Alessandra Hart v Gerard John Basha - [2024] NSWSC 1441

Supreme Court

New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Alessandra Hart v Gerard John Basha [2024] NSWSC 1441
Hearing dates: 3 June, 1 and 2 August 2024
Date of orders: 13 November 2024
Decision date: 13 November 2024
Jurisdiction: Equity - Real Property List
Before: Williams J
Decision:
See orders at [225].

Catchwords:
ESTOPPEL – Promissory estoppel – Where plaintiff and her deceased former husband separated and divorced in 1992 – Where plaintiff claims to have relied to her detriment on representations allegedly made by the deceased in conversations over many years to the effect that he would leave the whole or the bulk of his estate to her in his will if she did not pursue a property settlement – Where the plaintiff sought unsuccessfully for 10 years to negotiate a final property settlement with the deceased, but did not commence property settlement proceedings – Where the deceased controlled the assets and funds generated during their marriage, and refused to disclose relevant financial information and threatened the plaintiff with violence during the property settlement negotiations – Where the deceased’s last will made no provision for the plaintiff – Held that the Court is bound by authority that the doctrine of promissory estoppel operates as a restraint on the enforcement of legal rights and does not operate as a source of an obligation for the deceased to provide for the plaintiff in his will – Held that the plaintiff failed to prove most of the alleged representations, and failed to prove that she relied to her detriment on those representations which were proved – Promissory estoppel claim dismissed.
SUCCESSION – Family provision – Claim by plaintiff for provision out of the estate of her deceased former husband – Where plaintiff made significant financial and non-financial contributions to the assets that were the genesis of the assets comprising the deceased’s estate – Where the plaintiff sought unsuccessfully for 10 years to negotiate a final property settlement with the deceased, but did not commence property settlement proceedings – Where the deceased controlled the assets and funds generated during their marriage, and refused to disclose relevant financial information and threatened the plaintiff with violence during the property settlement negotiations – Where the deceased failed to pay the plaintiff even a half share of the net sale proceeds of their jointly owned assets following their separation and divorce – Where the plaintiff is aged 82 years, owns no real property, has no superannuation, and is forced to live frugally due to her lack of financial resources – Where the deceased made no provision for his former wife in his will – Where an order for provision will reduce the benefits to paid to named beneficiaries – Held: There are factors warranting the plaintiff’s application for provision, and the plaintiff has a superior claim on the deceased’s estate than the beneficiaries named in the will – Order for provision in favour of the plaintiff in a lump sum of $600,000.

Legislation Cited:
Civil Procedure Act 2005 (NSW) s 100
Succession Act 2006 (NSW) ss 57, 58, 59, 60, 61

Cases Cited:
Ashton v Pratt (2015) 88 NSWLR 281; [2015] NSWCA 12
Blendell v Byrne [2019] NSWSC 583
Chant v Curcuruto [2021] NSWSC 751
Curtis v Curtis [2024] NSWCA 136
Eggins v Robinson [2000] NSWCA 61
Eyota Pty Ltd v Hanave Pty Ltd (1994) 12 ACSR 785
Fiorenza v Fiorenza [2024] NSWSC 549
Fox v Percy (2003) 214 CLR 118; [2003] HCA 22
Frank v Angell [2024] NSWCA 264
Grundt v Great Boulder Pty Gold Mines Ltd (1937) 59 CLR 641; [1937] HCA 58
John Holland Pty Ltd v Kellogg Brown & Root Pty Ltd [2015] NSWSC 451
Kramer v Stone (2023) 112 NSWLR 564; [2023] NSWCA 270
Lodin v Lodin [2017] NSWCA 327
Megerditchian v Khatchadourian [2020] NSWCA 229
Nock v Maddern [2018] NSWCA 239
Olsen v Olsen (2019) 101 NSWLR 225; [2019] NSWCA 278
Plunkett v Bull (1915) 19 CLR 544; [1915] HCA 14
Re Estate of Legler [2024] NSWSC 726
Re Fulop Deceased (1987) 8 NSWLR 679
Rogic v Samaan [2018] NSWSC 1464
Saleh v Romanous (2010) 79 NSWLR 453; [2010] NSWCA 274
Sammut v Kleemann [2012] NSWSC 1030
Sidhu v Van Dyke (2014) 251 CLR 505; [2014] HCA 19
Slade v Brose [2024] NSWCA 197
Smith v Moore [2020] NSWSC 1446
Spata v Tumino (2018) 95 NSWLR 706; [2018] NSWCA 17
Steinmetz v Shannon (2019) 99 NSWLR 687; [2019] NSWCA 114
Sun v Chapman [2022] NSWCA 132
Waltons Stores (Interstate) Ltd v Maher (1988) 164 CLR 387; [1988] HCA 7
Warner v Hung (2011) 297 ALR 56; [2011] FCA 1123
Watson v Foxman (1995) 49 NSWLR 315

Texts Cited:
N/A

Category: Principal judgment
Parties: Alessandra Hart (Plaintiff)
Gerard John Basha (Defendant)
Representation:
Counsel:
Mr N Kirby (Plaintiff)
Mr C Birtles (Defendant)
Solicitors:
Baker Deane & Nutt (Plaintiff)
Bartier Perry Lawyers (Defendant)

File Number(s): 2021/258013
Publication restriction: N/A

JUDGMENT

Introduction

The plaintiff, Alessandra Hart, is the former wife of the late Anthony Siracusa, who died on 29 January 2021. The plaintiff is presently 82 years of age. The defendant, Gerard Basha, is a solicitor appointed as the administrator of the deceased’s estate by order of this Court.
The plaintiff and the deceased were married in December 1968. They had three children: Michael Brendan Siracusa born on 10 March 1972, Anna Louisa Siracusa born on 4 July 1974, and Mark Anthony Siracusa born on 17 December 1977. I will refer to those children, who are now adults, by the names by which they are commonly known: Brendan, Louisa and Mark. This is to avoid confusion that might otherwise arise from their common surname. No disrespect is intended.
The plaintiff and the deceased separated in January 1992, and were divorced in December 1992. No property settlement proceedings were commenced, and no property settlement orders were made, in connection with the dissolution of their marriage.
The deceased had entered into a relationship with Jessie Marion Boudville in 1989, prior to his separation from the plaintiff, which continued for some 23 years until Ms Boudville’s death in 2012.
In 2014, the deceased commenced a relationship with Jane Grimm, which continued until his death on 29 January 2021.
By his last will made on 27 January 2021, just two days before he died, the deceased purportedly gave the sum of $65,000 and 5,000 Telstra shares to the plaintiff, gave various specific items of personal property to his children, to Brendan’s partner Joy Chi Lok Chan, and to Tamara Hayward, gave his superannuation funds and any superannuation death benefits to Mark’s son Thomas Siracusa, and gave the residue of his estate in specified shares to his trustee to hold on trust for Thomas, Brendan, Louisa, Ms Boudville’s two daughters (Tamara Hayward and Denise Boonstra), Ms Grimm, and two charitable organisations.
The sum of $65,000 was in fact a loan that the deceased was obliged to repay the plaintiff, and the 5,000 Telstra shares which the deceased purportedly gave to the plaintiff by his last will were in fact property of the plaintiff that she had given to the deceased in about 2012 to hold and manage for her. Thus, the only bequest made by the deceased in favour of the plaintiff was in fact a repayment of a loan and a return to the plaintiff of her own property.
Letters of administration with the deceased’s will dated 27 January 2021 annexed were granted to Mr Basha on 9 September 2022.
After the resolution of other proceedings concerning the estate, including a family provision order made in favour of Ms Grimm by consent, the deceased’s estate has net distributable assets of approximately $2,700,000.
Relying on the doctrine of promissory estoppel, the plaintiff claims that the deceased unconscionably resiled from representations that she alleges he made to her from January 1992 and over the course of the years until his death in January 2021 to the effect that, if she did not pursue a property settlement following their separation and divorce, she would inherit the bulk of his estate upon his death. The plaintiff claims to have assumed that she would receive that inheritance, and to have acted to her detriment on the basis of that assumption, including by not pressing for a property settlement. The plaintiff claims that the deceased acted unconscionably by not providing for her in his last will, other than by purported gifts that were in fact a repayment of the $65,000 loan that the plaintiff made to the deceased and the return to the plaintiff of the 5,000 Telstra shares which were her own property. The plaintiff seeks equitable compensation in an amount commensurate to the proportion of the deceased’s estate that she claims to have been induced to assume she would inherit, plus interest up to judgment pursuant to s 100 of the Civil Procedure Act 2005 (NSW).
The defendant does not admit that the deceased made the alleged representations, and denies that the plaintiff relied to her detriment on any representations that may be found to have been made.
Alternatively, the plaintiff seeks an order pursuant to Chapter 3 of the Succession Act 2006 (NSW) for provision out of the deceased’s estate for her proper maintenance, education and advancement in life.
The defendant opposes any order for provision in favour of the plaintiff.
For the reasons that follow, the plaintiff’s promissory estoppel claim has failed. Authority binding on me establishes that the doctrine of promissory estoppel operates only as a restraint on the enforcement of legal rights, and not as a source of obligation. The plaintiff seeks to deploy the doctrine in these proceedings in order to create and enforce an obligation on the deceased to provide for her under his last will. Even if the doctrine of promissory estoppel were applicable, I would have held that the plaintiff had failed to establish most of the representations on which her promissory estoppel claim is founded, and I would have found that the plaintiff did not rely to her detriment on the two representations that were established. However, the plaintiff has succeeded in her family provision claim. I have determined that there are factors warranting the plaintiff’s application for provision, that the deceased’s last will did not make adequate provision for the plaintiff, and that provision should be made out of the deceased’s estate for the plaintiff’s proper maintenance and advancement in life in the sum of $600,000. In coming to those conclusions, I have considered all of the parties’ written and oral submissions, irrespective of whether they are expressly recorded in these reasons.

