-
Subscribe
Subscribed
Already have a WordPress.com account? Log in now.
In De Rooy v Coleman Brewer J is tasked with determining the validity of a will not on account of any question as to testamentary capacity; but as to whether the will was procured by means of undue influence. The will that is the subject of this enquiry is that of Mr Johan de Rooy … Continue reading
Hooper v Thackwell came before the court by way of a formal proof hearing with respect to a claim brought by her daughter Karen. The background facts are not complex, but raise some complex questions, in particular whether a lawyer could ever rely on a waiver to act on both sides of a transaction that … Continue reading
Grbavac v Vujcich relates to an application to recall probate on the basis that the deceased lacked testamentary capacity when he executed a codicil to a 2004 will in 2013. At the time of his death Joseph Grbavac’s estate was valued in excess of $10 million. The 2013 codicil reduced the number of executors, changed … Continue reading
In Estate of MTMW Pepere Boldt J declined to validate a transcript of two videos as a valid will. Boldt J noted that the deceased was plainly unwell and that it would have been impractical to draft and execute a formal will. Boldt J recorded at [8] that a “… transcript of a video recording … Continue reading
In Trustees Executors Limited v Poppe, Walker J explores the variation of a will against a background of a challenge as to capacity and an allegation of undue influence. There are two wills in question, one made in 2016 and one made in 2019. The primary difference is that the 2019 will provides that a … Continue reading
Re Estate Walters, which is an application for the validation of a draft will under the Wills Act 2007 highlights the importance of wills be safely stored following execution. In Re Estate Walters the deceased who lived in America but spent up to six months of each year in New Zealand where he owned property, … Continue reading
Alan O’Donoghue (Alan) and Marc Comia (Marc) married in 2016. They subsequently separated and later entered into a settlement agreement dated 6 April 2020 (the Agreement) recording the division of relationship property. It was common ground that the Agreement did not meet the formal requirements of an agreement to contract out of the Property (Relationships) … Continue reading
Section 14 of the Wills Act 2007 provides for wills that do not comply with the formal requirements of the Wills Act to be validated. Validation is at the discretion of the Court. Section 11 of the Wills act sets out the requirements of a valid will as follows: In Public Trust v Forster the … Continue reading
Capacity can be measured in a number of ways. However, it is important to consider any particular test of capacity by reference to the context of the test. This is highlighted in Schuitema v Schuitema, which relates to a claim regarding the will-maker’s capacity and allegations of undue influence. Matters between the parties were settled … Continue reading
Gorringe v Pointon is a successful appeal of a High Court decision; the Court of Appeal finding that the deceased’s final and penultimate wills were more probably than not procured by undue influence. The circumstances relating the two wills found to be procured by undue influence are summarised follows: With respect to undue influence as … Continue reading
Matters of Trust 