AC 463 Bowditch v NSW Trustee and Guardian [2012] NSWSC 275 Bowyer v Wood [2007] SASC 327; (2007) 99 SASR 190 Brimelow v Alampi [2016] VSC 135 Butcher v Craig [2009] WASC 164 Burke v Burke [2015] NSWCA 195 Chan v Chan [2016] NSWCA 222 Chapple v Wilcox [2014] NSWCA 392; 87 NSWLR 646 Christie v Manera [2006] WASC 287 Collicoat v McMillan [1999] 3 VR 803 Crossman v Riedel [2004] ACTSC 127 Diver v Neal [2009] NSWCA 54 de Angelis v de Angelis [2003] VSC 432 Flathaug v Weaver [2003] NZFLR 730 Foley v Ellis [2008] NSWCA 288 Goodman v Windeyer [1980] HCA 31; 144 CLR 490 Goodsell v Wellington [2011] NSWSC 1232 Grey v Harrison [1997] 2 VR 359 Hawkins v Prestage (1989) 1 WAR 37 Henry v Hancock [2016] NSWSC 71 Heyward v Fisher (Court of Appeal (NSW), 26 April 1985, unrep) Hinderry v Hinderry [2016] NSWSC 780 Hughes v National Trustees Executors & Agency Co of Australasia Ltd (1979) 143 CLR 134; [1979] HCA 2 Hunter v Hunter (1987) 8 NSWLR 573 Hyland v Burbidge [2000] NSWSC 12 Ilott v The Blue Cross & Ors [2017] UKSC 17 In re Green, deceased; Zuckerman v Public Trustee [1951] NZLR 135 John v John; John v John [2010] NSWSC 937 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 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 Pincius v Wood [1998] TASSC 46 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 Buckland, Deceased [1966] VR 404 Salmon v Osmond [2015] NSWCA 42 Singer v Berghouse [1994] HCA 40; (1994) 181 CLR 201 Slack v Rogan; Palffy v Rogan [2013] NSWSC 522; (2013) 85 NSWLR 253 Smith v Johnson [2015] NSWCA 297 Smith v Woodward (Supreme Court (NSW), 9 September 1994, unrep) Stern v Sekers; Sekers v Sekers [2010] NSWSC 59 Stott v Cook (1960) 33 ALJR 447 Taylor v Farrugia [2009] NSWSC 801 Underwood v Gaudron (2015) 324 ALR 641; [2015] NSWCA 269 Verzar v Verzar [2012] NSWSC 1380 Vigolo v Bostin (2005) 221 CLR 191; [2005] HCA 11 Walker v Walker (Supreme Court (NSW), Young J, 17 May 1996, unrep) Wheat v Wisbey [2013] NSWSC 537 White v Barron (1980) 144 CLR 431; [1980] HCA 14 Wilcox v Wilcox [2012] NSWSC 1138 Worsley v Solomon [2008] NSWSC 444 Category: Principal judgment Parties: Ms Zenuccia Mary Carusi-Lees (Plaintiff) Mrs Shirley Margaret Carusi (Defendant) Representation: Counsel: Mr D Liebhold (Plaintiff) Mr L Ellison SC (Defendant)