Salient evidence

The marriage between the plaintiff and the deceased

The plaintiff met the deceased in 1965. They were both 23 years of age at that time. They were married on 7 December 1968.
The plaintiff and the deceased had their first child – Brendan – in March 1972.
The plaintiff and the deceased had their second child – Louisa – in July 1974.
The plaintiff and the deceased had their third child – Mark – in December 1977.
At the time they separated in January 1992, the plaintiff and the deceased jointly owned their home in Kaleen in the Australian Capital Territory, which they had purchased in 1987, and an investment property in Coorparoo, Queensland, which they had purchased in 1985. Each of them had worked during the course of their marriage and had contributed financially to the payment of their household expenses and the acquisition of those assets. In addition, the plaintiff had been the primary carer for their children. The plaintiff gave evidence that she had returned to work in 1973, carrying Brendan with her in a bassinet while she worked as a door-to-door sales person. The difficulty of working while carrying her baby with her was compounded by the fact that she was still grieving the death of a daughter who had been still born in December 1972. According to the plaintiff’s evidence, she persisted with the work in these difficult circumstances because the deceased insisted that she contribute her share to the household finances. After the birth of Louisa in July 1974, the plaintiff worked night shifts in a restaurant so as to be able to care for the children during the day. According to the plaintiff’s evidence, she was required to work in order to meet all of their living expenses as the deceased’s wage at the time was only sufficient to cover the loan repayments on the farm where they were living at Bungendore at the time. The plaintiff was able to stay home for about two years after the birth of Mark in December 1977, but returned to work in 1979 and ran her own business in the early to mid-1980s. After selling that business in 1985, the plaintiff worked several jobs to contribute to their living expenses. The plaintiff was not challenged about any of this evidence in cross-examination.
Those matters need to be viewed in the context of the plaintiff’s evidence that she had not wanted to have children and had done so at the deceased’s insistence, that she had been forced to leave a satisfying career with Perpetual Trustees when the deceased decided to move to Canberra against her wishes shortly after they married in order to pursue career opportunities for himself, that the deceased refused to contribute towards housework in any way and required the plaintiff to serve him in their home, and that the deceased controlled their jointly earned income by transferring it into a bank account to which only he had access, leaving only enough funds for necessities in their joint bank account to which the plaintiff had access. According to the plaintiff’s evidence, this arrangement meant that she had to seek the deceased’s permission if she wanted to purchase anything for herself. Again, the plaintiff was not challenged about this evidence in cross-examination.
The plaintiff gave evidence that, in addition to contributing her wages to their family, her financial contributions to the marriage included the sale proceeds of two small blocks of land at Mt Evelyn in Victoria which her father had gifted to her on her 18^th birthday, and an inheritance of $116,000 that she received on the death of her father in February 1989. According to the plaintiff’s evidence, she paid the entire amount of that inheritance to the deceased in order for him to discharge their mortgage over the Kaleen property, and she was surprised to learn many years later that there was still a mortgage over that property. The plaintiff gave evidence that she does not know what the deceased did with her inheritance from her father’s estate. Again, these aspects of the plaintiff’s evidence were not challenged in cross-examination.
In September 1991, the deceased received an inheritance from his father of approximately $100,000. Documents kept by the deceased which were provided to the plaintiff after his death included a letter that he received from solicitors acting for him in 1996 recording his instructions that both he and the plaintiff had ploughed back into their family the inheritances from their respective families. The plaintiff denies that the deceased contributed his inheritance to their family or matrimonial assets.

The plaintiff and the deceased separate in January 1992

The plaintiff and the deceased separated in January 1992. The plaintiff moved out of the Kaleen property into a rented unit, together with Brendan and Louisa. Brendan and Louisa were working at this time, and their wages together with welfare payments that the plaintiff was receiving from the government covered their household expenses. The deceased remained living in the matrimonial home. Mark, who was then only 14 years of age, stayed with the deceased. According to the plaintiff’s evidence, she left all of the assets of the marriage in the possession of the deceased when they separated.
In her affidavit affirmed on 8 September 2021, the plaintiff deposed that she continued to contribute to the mortgage repayments for the Kaleen and Coorparoo properties during the period between the separation in January 1992 and the sale of those properties in July 1998 (Coorparoo) and October 2000 (Kaleen). When pressed for details in cross-examination, the plaintiff gave evidence she was paying the monthly amount of $344 that the deceased had asked her to pay. I understood the plaintiff to be referring to the payments that the deceased required the plaintiff to make from about February 1996 to cover the amounts totalling $40,000 that he had borrowed against the security of the Kaleen property in order to lend that sum of $40,000 to the plaintiff. [1] When it was put to the plaintiff in cross-examination that the deceased had made most of the mortgage repayments after their separation, the plaintiff answered: “But there wasn’t to be, supposed to be, a mortgage”. I understood the plaintiff to be referring to her belief that the Kaleen mortgage should have been discharged with the proceeds of her inheritance that she had transferred to the deceased in 1989. [2]
1. See [41]-[44] below.
2. See [21] above.
The deceased filed for divorce on 3 September 1992.
The plaintiff gave evidence that she told the deceased in early November 1992 that they needed to arrange a property settlement because she was not coping financially. The deceased replied:

“Don’t worry about money. I am very sick. The doctors think it’s cancer. I won’t have long left. Don’t worry about going to see a lawyer now; I will leave you everything when I’m gone.”

Shortly after that conversation, the deceased gave the plaintiff a cheque for $8,800, and said to her “I know it’s not much but don’t worry, you’ll be rich soon. It’s prostate cancer. I am making a Will and I will make sure you get everything”.
In her affidavit affirmed on 8 September 2021, the plaintiff deposed that, throughout the years following their separation, the deceased said to her on many occasions words to the effect of: “So long as you don’t bring a property settlement now, I’ll leave you everything when I die”. The plaintiff also deposed that, following their separation and “right up until his death”, the deceased “consistently promised me” in words to the effect: “You’ll get what you’re owed when I die”, “You will get everything when I’m gone”, and “When I die, you will be rich”. The plaintiff provided no detail about the timing or context of these statements allegedly made by the deceased during the period of 29 years between their separation in January 1992 and the deceased’s death in January 2021.

