Harris v Harris [2018] NSWSC 552

Supreme Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Harris v Harris [2018] NSWSC 552 Hearing dates: 14 December 2017 Date of orders: 01 May 2018 Decision date: 01 May 2018 Jurisdiction: Equity Before: Ward CJ in Eq Decision: (1) Pursuant to s 91 Succession Act 2006 (NSW), order that administration in respect of the estate and notional estate of the deceased, Hubert Estes Harris, who died on 15 October 2015, be granted to the plaintiff, Andrew Harris, for the purposes only of permitting his application for a family provision order. (2) Dispense with compliance with the Court Rules in relation to Order 1. (3) Pursuant to Rule 7.10(2)(b) of the Uniform Civil Procedure Rules 2005 (NSW), appoint the first defendant, Jennifer Kay Harris, to represent the estate of the late Hubert Estes Harris, for the purposes of these proceedings. (4) Dismiss the plaintiff's claim for provision out of the deceased's estate. (5) Order that each party pay his, her or its own costs of the proceedings. Catchwords: SUCCESSION – family provision – deceased left estate to widow – no provision made in will for adult son – whether provision should be made under s 59 of Succession Act 2006 (NSW) in favour of adult son – whether notional estate orders should be made – appropriate approach to balancing obligations to beneficiary and applicant – respect for testator's intentions – conclusion that deceased did not fail to make "proper" provision for the applicant's maintenance, education and advancement in life hence no family provision order made Legislation Cited: Court Suppression and Non-publication Orders Act 2010 (NSW), ss 7, 8(1) Crimes Act 1900 (NSW), s 578A(2) Family Provision Act 1982 (NSW) NSW Trustee and Guardian Act 2009 (NSW) Succession Act 2006 (NSW), Ch 3, ss 59, 60, 75, 76, 78, 87, 88, 89, 91 Uniform Civil Procedure Rules 2005 (NSW), r 7.10(2)(b) Cases Cited: Andrew v Andrew (2012) 81 NSWLR 656; [2012] NSWCA 308 Bladwell v Davis [2004] NSWCA 170 Bondy v Vavros (Supreme Court (NSW), Young J, 29 August 1988, unrep) Burke v Burke [2015] NSWCA 195; (2015) 13 ASTLR 313 Chan v Chan [2016] NSWCA 222 Cross v Wasson [2009] NSWSC 378; (2009) 2 ASTLR 201 Epov v Epov [2014] NSWSC 1086 Golsky v Golsky [1993] NSWCA 111 Gray v Mather [2016] NSWSC 699 Hampson v Hampson [2010] NSWCA 359; (2015) 5 ASTLR 116 Luciana v Rosenblum (1985) 2 NSWLR 65 Phillips v James (2014) 85 NSWLR 619; [2014] NSWCA 4 Poletti v Jones [2015] NSWCA 107; (2015) 13 ASTLR 113 Pontifical Society for the Propagation of the Faith v Scales (1962) 107 CLR 9; [1962] HCA 19 Sgro v Thompson [2017] NSWCA 326 Singer v Berghouse (1994) 181 CLR 201; [1994] HCA 40 Slack v Rogan (2013) 85 NSWLR 253; [2013] NSWSC 522 Taylor v Farrugia [2009] NSWSC 801 Underwood v Gaudron [2015] NSWCA 269; (2015) 324 ALR 641 Category: Principal judgment Parties: Andrew Harris (Plaintiff) Jennifer Kay Harris (First Defendant) Halliday Shores Retirement Living Pty Ltd ACN 151 551 405 (Second Defendant) IOOF Investments Management Ltd ABN 53 006 695 021 (Third Defendant) IOOF Portfolio Service ABN 70 815 369 818 (Fourth Defendant) Representation: Counsel: P W Bates (Plaintiff) R Colquhoun (First Defendant)