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
The background of Re Public Trust regarding an originating application for an order for the grant of probate in solemn form as set at [1] as follows: Muir J in considering the matter was clear that although the deceased clearly wished to up-date her will, and that Public Trust acknowledged that the 2009 will did … Continue reading
Re Estate of Olive Ruby Piper relates to an application for an order declaring that a draft will prepared by Public Trust prior to Olive Piper’s death is her last will and testament pursuant to s 14 of the Wills Act 2007. The legislative basis is set out at [2] and [18] as follows: [2] … Continue reading