The deceased’s will made in November 1992

On 20 November 1992, the deceased made a will pursuant to which he gave all of his firearms and sporting equipment to Mark and Brendan, gave his horse and a statue to Louisa, and bequeathed the residue of his estate to his trustee to be held on trust to sell in order to pay his debts, funeral and testamentary expenses, to give $100,000 to each of his three children, and to give the remainder to the plaintiff. The terms of the gift to the plaintiff state that it is “to do with as she wishes. However it is my fondest wish that whatever endeavours she pursues with her inheritance she keeps in her heart the welfare of any remaining children”. The children of the deceased and the plaintiff were then 20, 18 and 14 years of age.
The plaintiff gave evidence that the deceased showed her a copy of this will during one of his regular visits to her unit in December 1992. The deceased said to her:

“See? I’m leaving you everything. Don’t worry about money. At the moment, all of my assets are tied up in shares, but you will receive it all upon my death. However, if you go and see a lawyer about a property settlement you will ruin everything and I will leave you with nothing.”

In her affidavit affirmed on 10 May 2022, the plaintiff gave evidence that, having seen that will, and based on her belief that the deceased was terminally ill, she agreed not to commence property settlement proceedings. In cross-examination, the plaintiff gave evidence that she understood that the deceased was giving her the residue of his estate in the hope that she would ultimately benefit Brendan, Louisa and Mark.

It was put to the plaintiff in cross-examination that she knew at the time the deceased showed her his 1992 will that he could change his will at any time. The plaintiff denied this, saying that, at that time, she regarded the deceased as having given his word to leave her his estate as set out in the will, and regarded herself as having promised not to apply for a property settlement.

The plaintiff and the deceased are divorced in December 1992

The plaintiff’s divorce from the deceased became absolute on 14 December 1992.

Property settlement discussions in 1993

The plaintiff gave evidence that, in 1993, she was “becoming desperate for financial security” and was considering purchasing two lots of land in a potential subdivision in Watson, which she believed would be a lucrative investment. During one of the deceased’s visits to the plaintiff’s unit at about this time, the deceased told her that he had been cured of his cancer after undergoing surgery. The plaintiff told the deceased that this was wonderful news, “however in that case I need a property settlement. I can’t keep waiting for you to die; there are opportunities opening up for me and I need the money urgently”. The deceased replied: “Ok, but you do not need to go and see a lawyer about a property settlement. Let’s go to the bank and see what they’ll give us. I’ll take a loan out and that can be part [of] your settlement”.
The plaintiff gave evidence that, following that conversation, she and the deceased attended an appointment at the Westpac branch in Civic Canberra together to find out how much the bank would be prepared to lend to the deceased. After assessing the value of the Kaleen property and the Coorparoo property, the bank manager advised the plaintiff and the deceased that the bank could approve a loan of $250,000. The plaintiff signed the loan application documents there and then. The deceased declined to sign all of the documents required to proceed with the loan application. The plaintiff gave evidence that she was distressed about missing the opportunity to purchase the lots in the Watson subdivision, and she continues to feel regret about this.
The plaintiff gave the following evidence about this loan application in cross examination:

“Q.   You have given some evidence that you and Anthony spoke in 1993 about Anthony obtaining a loan from the bank to pay you a property settlement?
A.   1983? Did ‑ sorry?
Q.   Sorry, 1993.
A.   1993, we went to the bank to get a loan.
Q.   In order to obtain a loan approval, Anthony was required to disclose his assets to the bank manager, correct?
A.   I didn't know about that.
Q.   The purpose of Anthony obtaining a loan was to buy out your interest in the Coorparoo and Kaleen properties, correct?
A.   Oh, I don't know about that either.
Q.   If the loan had been obtained you would have received the proceeds of the loan?
A.   Yes.
Q.   And Tony would have received your interest in the Coorparoo and Kaleen properties?
A.   I wish I would have known all of this.
Q.   Well, that's what you discussed with him in 1993, wasn't it?
A.   No. We only went to the bank.
Q.   So, by that stage, you had asked Anthony for a property settlement in early November 1992?
A.   Yes.
Q.   You had asked Anthony for a property settlement in 1993?
A.   Yes.
Q.   You had attended Westpac Bank in Civic Canberra for the purpose of Anthony obtaining a loan?
A.   That's correct.
Q.   You had signed documents at the bank to give effect to arrangements to pay you a property settlement?
A.   That's right.
Q.   When he did not complete the transaction you pleaded with him to go back to the bank to sign the documents but he refused?
A.   That's correct.
Q.   You would not have expected at that point in time that Anthony would follow through on his statement that you would be a substantial beneficiary of his Will?
A.   That's right.
Q.   There was nothing stopping you at that point from going to get legal advice about a property settlement, was there?
A.   Well, I wanted the money. So, we went to the bank.”

It appears from the plaintiff’s evidence above that, when she turned her mind to a property settlement in 1993, her focus was on the money that might be paid to her by way of property settlement, and that she did not turn her mind to her interests in the properties that she owned jointly with the deceased that she might have to give up, either by transferring them to the deceased, or by selling them jointly with the deceased in order to raise the funds that would be paid to her as part of any such settlement.
There is no evidence of any further discussions about a property settlement between the plaintiff and the deceased in 1993 after the loan application did not proceed.

Partial “property settlement” in 1994

In 1994, the plaintiff moved into a government unit in Campbell together with Brendan and Louisa. The plaintiff gave evidence that, with careful budgeting, she could comfortably afford the rent for this unit out of her welfare payments, and “for a time, I did not think about pursuing a property settlement”.
In about May 1994, the deceased gave the plaintiff two cash payments of $5,000 each, and the plaintiff signed a document acknowledging that she had received the money as part of a property settlement. According to the plaintiff’s evidence, she needed this cash in order to buy a car. The deceased told the plaintiff that he had raised the funds by increasing the mortgage over the Kaleen property. The plaintiff gave evidence that, until that time, she had believed that the deceased had used the proceeds of her father’s inheritance that she had transferred to him in 1989 to discharge the mortgage on the Kaleen property.

Partial “property settlement” in early 1996

The plaintiff gave evidence that, by 1996, she was once again becoming concerned about her financial circumstances. She approached the deceased and told him that she really needed money. On 2 February 1996, the deceased gave the plaintiff two Westpac bank cheques for $15,000 each. One cheque was payable to the plaintiff and the other was payable to Esanda finance. The plaintiff signed a document acknowledging the receipt of $30,000 on 2 February 1996. The document stated:

“I Alessandra Siracusa acknowledge the receipt today of the sum of $30,000.00 (Thirty thousand dollars).
This amount was obtained by re-financing and increasing the mortgage on the property at 12 Callabonna St. Kaleen ACT 2617.
The total amount which I have received to date from re-financing of the above property is forty thousand dollars ($40,000). The other $10,000 was obtained in May 1994.
I agree to pay the monthly mortgage repayments on $40,000. Currently the monthly repayment is three hundred and forty four dollars ($344.00).
I understand and accept that this figure can fluctuate up or down depending on the prevailing interest rate at the time.”

According to the plaintiff’s evidence, the deceased required her to sign a further document in April 1996 concerning these payments totalling $40,000. On 9 April 1996, the plaintiff signed a document which stated:

“I Alessandra Hart acknowledge the receipt today of the sum of $40,000.00 (Forty thousand dollars) from Anthony Siracusa.
This amount is to be regarded as part property settlement pursuant to the Family Law Act.”

