The Estate of Blanche Minnie Condon [2020] NSWSC 19

Supreme Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: The Estate of Blanche Minnie Condon [2020] NSWSC 19 Hearing dates: 17 June 2019 Date of orders: 30 January 2020 Decision date: 30 January 2020 Jurisdiction: Common Law Before: Henry J Decision: 1. Probate of the will of the deceased dated 22 November 2016 be granted in solemn form to the defendants/cross-claimants to the cross-claim filed on 16 August 2017. 2. The proceedings be referred to the Registrar to complete the grant of probate. 3. The second cross-claim filed on 6 March 2019 by the plaintiff be dismissed. 4. The plaintiff pay the defendants' costs of the proceedings on the ordinary basis, in an amount to be agreed or assessed. Catchwords: SUCCESSION — Contested probate — Testamentary capacity – whether deceased's statement that she kept her will under the cats' bed sufficient to raise a doubt as to testamentary capacity — Lack of knowledge and approval — Suspicious circumstances – where beneficiary present at meetings for instructions and execution of will – where will read by deceased – affirmative evidence that deceased knew and approved of will. Legislation Cited: Uniform Civil Procedure Rules 2005 (NSW), r 42.1 Cases Cited: Bailey v Bailey (1924) 34 CLR 558; [1924] HCA 21 Banks v Goodfellow (1870) LR 5 QB 549 Barry v Butlin (1838) 2 Moo PCC 480; 12 ER 1089 Thompson v Bella-Lewis [1997] 1 Qd R 429 Bull v Fulton (1942) 66 CLR 295; [1942] HCA 13 Carr v Homersham (2018) 97 NSWLR 328; [2018] NSWCA 65 d'Apice v Gutkovich – Estate of Abraham (No 2) [2010] NSWSC 1333 Davies v Gregory (1873) LR 3 P&D 28 Gray v Hart; Estate of Harris (No. 2) [2012] NSWSC 1562 Pates v Craig & Anor: the Estate of Cole (Supreme Court (NSW), Santow J, 28 August 1995, unrep) Perpetual Trustee v Baker [1999] NSWCA 244 Re Fenwick [1972] VR 646 Re Hodges; Shorter v Hodges (1988) 14 NSWLR 698 Re Nickson, Deceased [1916] VLR 274 Shorten v Shorten (No 2) [2003] NSWCA 60 Tobin v Ezekiel (2012) 83 NSWLR 757; [2012] NSWCA 285 Tyrrell v Painton [1894] 1 P 151 Vernon v Watson; Estate Clarice Isabel Quigley Dec'd [2002] NSWSC 600 Worth v Clasohm (1952) 86 CLR 439; (1952) 26 ALJR 626; [1952] HCA 67 Zorbas v Sidiropoulous (No 2) [2009] NSWCA 197 Texts Cited: None Category: Principal judgment Parties: Andrew Battenberg (Plaintiff/Cross-defendant to First Cross-claim) Bruce Keith Philips (First Defendant/Cross-claimant on First Cross-claim) Robyn Ruth Price (Second Defendant/Cross-claimant on First Cross-claim) Representation: Counsel: D Allen (Plaintiff/Cross-defendant to First Cross-claim) C Harris SC (Defendants/Cross-claimants on First Cross-claim)