Hancock, Shaun v Parker; Hancock, Lisa v Parker [2017] NSWSC 759

Supreme Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Hancock, Shaun v Parker; Hancock, Lisa v Parker [2017] NSWSC 759 Hearing dates: 22 - 23 March 2017, 13 April 2017 Date of orders: 20 June 2017 Decision date: 20 June 2017 Jurisdiction: Equity Before: Hallen J Decision: The Court:

(i) Orders that the two proceedings be heard consecutively, with the evidence in one being evidence in the other.

(ii) Orders pursuant to UCPR rule 7.8, that Cheryl Christine Parker and Gary Neville Hancock be appointed as representatives of the deceased's estate for the purpose of the proceedings and to conduct the proceedings on behalf of the estate.

(iii) The parties, in each matter, 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 and in relation to costs. 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 Court is to be informed and the orders proposed will be entered and the adjourned date vacated. The matter will be adjourned to a mutually convenient date thereafter to determine whether a costs hearing is required. Catchwords: SUCCESSION – FAMILY PROVISION – Two proceedings, the first in time brought by an adult grandchild of the deceased - The second in time brought by an adult child of the deceased (the mother of the other Plaintiff) - Proceedings by adult child commenced out of time - Each Plaintiff applies for a family provision order under Chapter 3 of the Succession Act 2006 (NSW) - No dispute as to the eligibility of the second Plaintiff as a child of the deceased – Plaintiff grandchild was living with deceased at the time of her death – No dispute as to eligibility - Whether factors warrant the making of the grandchild's application - The Defendants are adult children of the deceased and are the only other beneficiaries, with the Plaintiff child, named in the Will - Defendants oppose the making of an order in each matter - Whether inadequate provision made in Will of the deceased for each Plaintiff and, if so, the nature and quantum of the provision to be made for him and her respectively - Competing financial claims advanced by each of the Defendants Legislation Cited: Family Provision Act 1982 (NSW) Probate and Administration Act 1898 (NSW) Succession Act 2006 (NSW) Uniform Civil Procedure Rules 2005 (NSW) Cases Cited: Andre v Perpetual Trustees WA Ltd (as Executor of the Will of Barbara Helen Owen Stewart) [2009] WASCA 14 Andrew v Andrew (2012) 81 NSWLR 656; [2012] NSWCA 308 Boettcher v Driscoll (2014) 119 SASR 523; [2014] SASC 86 Bondelmonte v Blanckensee [1989] WAR 305 Bowditch v NSW Trustee and Guardian [2012] NSWSC 275 Brown v Faggoter [1998] NSWCA 44 Burke v Burke [2015] NSWCA 195 Butcher v Craig [2009] WASC 164 Butler v Morris; Butler (bht NSW Trustee & Guardian) v Morris [2012] NSWSC 748 Carey v Robson (No 2) [2009] NSWSC 1199 Chan v Chan [2016] NSWCA 222 Chapple v Wilcox [2014] NSWCA 392; (2014) NSWLR 646 Christie v Manera [2006] WASC 287 Churton v Christian (1988) 13 NSWLR 241 Collicoat v McMillan [1999] 3 VR 803 Crossman v Riedel [2004] ACTSC 127 de Angelis v de Angelis [2003] VSC 432 Diver v Neal [2009] NSWCA 54 Evans v Levy [2011] NSWCA 125 Foley v Ellis [2008] NSWCA 288 Forsyth v Sinclair (No 2) (2010) 28 VR 635 Glynne v NSW Trustee and Guardian; Lindsay v NSW Trustee and Guardian [2011] NSWSC 535 Goodman v Windeyer [1980] HCA 31; 144 CLR 490 at 498 Goodsell v Wellington [2011] NSWSC 1232 Gorton v Parks (1989) 17 NSWLR 1 Grey v Harrison [1997] 2 VR 359 Harkness v Harkness (No 2) [2012] NSWSC 35 Harrison v Harrison [2011] VSC 459 Hawkins v Prestage (1989) 1 WAR 37 Henry v Hancock [2016] NSWSC 71 Hills v Chalk [2008] QCA 159; [2009] 1 Qd R 409 Hinderry v Hinderry [2016] NSWSC 780 Hughes v National Trustees Executors & Agency Co of Australasia Ltd (1979) 143 CLR 134 Hunter v Hunter (1987) 8 NSWLR 573 Hyland v Burbidge [2000] NSWSC 12 Ilott v The Blue Cross [2017] 2 WLR 979; [2017] UKSC 17 Kleinig v Neal (No 2) [1981] 2 NSWLR 532 MacGregor v MacGregor [2003] WASC 169 Madden-Smith v Madden (Estate of the late Doris Linda Madden) [2012] NSWSC 146 Marks v Marks [2003] WASCA 297 Mayfield v Lloyd-Williams [2004] NSWSC 419 McCosker v McCosker [1957] HCA 82, (1957) 97 CLR 566 McKenzie v Topp [2004] VSC 90 Moore v Randall [2012] NSWSC 184 Page v Page [2016] NSWSC 1218 Penfold v Perpetual Trustee [2002] NSWSC 648 Pontifical Society for the Propagation of the Faith v Scales [1962] HCA 19; (1962) 107 CLR 9 Porthouse v Bridge [2007] NSWSC 686 R (on the application of M) v Slough Borough Council [2008] UKHL 52; [2008] 1 WLR 1808 Re Buckland, Deceased [1966] VR 404 Re Fulop Dec'd (1987) 8 NSWLR 679 at 681 Re Salmon, Deceased [1981] Ch 167 Sassoon v Rose [2013] NSWCA 220 Simonetto v Dick [2014] NTCA 4 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 Stern v Sekers; Sekers v Sekers [2010] NSWSC 59 Stott v Cook (1960) 33 ALJR 447 Taylor v Farrugia [2009] NSWSC 801 Thomas v Pickering; Byrne v Pickering [2011] NSWSC 572 Thompson v Sgro [2016] NSWSC 1869 Tramantana v Harborne; Clarke v Harborne; Midson v Harborne [2011] NSWSC 1129 Tsivinsky v Tsivinsky [1991] NSWCA 269 Verzar v Verzar [2012] NSWSC 1380 Verzar v Verzar [2014] NSWCA 45 Vigolo v Bostin (2005) 221 CLR 191; [2005] HCA 11 Walker v Walker (Supreme Court (NSW), Young J, 17 May 1996, unrep) White v Barron (1980) 144 CLR 431; [1980] HCA 14 Wilcox v Wilcox [2012] NSWSC 1138 Yee v Yee [2016] NSWSC 360 Category: Principal judgment Parties: Mr Shaun Anthony Hancock (Plaintiff) Ms Lisa Maree Hancock (Plaintiff) Ms Cheryl Christine Parker (first Defendant) Mr Gary Neville Hancock (third Defendant) Representation: Counsel: Mr A F Stevens (Plaintiff, Shaun Hancock) Mr K P Tang (Plaintiff, Lisa Hancock) Mr K Morrissey (Defendants)