The evidence to which I have referred at [40]-[41] above indicates that the payments totalling $40,000 that the deceased made to the plaintiff in May 1994 and February 1996 were funded by the deceased borrowing those funds under a loan facility secured by mortgage against the Kaleen property that he owned jointly with the plaintiff and in which he continued to live following their separation and divorce whilst the plaintiff moved into government-funded housing where she paid rent from her social security allowance. By signing the first document referred to above in February 1996, the plaintiff had undertaken the liability (as between herself and the deceased) to repay that loan to the bank. Those terms are wholly inconsistent with the description of the payments totalling $40,000 as “part property settlement” ‘in the second document which the plaintiff signed at the deceased’s insistence on 9 April 1996.
It is clear from the plaintiff’s evidence in cross-examination that she understood at the time she signed the receipt that the deceased wanted it as a record that the money had been paid to her as part of a property settlement. It was put to the plaintiff that she expected at that time that she would receive further payments by way of property settlement. The plaintiff answered: “Not until I had something to buy”. The plaintiff was then asked whether it had been her custom to ask the deceased for money when she had something she wanted to buy. The plaintiff answered: “No. I wanted, I wanted a settlement so I could get rich. Not, not in little bits and pieces”.
It was put to the plaintiff in cross-examination that, at the time she signed the receipt in April 1996, she did not expect to be a substantial beneficiary under the deceased’s will. The plaintiff answered: “That’s right. He didn’t make it yet”. I understood the plaintiff to be referring to the will that the deceased showed her in March 2015, which he had not yet made in April 1996, [3] and to be accepting the proposition that by April 1996 she was no longer carrying any expectation or assumption concerning the will that the deceased had shown her in December 1992.
3. See [120] below.
In her affidavit affirmed on 10 May 2022, the plaintiff deposed that:

“It is very hard for me to explain why I did not go and see a lawyer about a property settlement at this time. I remember feeling deeply afraid of the Deceased, and I was certain if I challenged him about money, he would make sure I suffered. With my cheap rent at the Campbell Unit, I was getting by financially and at the time, it felt like the easier safer option was to just accept my situation. I had seen the Deceased’s 1992 Will and knew I would receive his money one day, so for the time being I decided to just wait. This decision continues to cause me immense regret.”

The plaintiff’s affidavit evidence that, in April 1996, she knew that she would receive the deceased’s money one day, having seen his will made in November 1992, and that she “decided to just wait”, is inconsistent with her evidence in cross-examination to which have referred at [36] and [45] above.

The deceased obtains legal advice about property settlement proposals in late 1996 and early 1997

The contemporaneous documentary evidence establishes that the deceased obtained legal advice in late 1996 about a property settlement proposal that would have involved the plaintiff transferring her interest in the Kaleen and Coorparoo properties in return for a monetary payment.
On 25 October 1996, Michael Eley of McGuinness Eley, Barristers and Solicitors, wrote to the deceased in the following terms:

“When you attended at my office on 22 October, 1996, I told you that I would investigate ways of possibly avoiding the payment of stamp duty on the transfer of the properties, given that you were out of time to make a property application to the Family Court and special leave would need to be granted.
I have checked the legal position more closely and can now advise that an application can be made to the Family Court by consent of both of you for the court to grant leave for the property issues to be further considered, even though you are out of time. Leave, if sought by consent, should be granted, thereby allowing the Court to make orders which will exempt the transaction from stamp duty. After you have spoken to your former wife about the details of the proposal you might like to contact me if you wish me to proceed, we can arrange for appropriate documentation.”

Mr Eley wrote two letters to the deceased on 10 December 1996. The first letter confirmed advice given to the deceased during recent discussions in relation to property settlement issues arising between the deceased and the plaintiff. Mr Eley advised that, notwithstanding that their divorce had become absolute on 14 December 1992, the deceased and the plaintiff could apply to the Court by consent for leave to apply for property settlement orders. After referring to the deceased’s instructions concerning the parties’ financial contributions to the marital asset pool, the Kaleen and Coorparoo properties owned by the plaintiff and the deceased at the time of their separation, the debts secured by mortgages against those properties, the $26,000 paid to the plaintiff by the deceased as a “cash advance by way of initial interim property settlement”, and the $40,000 lent by the deceased to the plaintiff, Mr Eley advised that the deceased would have a reasonable claim to between 50 and 60 per cent of the existing equity in the property, resulting in a net payout to the plaintiff of between $24,000 and $46,500, depending on how the Family Court were to treat the $26,000 cash advance and the $40,000 loan.
I note that the description of the $40,000 payments as a loan is consistent with the evidence of the substance of those transactions which I have referred to above.
There is no evidence in these proceedings of any “cash advance” of $26,000 made by the deceased to the plaintiff as referred to in Mr Eley’s first 10 December 1996 letter, other than that letter itself.
Mr Eley’s second letter to the deceased on 10 December 1996 stated:

“Enclosed is a separate letter which sets out our advice confirming what was discussed when you attended this Office on 9 December 1996. This additional letter is for you. You indicated that you might show the other to your former wife.
However, it should be made clear to you that the advice in the other letter focuses at the end of the range which is most favourable to you by way of property distribution.
Taking into account your superannuation entitlements in particular, and the fact that your ex-wife is not working and reliant upon Social Security benefits, there is a significant ‘future needs’ component which she would be able to claim, given your extreme level of future financial security and her extreme lack of this.
If the matter were contested you should be aware that the actual range a Court might consider would include at the top of the range the possibility of her receiving, say 60% of 65% of the existing property, given your superannuation entitlements, the bulk of which were contributed during the marriage, are so substantial.
To use perhaps the worst case for you, if she were to be awarded 65% of the equity in the property and if a ‘discounting’ factor were applied to the preliminary advances she has already received by way of the loan and the cash payment from you, it is conceivable that she could perhaps be entitled to receive, say, $90,000.00 or twice what you are offering her.
A complicating factor which I did not stress with you at this time although I may have raised it on the last occasion is that if you file an Application for Consent Orders and if your ex-wife is not legally represented then a full disclosure of assets and liabilities has to be made to the Court. As leave is being sought for a late Application, a Judge rather than a Registrar is likely to review the Consent Orders before they are made and it is possible that further information may be required to overcome the impression that an unequal distribution in your favour is resulting.
If on the other hand your ex-wife elects to receive legal advice which strictly speaking, she should do, a dispute could arise resulting in the need for a negotiated settlement more in her favour than you currently believe is just.
I am purposely emphasising the other extreme of the possible range of outcomes in this letter, because it is important that you recognise that these outcomes are a possibility. Once we file an Application for Consent Orders, or once your ex-wife seeks legal advice, you may be committed, whether you like it or not, to a process which might well result in an outcome you had not intended at the outset.
Therefore I include in this letter of advice to you one additional option which you might like to consider. On the basis of the attached letter you might like to talk to your ex-wife about obtaining her agreement to two simple property transfers where in each case she transfers her interest in the Kaleen and Coorparoo properties to you for payment of an agreed amount. In this event you would have to pay stamp duty on each transfer, but in the long run this might work out to be the most economical option for you. As a guide, stamp duty on the transfer for your ex-wife’s share of the Kaleen property, if the property were valued at $200,000.00 would be approximately $2,000.00. Assuming ACT stamp duty and Queensland stamp duty are similar, the duty on her share of the Coorparoo property would be about $1,650.00.
Straight transfers of the type just described, without property Orders, would leave you in the same position you presently are, but with an agreed settlement, a payout to your ex-wife, and the title to both properties in your name.”

In cross-examination, the plaintiff gave evidence that she was aware that the deceased was seeking legal advice about a proposed property settlement in 1996, and that she had kept writing to him about a property settlement throughout 1996. However, the plaintiff did not recall the deceased offering to pay her some money in exchange for a transfer of her interest in the Kaleen and Coorparoo properties.
On 22 May 1997, the plaintiff signed a transfer of the Coorparoo property from herself and the deceased (as transferors) to the deceased (as transferee). The consideration recorded on the transfer form is: “Pursuant to property settlement following divorce”. The plaintiff’s signature was witnessed by a justice of the peace. The transfer was never registered.
When asked in cross-examination about signing that transfer form, the plaintiff accepted that it bears her signature but said that she had no recollection of having signed it, and that she always did whatever the deceased asked her to do and she never read documents that he asked her to sign. The fact that the plaintiff’s signature on the transfer was witnessed by a justice of the peace did not assist her to recall anything about signing it, or about the circumstances in which she did so. When asked again whether there was a proposal or some negotiations at this time about a property settlement involving the plaintiff transferring her interest in the Coorparoo and Kaleen properties to the deceased in consideration for a payment, the plaintiff said “No. I, I, I really don’t know anything about that”, and “It was never spelt out to me like that. I signed these … there was so many documents that I never got and I didn’t even understand them”. The plaintiff was unable to offer any explanation for why she had signed the transfer at the time, if not in connection with a potential property settlement. The plaintiff then gave the following evidence:

“Q.   At the time you signed this document you had no expectation that you would be a substantial beneficiary of Anthony's Will, did you?
A.    I was still hoping that the 1992 Will was valid.
Q.    Ms Hart, at the time you were negotiating with Anthony as to the price he would pay you for your interest in the Coorparoo property?
A.    Can you rephrase that please?
Q.    Ms Hart, at the time you signed this document, you were negotiating with Anthony as to the price he would pay you for your interest in the Queensland property?
A.    No. We never did that conversation. Not that I know. I mean, I remember quite a lot. But I don't remember discussing what you just said.
Q.    You were discussing with Anthony separation of your property interests?
A.    No. I don't remember that.”

