Mickovska v Cvetanovska [2015] NSWSC 2160

Supreme Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Mickovska v Cvetanovska [2015] NSWSC 2160 Hearing dates: 16 November 2015 Date of orders: 16 November 2015 Decision date: 16 November 2015 Jurisdiction: Equity - Family Provision List Before: Brereton J Decision: Orders for provision made. Catchwords: SUCCESSION – family provision – where deceased's estate consists only of real property – where plaintiff left with household contents and life estate in family home – whether and what provision should be made for plaintiff – obligation of testator towards surviving spouse – provision of security in home, income sufficient to live in reasonable degree of comfort and fund for modest luxuries and contingencies – applicability of principle where marriage was unhappy – financial and non-financial contributions of plaintiff to deceased's estate – plaintiff's future needs and health concerns – where no competing need amongst beneficiaries – appropriateness of Crisp Order as alternative to life estate – how liabilities of estate may be met without sale of house. Legislation Cited: (NSW) Succession Act 2006, Ch 3, s 60(2), s 66(1) Cases Cited: Chapple v Wilcox [2014] NSWCA 392; (2014) 87 NSWLR 646 Court v Hunt (NSW Supreme Court, Young J, 29 October 1987, unreported) Elliott v Elliott (NSW Supreme Court, Powell J, 18 May 1984, unreported) Elliott v Elliott (NSW Court of Appeal, Kirby P, Glass and McHugh JJA, 24 April 1986, unreported) Golosky v Golosky (NSW Court of Appeal, 5 October 1993, unreported) Lo Surdo v Public Trustee [2005] NSWSC 1186 Luciano v Rosenblum (1985) 2 NSWLR 65 O'Loughlin v O'Loughlin [2003] NSWCA 99 Paton v Public Trustee (NSW Supreme Court, 8 December 1988, unreported) Robertson v Pearce [2010] NSWSC 124 Singer v Berghouse (No 2) [1994] HCA 40; (1994) 181 CLR 201 Vigolo v Bostin [2005] HCA 11; (2005) 221 CLR 191 Walker v Walker (NSW Supreme Court, Young J, 17 May 1996, unreported) Category: Principal judgment Parties: Ljubica Mickovska (plaintiff) Gorica (Jenny) Cvetanovska (now known as Subotic) (first defendant) Lila Gesovska (second defendant) Representation: Counsel: R Wilson SC (plaintiff) L Ellison SC (defendant)