Estate of the late Shirley Joan Violet Gardner; Bernengo v Leaney [2019] NSWSC 1324

Supreme Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Estate of the late Shirley Joan Violet Gardner; Bernengo v Leaney [2019] NSWSC 1324 Hearing dates: 2, 3 and 4 September 2019 Date of orders: 01 October 2019 Decision date: 01 October 2019 Jurisdiction: Equity Before: Bell P Decision: 1. Declare that Juan Jose Bernengo is the surviving spouse of the late Shirley Joan Violet Gardner.

2. Grant Juan Jose Bernengo letters of administration in respect of the Estate of Shirley Joan Violet Gardner.

3. Direct the parties to file and exchange written submissions in relation to the costs of the proceedings by 4.00pm on 8 October 2019 with submissions in response to be filed and exchanged by 15 October 2019. Catchwords: SUCCESSION – intestacy – whether plaintiff in a domestic partnership with deceased – de facto relationship – "relationship as a couple living together" – "living together" – where plaintiff divided time between deceased's house in the city and a country property where he spent time by himself – alternative claim for provision from estate Legislation Cited: Evidence Act 1995 (NSW) s 140(2) Family Provision Act 1982 (NSW) s 6 Interpretation Act 1987 (NSW) s 21C Property (Relationships) Act 1984 (NSW) s 4 Succession Act 2006 (NSW) ss 57, 59, 60, 103, 104, 105, 111, Ch 3 Cases Cited: Amprimo v Wynn (2015) 15 ASTLR 41; [2015] NSWCA 286 Ball v Newey (1988) 13 NSWLR 489 Bar-Mordecai v Hillston [2004] NSWCA 65 Briginshaw v Briginshaw (1938) 60 CLR 336; [1938] HCA 34 Drury v Smith [2012] NSWSC 1067 Estate Pamplin; Irwin v Pamplin [2017] NSWSC 1477 Forsyth v Sinclair [2010] VSCA 147 Hayes v Marquis [2008] NSWCA 10 Jonah v White (2011) 258 FLR 236; [2011] FamCA 221 Kauri Timber Co (Tas) Pty Ltd v Reeman (1973) 128 CLR 177; [1973] HCA 8 Mekhail v Hana; Mekail v Hana [2019] NSWCA 197 Miller v Ryan; Payne v Ryan [2015] NSWSC 1713 NSW Trustee and Guardian v McGrath [2013] NSWSC 1894 Petersen v Gregory [2007] NSWSC 8 Piras v Egan [2008] NSWCA 59 Re Fulop Deceased (1987) 8 NSWLR 679 Robson v Quijarro [2009] NSWCA 365 Sammut v Kleemann [2012] NSWSC 1030 Sinclair v Forsyth [2008] VSC 250 Spata v Tumino (2018) 95 NSWLR 706; [2018] NSWCA 17 Thompson v The Public Trustee of New South Wales [2010] NSWSC 1137 Vaughan v Hoskovich [2010] NSWSC 706 Ward v Anderson (Supreme Court (NSW), Waddell CJ in Eq, 6 June 1989, unrep) Weston v Public Trustee (1986) 4 NSWLR 407 Ye v Fung [2006] NSWSC 243 Category: Principal judgment Parties: Juan Jose Bernengo (Plaintiff/Cross-Defendant) Edward Henry Thomas Leaney (Defendant/Cross-Claimant) Representation: Counsel: R Kako (Plaintiff/Cross-Defendant) T J Hancock (Defendant/Cross-Claimant)