A short time later in the cross-examination, the plaintiff qualified her evidence referred to immediately above that she was hoping in May 1997 that the deceased’s 1992 will was valid, by acknowledging that she did not regard the deceased as being bound at that time to make and leave unrevoked a will naming her as a substantial beneficiary. That is broadly consistent with the plaintiff’s evidence given in cross-examination earlier that same morning that she had no expectation in April 1996 that she would be a substantial beneficiary under the deceased’s will. [4]
4. See [45] above.

Sale of the Coorparoo property in July 1998

In July 1998, the plaintiff and the deceased sold the Coorparoo property for $188,500. In her affidavit affirmed on 8 September 2021, the plaintiff deposed that the sale produced surplus funds of $140,000, of which the deceased paid her only $10,800. The plaintiff had agreed to sell the property on the understanding that she would receive 50% of the net sale proceeds. She asked the deceased: “Where is the rest of it?”. The deceased replied: “Don’t worry, you’ll get the rest later”. The plaintiff deposed that the deceased refused to give her any more money out of the net sale proceeds. The plaintiff gave inconsistent evidence about the sale of the Coorparoo property in her affidavit affirmed on 10 May 2022. In that affidavit, the plaintiff deposed that the net sale proceeds were approximately $150,000, and that the deceased had retained the whole of those moneys. As will become apparent below, the contemporaneous documentary evidence records that the deceased did in fact pay the plaintiff the sum of $10,800 out of the net sale proceeds of Coorparoo, but not until November 1998.
In about mid-August 1998, the deceased sent the plaintiff a list of expenses that he claimed to have incurred on their Kaleen home during the period between October 1990 and March 1998. The expenses, which totalled $14,816.50 included amounts for the deceased’s labour. The deceased asserted that the plaintiff was indebted to him for those claimed expenses, or to pay some contribution towards them. In cross-examination, the plaintiff gave evidence that she refused to pay any part of this claimed amount to the deceased.
On 28 August 1998, the plaintiff wrote to the deceased in the following terms:

“Dear Tony,
It has been a few months now since the settlement of Cooperoo has taken place.
I am amazed that during this time you have ignored the fact that I was waiting for that money before you went away in July. I have kept a low profile watching what your intentions were going to be.
I have now decided that it is time to speak to you, and since facing your negative energy face to face is harder for me, I choose to write.
The situation has come to the point that asking you for a cheque for the full amount less the $2,000 that you gave me the other day is urgent.
I am interested in buying a house in the next two weeks and that money is the only money that will help me.
Being without a place that I can call my own has gone past the tolerance stage.
I am sure you will have no problems nor objections in forwarding that money on to me now.
The letter with the different amounts that you say I owe you has nothing to do with the settlement of Cooperoo. That money needs to stay as $75,000.00 less $2,000 and nothing else.
I have the right to live a more comfortable life than I have lived in the past.
I wait to receive the money that is rightfully mine soon.”

The plaintiff accepted in cross-examination that she had no continuing expectation at the time she wrote this letter that she would be a substantial beneficiary of her former husband’s estate after his death.
As I have already mentioned, the deceased paid the plaintiff the sum of $10,800 on 11 November 1998. According to the plaintiff’s evidence, $6,000 of this sum was paid to her in cash, and the remaining $4,800 was put towards an investment that the deceased managed on behalf of the plaintiff. The plaintiff signed a receipt for the total sum of $10,800. The receipt stated that “[t]his represents part only of my share of the proceeds of sale for 375 Chatswood Rd, Coorparoo Brisbane, a property which was jointly owned by us”.
As I have referred to above, the plaintiff’s evidence inconsistently quantifies the surplus funds from the sale of the Coorparoo property as $140,000 and $150,000. There is no contemporaneous documentary evidence of the amount of the surplus. The only documentary evidence that casts some light on this is the receipt signed by the plaintiff on 11 November 1998 which describes the $10,800 payment there acknowledged as representing only part of her share of the surplus.

Failed attempts to negotiate a final property settlement through solicitors in 1999

The plaintiff gave evidence that, by early 1999, she believed that the deceased did not intend to pay her half share of the net sale proceeds of Coorparoo to her. She told the deceased: “I’ve had enough. This has gone on too long. I am going to go and see a lawyer”. According to the plaintiff’s evidence, the deceased replied: “Do that and I will make sure you lose everything you have”. The plaintiff nevertheless sought legal advice from Ms Barbara Campbell of Meyer Clapham Lawyers, about commencing property settlement proceedings against the deceased.
In her affidavit affirmed on 10 May 2022, the plaintiff deposed that she had many conversations with Ms Campbell regarding the value to the plaintiff of a potential property settlement, and that she can “clearly remember” Ms Campbell telling her words to the following effect:

“Taking into consideration all of the contributions you made to the marriage, the money you should have received from Tony in rent for the Kaleen property over the last seven years, his Commonwealth superannuation, his employment termination payout, the monty he inherited from his mother, your rightful share of the sale of the QLD property, your father’s inheritance that he retained, we are of the view that if this went to court, you would be given a settlement in the range of $500,000.”

No such advice or contention concerning the likely quantum of a property settlement appears in any of the contemporaneous correspondence tendered in evidence between Ms Campbell and the plaintiff, or between Meyer Clapham and the solicitors acting for the deceased. Nor did the plaintiff mention in her first affidavit affirmed on 8 September 2021 any advice received from her solicitor to the effect that she would likely be awarded a property settlement in the range of $500,000.
Ms Campbell wrote to the plaintiff on 19 March 1999 in the following terms:

“The most immediate action that must be taken in regard to your matter is to obtain leave of the Court to open property proceedings between you and your husband. Given that your jointly owned investment unit in Queensland has been sold and that money is now available for distribution it is also essential that we seek an Order from the Court restraining Mr Siracusa from disposing of that money.
From the instructions that you have given me, it appears that you have a case for a valid application to apply for property proceedings notwithstanding the fact that you have done nothing since your Divorce in 1992 and that you are out of time. The Court rules require that you must obtain leave of the Court if 12 months has elapsed since the date of your divorce.
We note that you are going you try and obtain a market appraisal of the value of what was the matrimonial home at 12 Callabonna Street Kaleen and that you will not make any financial agreements with Mr Siracusa without speaking to me. We also note that there has been re-structuring of the mortgage attached to the matrimonial home and that you have partially benefited from receiving some of that money.
In your case it is essential to be able to tell the Court what the value of the property was at the date of separation and in this regard we will need you to think hard and provide a list of all the property you and Anthony owned when you separated.
We note that time prevented us giving you more detailed advice and this letter is to confirm and expand on the legal advice. We can-not emphasise how important it is for you to continue to take advice from a lawyer and to allow us to be of assistance in obtaining what would be a most proper property settlement. From your instructions it appears that Mr Siracusa has been most improper in retaining not only the matrimonial assets but also a very large contribution made by you at the very end of your marriage.
…
We note that you say you have experienced psychological pressure put on you by your husband and that he threatened to leave “you with nothing should you see a lawyer”. We reiterate our advice that, should you feel threatened in any way by Mr Siracusa you attend the Canberra Magistrates Court. There a Legal Aid Officer will take you through the steps that will enable you to obtain an Interim Protection Order thus preventing Mr Siracusa contacting or threatening you.
And it appears that the fear you have and which prevented you obtaining a property settlement within the appropriate time may be linked to your medical condition, we would be grateful for the names and details of your doctor so that we can obtain a report. This will greatly assist the Court in giving you the leave to make an Application for property distribution as your circumstances are, in our view, most unusual.”

