Towson v Francis [2017] NSWSC 1034

Supreme Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Towson v Francis [2017] NSWSC 1034 Hearing dates: 20 June 2017 Date of orders: 10 August 2017 Decision date: 10 August 2017 Jurisdiction: Equity Before: Hallen J Decision: The Court:

(i) Orders, having found the Plaintiff is an eligible person, and that adequate provision for her proper maintenance or advancement in life has not been made for her in the Will of the deceased, that in lieu of the provision made for her in the Will of the deceased, the Plaintiff receive a lump sum of $60,000 out of the estate of the deceased.

(ii) Orders that no interest is to be paid on the lump sum, if that lump sum is paid within 7 days of the making of these orders; otherwise, interest calculated at the rate prescribed by s 84A(3) Probate and Administration Act 1898 (NSW), on unpaid legacies, is to be paid on any outstanding balance, from that date until the date of payment of the lump sum.

(iii) Orders, that, unless otherwise agreed between the Defendants, the burden of the provision made in favour of the Plaintiff, be borne out of the share of the deceased's estate passing to Julianne Francis, the first Defendant.

(iv) Orders that the Exhibits should be dealt with in accordance with the Uniform Civil Procedure Rules 2005 (NSW).

(v) Orders, unless any party makes an application for a different costs order, that the Plaintiff's costs, calculated on the ordinary basis, and the Defendants' costs, calculated on the indemnity basis, of the proceedings, be paid out of the estate of the deceased and that any application for a different costs order should be made by informing my Associate of the application within 7 days. Catchwords: SUCCESSION - FAMILY PROVISION - The Plaintiff, a daughter of the deceased, applies for additional provision out of the deceased's estate under Chapter 3 of the Succession Act 2006 (NSW) – Small estate - No dispute as to the Plaintiff's eligibility as a child of the deceased – The first Defendant also child of the deceased and one of the executors and a beneficiary named in the Will – The second and third Defendants are grandchildren of the deceased and the other executors and beneficiaries named in the Will - Proceedings commenced within time - Whether adequate and proper provision not made in Will of the deceased for the Plaintiff and, if so, the nature and quantum of the provision to be made. Legislation Cited: 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) 81 NSWLR 656; [2012] NSWCA 308 Boettcher v Driscoll (2014) 119 SASR 523; [2014] SASC 86 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 Burke v Burke [2015] NSWCA 195 Butcher v Craig [2009] WASC 164 Carey v Robson (No 2) [2009] NSWSC 1199 Chan v Chan [2016] NSWCA 222 Chapple v Wilcox (2014) 87 NSWLR 646; [2014] NSWCA 392 Christie v Manera [2006] WASC 287 Crossman v Riedel [2004] ACTSC 127 de Angelis v de Angelis [2003] VSC 432 Diver v Neal [2009] NSWCA 54 Flathaug v Weaver [2003] NZFLR 730 Foley v Ellis [2008] NSWCA 288 Forsyth v Sinclair (No 2) (2010) 28 VR 635; [2010] VSCA 195 Goodman v Windeyer (1980) 144 CLR 490; [1980] HCA 31 Goodsell v Wellington [2011] NSWSC 1232 Grey v Harrison [1997] 2 VR 359 Harkness v Harkness (No 2) [2012] NSWSC 35 Hawkins v Prestage (1989) 1 WAR 37 Henry v Hancock [2016] NSWSC 71 Heyward v Fisher (Court of Appeal (NSW), Kirby J, 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] 2 WLR 979; [2017] UKSC 17 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) 97 CLR 566; [1957] HCA 82 McGrath v Eves [2005] NSWSC 1006 McKenzie v Topp [2004] VSC 90 Nicholas v Tubb [2016] TASSC 53 Penninger v Penninger [2017] NSWSC 892 Pontifical Society for the Propagation of the Faith v Scales (1962) 107 CLR 9; [1962] HCA 19 Re Buckland, Deceased [1966] VR 404 R (on the application of M) v Slough Borough Council [2008] UKHL 52; [2008] 1 WLR 1808 Salmon v Osmond [2015] NSWCA 42 Singer v Berghouse (1994) 181 CLR 201; [1994] HCA 40 Slack v Rogan; Palffy v Rogan (2013) 85 NSWLR 253; [2013] NSWSC 522 Smith v Johnson (2015) 14 ASTLR 175; [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 Toscano v Toscano [2017] NSWSC 419 Underwood v Gaudron [2014] NSWSC 1055 Underwood v Gaudron [2015] NSWCA 269 Verzar v Verzar [2012] NSWSC 1380 Vigolo v Bostin (2005) 221 CLR 191; [2005] HCA 11 Vincent v Lewis [2006] NZFLR 812 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 Category: Principal judgment Parties: Ms Bernadette Anne Towson (Plaintiff) Ms Julianne Francis (first Defendant) Mr Luke Anthony Francis (second Defendant) Ms Pru Louise Gleeson (third Defendant) Representation: Counsel: Mr C P Locke (Plaintiff) Mr D Liebhold and Mr L Hammond (Defendants)