Carr v Homersham [2018] NSWCA 65

Court of Appeal Supreme Court New South Wales Medium Neutral Citation: Carr v Homersham [2018] NSWCA 65 Hearing dates: 14 February 2018 Decision date: 03 April 2018 Before: Basten JA at [1]; Macfarlan JA at [52]; Leeming JA at [128] Decision: (1) Allow the appeal. (2) Set aside the orders made at first instance on 13 June 2017 and any further orders subsequently made to give effect to the primary judge's reasons for judgment of that date. (3) Order that probate in solemn form be granted to Ms Carr of the will of the late Beryl Lee Hordern dated 5 April 2004. (4) Order that the matter be referred to the Registrar of the Equity Division to complete the grant. (5) Dismiss the respondent's Amended Statement of Claim. (6) Order the respondent to pay the appellant's costs of the appeal and of the proceedings at first instance. (7) Grant to the respondent a certificate under the Suitors' Fund Act 1951 (NSW). Catchwords: SUCCESSION – testamentary capacity – the deceased excluded her niece from her will as a result of a false belief concerning the niece – whether the deceased's holding of the false belief indicated that the deceased lacked testamentary capacity – test in Banks v Goodfellow (1870) LR 5 QB 549 considered – meaning and language of "insane delusion" considered Legislation Cited: Mental Competency Act 2005 (UK) Probate and Administration Act 1898 (NSW), s 72 Cases Cited: Banks v Goodfellow (1870) LR 5 QB 549 Boughton v Knight (1873) LR 3 P & D 64 Bull v Fulton (1942) 66 CLR 295; [1942] HCA 13 d'Apice v Gutkovich – Estate of Abraham (No 2) [2010] NSWSC 1333 Estate of Beryl Lee Hordern (Deceased); Homersham v Carr [2017] NSWSC 753 Harwood v Baker (1840) 3 Moo PC 282; 13 ER 117 James v James [2018] EWHC 43 (Ch) Perpetual Trustee v Baker [1999] NSWCA 244 Re Estate of Griffith (dec'd); Easter v Griffith (1995) 217 ALR 284 Re the Estate of Paul Francis Hodges Deceased; Shorter v Hodges (1988) 14 NSWLR 698 Timbury v Coffee (1941) 66 CLR 277; [1941] HCA 22 Tobin v Ezekiel (2012) 83 NSWLR 757; [2012] NSWCA 285 Wechsler v Du Maurier [2002] NSWCA 13 Worth v Clasohm (1952) 86 CLR 439; [1952] HCA 67 Category: Principal judgment Parties: Cynthia Marie Carr (Appellant) Paula Grace Homersham as Attorney for Ann Richardson (Respondent) Representation: Counsel: D H Murr SC / M Fraser (Appellant) D M Flaherty (Respondent)