In cross-examination, the plaintiff gave evidence that she received the letter referred to above after attending a conference with Ms Campbell. During that conference, Ms Campbell had asked her why she had not sought a property settlement with the deceased at about the time of their separation and divorce in 1992. The plaintiff gave evidence that she told Ms Campbell that the deceased had told her that she would be left with nothing if she consulted a solicitor. The plaintiff did not recall telling Ms Campbell anything about a medical condition, and gave evidence that she did not know what medical condition Ms Campbell was referring to in her letter dated 19 March 1999.
Ms Campbell wrote to the deceased on behalf of the plaintiff on 24 March 1999:

“We advise that we act for your wife Ms Sandra Hart who has sought our advice in relation to finalising the division of matrimonial property between yourselves pursuant to the Family Law Act 1975.
Our client has instructed us that you were married on 7 December 1968 and that you separated in 14 February 1989. We further instructed that the Dissolution of your marriage occurred in 1992 and that there are 3 children of the marriage, Brendan, Anna and Mark aged 27, 24 and 21 respectively.
We are further instructed that in 1989 our client travelled to Italy for her father’s funeral and that as you were caring for the children at that time, she sent over $112,000 to pay off the mortgage and assist in the care of the children. This money was left to her from her late father’s estate.
Ms Hart, instructs us that matrimonial property at separation consisted of:
The matrimonial home at Kaleen in which you still live. A market appraisal is currently being obtained but we note that its value at separation was $230,000.00.
At separation there was a $94,000 mortgage attached to this property despite the fact that our client sent the above-mentioned money from Italy to enable you to discharge this mortgage. We are instructed however, you have now re-financed and taken a larger mortgage, part of which our client is repaying as a portion of the money was used for the purchase of her car.
A Motor vehicle retained by you.
A jointly owned Investment property located at Queensland, which has now been sold by agreement. We are instructed that you retained the $150,000 net proceeds from the sale of this unit.
Superannuation and termination payouts which have vested and are currently in your possession.
Money in bank accounts – amount unclear.

Our client is aware that because of the length of time since the dissolution of your marriage, leave of the Family Court will be required for a property application. It is our view that, given our client’s financial situation, and other relevant factors, that leave would be granted.
It is our view that our client would be entitled to a substantial proportion – if not 50% of the superannuation acquired during the marriage; at least 50% of the value of joint matrimonial property, and a return to her of most of the financial contribution she made at the end of the marriage from her late father’s Estate. Prior to making this a formal proposal we would require full frank disclosure of your financial assets and resources.
We have been provided with a spreadsheet of items and monies you claim have been paid to our client since separation. Our instructions indicate that many of these items would be regarded as having been paid out of joint matrimonial monies and that other items would not be relevant. In any event the reduced amount may well be regarded as legitimate spousal maintenance to which our client would have been entitled had she made an application. Accordingly, such transference of monies may not be regarded as property disposition. Our client has been advised of her rights in regard to an application for spousal maintenance.
We strongly suggest that you seek independent legal advice.
We have been instructed that you have already bought a new car with the proceeds of your termination payout and intend buying a caravan and travelling. Accordingly we request that you provide a written undertaking within 10 days of receipt of this letter indicating that you will not dispose of, or transfer:
any assets, monies held in your name – either solely or jointly with another person or entity; or
monies obtained as a result of a superannuation pay-out or termination pay;
nor direct that the trustee of any relevant superannuation board pay monies to you or other nominated beneficiary either by way of pension or lump sum.

Naturally day to day living expenses are excluded from this undertaking.
Should we not receive the above undertaking we are instructed to make an urgent application to the Family Court for an injunction restraining you from disposing of matrimonial assets. An application for interim Spousal Maintenance is also envisaged.
We have been instructed that you have threatened our client to such an extent that she felt unable and was too afraid to seek legal advice prior to this date. We have advised our client of her rights under the Domestic Violence Act of the Australian Capital Territory in this regard and are requested to ask that you do not communicate with our client directly.
Notwithstanding our client’s concerns at the position in which she currently finds herself, Ms Hart is keen to settle the disposition of matrimonial property expeditiously and amicably. To this end Consent Orders can be drawn up and filed in the Family Court without the need for the other party to attend.”

The deceased appears to have consulted new solicitors at about this time. On 3 June 1999, Mr David Ridge of Barker & Barker, solicitors, wrote to Meyer Clapham advising that he was acting for the deceased. The letter stated:

“Our client has provided us with much detail regarding property matters but there are further matters in respect of which we will need to take instructions. It is apparent to us that the financial dealings of these parties have been reasonably complicated. Further, it would seem that the instructions you have received in relation to the financial dealings of the parties are considerably at odds with the instructions we have received. That applies particularly in relation to the Queensland property. Our instructions are that your client has already been paid or received the benefit of $60,000.00 following the sale of that property. Our instructions are further that your client has expressed to our client no dissatisfaction as to the manner in which the sale proceeds have been dealt with to date.
We will not be in a position to respond in detail in resect of property settlement until our client has provided us with further documentation and instructions.
We note that this matter can only proceed with leave of the Court and you are of the view that such leave will be granted. Our instructions indicate that there has already been significant property settlement as between these parties. We note the parties separated in 1988 and that the Decree Absolute was dated December 1992. Our preliminary view is that there is no guarantee that the Court would indeed grant leave to pursue property settlement in view of the significant adjustment of property which has occurred between the parties to date and further in view of it appearing that the parties no longer jointly own any property. In relation to the Kaleen home we are instructed that the parties are tenants in common. Your client would have remedies other than pursuant to the Family Law Act in relation to that property and it may be that in any event agreement can be reached between the parties in relation to that discreet asset.
In all of the circumstances we have discussed with our client the options for dealing with this matter. Our client is not inclined to incur significant legal expense entering into settlement discussions in the absence of there being Court proceedings on foot, and indeed without there being leave of the Court for any such proceedings to ever occur. We are therefore instructed to advise that if your client is intent on pursuing this matter, she should file all necessary applications. Only once we have seen any application for leave to proceed will our client be in a position to indicate whether he will consent to leave being granted or oppose that application.”

There is no documentary evidence of the deceased paying to the plaintiff an amount of $60,000 following the sale of the Coorparoo property, as asserted in the letter immediately above. In cross-examination, the plaintiff said that, when she read that letter after the deceased’s death, she could not understand where the writer had got the $60,000 from. It was put to the plaintiff in cross-examination that she had in fact been paid a total amount of $59,600, comprising the payment of $8,800 in 1992, [5] the two cash payments totalling $10,000 in May 1994, [6] the two payments totalling $30,000 in February 1996, [7] and the payment of $10,800 in November 1998. [8] However, that mathematical exercise is incapable of accounting for the assertion that the plaintiff had received approximately $60,000 from the sale of the Coorparoo property. With the exception of the $10,800 payment in November 1998, all of the payments identified by the cross-examiner occurred prior to the sale of Coorparoo in July 1998. The deceased was meticulous in documenting any payment to the plaintiff that he wished to treat as being by way of partial property settlement. The deceased did not create any such document in relation to the $8,800 payment made in 1992. As I have already mentioned, the first document created by the deceased in relation to the May 1994 payments totalling $10,000 and the February 1996 payments totalling $30,000 indicate that these payments were loans that the deceased had facilitated by increasing the loan secured against their jointly owned Kaleen property, which the deceased regarded the plaintiff as obliged to repay. The plaintiff has given evidence that she was in fact making those repayments. The document created by the deceased for the plaintiff to sign in respect of the November 1998 payment of $10,800 referred to this sum as part only of the plaintiff’s share of the Coorparoo net sale proceeds.
5. See [27] above.
6. See [40] above.
7. See [41] above.
8. See [58] and [62] above.
On 4 June 1999, Mr Ridge wrote to the deceased requesting all documentation concerning movements of money, mortgages over the Kaleen property, and the deceased’s superannuation and termination payments. Referring to his letter to Meyer Clapham dated 3 June 1999, Mr Ridge stated:

“Our view is that it is unlikely that we will ultimately be able to restrict our discussions to simply dealing with the Kaleen property, however there is tactical advantage in lowering your former wife’s expectations before any serious negotiations towards a property settlement take place.”

Meyer Clapham wrote to Barker & Barker on 9 June 1999 reiterating their request for a written undertaking from the deceased that he would not dispose of any assets in his possession. The letter stated that court documents would be filed and served in the near future.

Meyer Clapham wrote to the plaintiff on 10 June 1999 enclosing a letter received from Barker & Barker. I infer that the letter referred to was Barker & Barker’s letter dated 3 June 1999. Meyer Clapham’s letter to the plaintiff stated:

“It is obvious from the reading of this letter and further discussions with David Ridge, that Mr Ridge is not entirely convinced of the truth of the instructions he is receiving from his client.
Moreover, he quite rightly suggested the very thing Mr Siracusa is afraid of – that is going to court.
We further confirm Mr Ridge’s view that little can be gained except unnecessary legal costs by to’ing and fro’ing with negotiations. In this regard we advise that you file an application to the Family Court forthwith so that a timetable can be put in place and the matter finished as quickly as possible. Very often as explained before, these matters will settle at a conciliation conference which is set down by the Court and held before a Registrar.
It is highly unlikely that Mr Siracusa will carry out any of the threats you fear and in fact he is now on notice that he is to conduct himself properly and that this matter will proceed in an orderly fashion.
Would you therefore please complete your Form 17 and bring it into the office as soon as possible. We request that you make an appointment by the end of the week or early next week so that we can finalise Court documents.
We further confirm that we have asked Mr Ridge for a written undertaking that Mr Siracusa will not dispose of any assets currently in his possession.”

Barker & Barker wrote to Meyer Clapham on 16 June 1999 advising that their client declined to provide the requested undertaking on the basis that it appeared to them to be unnecessarily broad. No alternative undertaking was offered. The letter stated:

“As we have previously indicated, we are instructed there has already been significant property settlement as between the parties. In those circumstances, if your request is for an undertaking that our client will freeze all of his financial circumstances pending property settlement, then your request would seem to be unreasonable, As previously noted, the Kaleen property is held by the parties as tenants in common. Our client is not able to dispose of that property without your client’s co-operation as he could not give clear title to any purchaser even if someone willing to buy his interest was able to be found.
We further note that at present there are no proceedings on foot, leave is required to bring any proceeding and if proceedings are not resolved by agreement it is likely to be a further two years before the matters come for hearing and a judgment in the matter could be delayed further beyond any hearing. Our client is not in a position to agree to a total freeze on all of his assets in those circumstances.
We suggest that you submit to us the specific wording of any undertaking you. In drafting such an undertaking you will need to take into account the issues we have raised in this letter. We look forward to hearing from you in that regard.”

At some stage between 16 June and 13 July 1999, the plaintiff wrote to the deceased in the following terms:

“To Tony Siracusa,
I have been to the solicitor after you sent the letter from your solicitor.
She has suggested to file the papers for a court hearing. I agree with her. Before this happens on the 13th of July I want to express my view once in private to you.
The law has given women the right to have settlement with no blame attached to it.
The law has given me the right to have maintenance while the settlement is being processed, whether I have or not have children in my custody.
The law also suggests and takes into account the 23 years that we were married and it gives me the right to 50% of your supper [sic] for that period of time.
The law takes into account any contributions I have made on top of the family support, cleaning, cooking and looking after children that I have done.
The contribution of money and work goes in my favour.
What happens within a marriage while married the court is not interested.
What you spent the court is not interested. Had I been sick and you spent $1,000.000 one million dollars while I was your wife the court is not interested. I still get half of your property, money, super, plus maintenance to me not the kids.
I want to point out that this is the law. You want to play poor little me, go ahead. You want to be a man and settle according to the law, fine.
I am not asking for the complete amount that the court would give me. I am asking you to look within yourself and give me a figure that is fair keeping in mind all of the above rights that the Australian law has given women since the turn of the century.
Women have been treated by men as an inferior species for to long. I also want to join the rights that some brave person has installed for all other women.
Waiting to hear from you before the 13^th of July 1999.”

On 2 August 1999, the plaintiff wrote to Ms Campbell at Meyer Clapham in the following terms:

“I have read your letter and was extremely impressed with it. It made me feel good and happy that one part of the situation has been clarified.
I understand the situation about applying to the Court for leave pursuant to Section 44 (3) of the Family Law Act.
I know that by delaying the situation I am absolutely hurting myself and making the matter worse.
I thank you for being patient. I believe in you and know you are a wonderful solicitor. It is my internal gut feeling that is so afraid. To be afraid is not healthy. Deep down I would like to strip him of what is mine.
It is like with my father I wanted to take our love away from him and go somewhere else where mum and I could find peace, happiness and joy. Yet when I was away from where I could see him I became very ill and my mum had to return to live with her drunken husband that constantly beat me black.
The fear while we were away was to great. It was easier to face what I knew than the unknown.
I appreciate you giving me more time to handle this situation within myself. I am quite shore [sic] that within the next few weeks I will be ready to do something positive about it, until then please put the file on hold.
Thank you once more for your patience and kindness.
Love
A.Hart.”

As the defendant submitted, the plaintiff gave two inconsistent explanations for instructing her solicitor to “put the file on hold” at this time.
In her affidavit affirmed on 8 September 2021, the plaintiff deposed that:

“Despite my solicitor’s advice that I had a strong case for a substantial property settlement with the Deceased, I subsequently withdrew from the negotiations. I did so as a result of my reliance on the Deceased’s promise that I would receive everything when he died.”

As counsel for the defendant put to the plaintiff in cross-examination, the contemporaneous correspondence is devoid of any reference to any alleged promise by the deceased to leave all or any part of his estate to the plaintiff in his will. No such promise is mentioned in the plaintiff’s letter to the deceased in late June or early July 1999, in the contemporaneous correspondence between Ms Campbell and the plaintiff, or in the correspondence between Meyer Clapham and the deceased’s solicitors. In cross-examination, the plaintiff agreed that she did not expect to receive a significant part of her former husband’s estate after his death at the time that she was instructing Ms Campbell in 1999.
In her affidavit affirmed on 10 May 2022, the plaintiff deposed that:

“Between March and August of 1999, the Deceased became increasingly furious with me, and started acting more violently towards me. He was not physically violent at that stage, but he was very threatening. On several occasions, he would turn up at the Campbell Unit and force his way inside, or he would harass me via telephone. On these occasions, he would say things to me to the following effect:
‘I received another letter from your bitch lawyer. I am not going to give her any of the information she has asked for. This is going nowhere. Stop it now, and you can still save yourself. If you don’t, I am going to shoot you. Do you need me to show you my guns and remind you?’

Although I cannot remember exactly what words he used, I know that during one of these threatening conversations, he suggested that he was going to hurt my lawyer if I did not pull out.
I remember this period as the most terrifying time of my life. Throughout the period I had engaged a lawyer, I genuinely feared for my life. I remember feeling as though at any moment, my life could end, I was deeply conflicted about what was the right way forward. I remember thinking over and over again, ‘Please God, let me do the right thing’.
My solicitor was encouraging me to seek a restraining order against the Deceased. …
I did not believe the assurances from my lawyer that I would be protected by a restraining order against the Deceased. I believed, and continue to believe, that if I had applied for a restraining order against the Deceased, I would have only angered him more and placed myself in even more danger.
After several months of genuine terror, I ultimately decided that my life was worth more than whatever money I could get from the property settlement.
Consequently, on 2 August 1999 I wrote to my lawyer advising them to ‘put my file on hold’. …”

The plaintiff’s evidence of the deceased’s threats of violence was not challenged in cross-examination.

Sale of the Kaleen property and the plaintiff’s purchase of the Michelago farm in 2000

In her affidavit affirmed on 10 May 2022, the plaintiff gave evidence that, after discovering a beautiful farm at Michelago that she wanted to purchase in late 1999, she told the deceased that “we need to sell Kaleen. I have found my dream home and I need the money to buy it. I let go of the property settlement for you. Your now need to do this for me”. The plaintiff deposed that the deceased replied: “Okay, we’ll do it”. The plaintiff then deposed that:

“Later in 1999, the Kaleen Property was sold for a net profit of $290,000. Despite the property being in both of our names as tenants in common, the total of the net proceeds from the sale of the Kaleen Property were paid directly into the Deceased’s personal bank account. Around this time, I remember having a conversation with the Deceased to the following effect:
Me: ‘You know how much the lawyers said you owe me. All I am asking for is enough to buy my farm. I need the money from this sale, the money from my father’s loan inheritance, and my share of the sale of the Qld property.’
The Deceased: ‘You’ll get what you get.’

I attempted to continue this conversation many times over the next few months, however the Deceased would always change the subject and refuse to discuss it further.”

In her affidavit affirmed on 10 May 2022, the plaintiff deposed that she wrote to the deceased on 20 June 2000 in the terms set out below because the deceased had still not paid her any of the proceeds of the sale of the Kaleen property. The plaintiff described her 20 June 2000 letter to the deceased as “begging him to agree to a property settlement and provide me with my share of the assets”.
As will become apparent below, the plaintiff’s evidence about the timing of the sale of the Kaleen property, and the net proceeds of that sale, is inconsistent with the contemporaneous documentary evidence which establishes that the property was sold for $235,500 pursuant to a contract for sale dated 1 September 2000 which was completed on 11 October 2000. The total sale price was less than the amount of the “net profit” which the plaintiff asserted in her 10 May 2022 affidavit that the deceased retained from selling the Kaleen property. The deceased’s failure to pay the plaintiff’s share of the net proceeds to her following completion of the sale cannot have been the cause of the plaintiff writing to the deceased some three months earlier on 20 June 2000 in the terms set out below.
When the discrepancy between the plaintiff’s affidavit evidence about the sale of the Kaleen property, and the contemporaneous documentary evidence, was put to her in cross-examination, the plaintiff gave the following evidence:

“Q.    This document suggests the sale price of the Kaleen property was $235000, do you agree?
A.    Well we sold it for more than that.
Q.    Ms Hart, this transfer document records that the sale price was $235,500?
A.    Yes I can see that.
Q.    Do you recall giving evidence in your affidavit that the nett [sic] surplus from the sale was $290,000?
A.    That's right.
Q.    Do you agree, having been shown a copy of the transfer which records the consideration of $235,500 that your evidence about the nett [sic] surplus being $290000 is wrong?
A.    Okay, it could be. Where is the date that this was done?
Q.    On page 9 down the bottom there is a date of 20 October 2000?
A.    Yes, sorry.
Q.    From the sale price there would have been agent's commission?
A.    Yes there was agent's commission.
Q.    Solicitor or conveyancer's costs?
A.    To sell the Kaleen house?
Q.    Yes?
A.    Surveillance costs.
Q.    I am sorry. Solicitor or conveyancer's costs?
A.    Okay.
Q.    And if there was a debt that remained secured by mortgage over that property the balance of the DEBT would need to be paid from the sale price before you could come to a calculation of the surplus?
A.    Yes I understand that.
Q.    It is quite possible that after deduction of those things that I have just made reference to, the surplus was not $290000 but $200,000, do you agree?
A.    Yes, I don't know, I didn't see it.
Q.    That was what Tony told you the surplus was, wasn't it?
A.    No, I didn't hear it from Tony telling me that.
Q.    Tony's position communicated to you was that from the proceeds of sale of the Kaleen property you were entitled to $100000?
A.    Yes that is what he brought to the farm when I had to buy it, yes.”

It appears from the plaintiff’s ultimate acknowledgement that she did not know what the surplus of the Kaleen sale was because “I didn’t see it” and “I didn’t hear it from Tony”, that the plaintiff’s evidence in her 10 May 2022 affidavit that the Kaleen property was “sold for a net profit of $290,000” was mere guesswork. That guesswork has been shown by the contemporaneous documents to be wrong.
The letter that the plaintiff wrote to the deceased on 20 June 2000 was in the following terms:

“Dear Tony,
To day, after having spoken to you on the phone I decided to write you this small note. With the intention of making it perfectly clear that it is not the HOW we settle, but SETTLING, the most important and vital issue towards my near future, right now.
Closing the door to the past has become important to my health. What we will do in the future with our lives, is irrelevant, to what we did or did not do in the past.
My intention is for the past to be completed and finished, in a loving and adult way, keeping in mind the figure that I have asked.
I can imagine how you are feeling believe me I will feel much better as well once this situation is finalised.
I know that the two of us can achieve this goal once we put our two minds together and get this job done now.”

In cross-examination, the plaintiff gave the following evidence about whether she expected at the time she wrote that letter in June 2000 that she would be a substantial beneficiary under the deceased’s will (emphasis added):

“Q.   At the time you wrote this letter to Tony you had no expectation of being a substantial beneficiary of his estate, did you?
A.   I still did.
Q.   You did not at the time you sent this letter to Tony believe that Tony was bound by contract to leave a will making you a substantial beneficiary did you?
A.   I still did if he wasn’t going to settle.
Q.   Ms Hart as I understand your evidence from 1992 the proposed arrangement from you and Tony was that if you did not seek a property settlement he would make a will in those terms?
A.   Yes.
Q.   I have taken you to documents this morning and parts of your affidavit which demonstrate that over the subsequent years you sought a property settlement from him on many occasions?
A.   Yes.
Q.   And on some of those occasions he paid money to you?
A.   Yes he did.
Q.   And so by June 2000 you didn’t regard yourself being bound by an agreement not to seek a property settlement?
A.   I can’t understand the question?
Q.   You did not regard yourself bound by an agreement with Tony that you would not seek a property settlement?
A.   To me when he came with the cheque of $1,000 I thought he was going to bring me the whole settlement money which was $200,000.
Q.   Which period of time are you referring to?
A.   2000, when we bought the Michelago farm.
Q.   At the time you wrote this letter in June 2000 to Tony you weren’t even thinking about receiving an inheritance from him were you?
A.   That is correct and I would have liked my settlement.”

It is not clear from the evidence what the plaintiff was referring to in her non-responsive answer when she mentioned the deceased bringing her a cheque for $1,000 at a time when the plaintiff asserts that “the whole settlement money” was $200,000. There is no evidence that the plaintiff and the deceased had discussed a property settlement involving a lump sum payment to the plaintiff of $200,000 in or about 2000.
Contemporaneous documentary evidence establishes that the plaintiff and the deceased entered into a contract on 1 September 2000 for the sale of the Kaleen property for $235,500. The contract was completed on 11 October 2000.
The plaintiff paid a deposit of $40,000 for the Michelago farm on exchanging contracts in October 2000. The plaintiff gave evidence that she had saved those funds for the deposit from money that the deceased had previously paid to her. Settlement was due in December 2000. In her affidavit affirmed on 10 May 2022, the plaintiff deposed that she wrote to the deceased on several occasions over the settlement period for the Michelago farm “demanding the Deceased transfer the outstanding settlement sum by way of a property settlement”. No such correspondence was tendered in evidence. The plaintiff did not specify what she believed at that time to be the amount of the “outstanding settlement sum”. However, it appears from the following further evidence given by the plaintiff in her 10 May 2022 affidavit that she expected the deceased to pay her by way of property settlement an amount equivalent to the whole of the sum of approximately $399,000 that the plaintiff required in order to settle her purchase of the Michelago farm:

“On 12 December 2000, the Deceased arranged to meet me on the highway near the Michelago Farm to give me the money. When I met him, he handed me a cheque for only $149,000, which was $250,000 less than what he knew I needed for the farm. He told me words to the effect of:
‘Of this money, $100,000 is yours to keep from the sale of Kaleen. The other $49,000 is a loan that you will need to pay back to me, with interest, in two years’ time.’

After receiving the cheque, I became furious and told the Deceased words to the effect of:
‘This is not nearly enough for a property settlement. It doesn’t even cover my father’s inheritance money. It doesn’t leave me enough to buy this farm, which was the whole point of selling Kaleen!’

The Deceased responded with words to the effect of:
‘It’s up to you. Take it or leave it.’

Despite my anger, I accepted the cheque because otherwise I would have nothing. I signed the receipt for the loan of $49,000 …”

The receipt signed by the plaintiff was in the following terms:

“I Alessandra Molaro (nee Siracusa, nee Hart) acknowledge the receipt of $49,000 (forty nine thousand dollars) from Anthony Siracusa as an interest free loan for a period of up to 2 years commencing on 13 December 2000.
This money was paid by way of ANZ Bank cheque no. 639750 012 951 9501020 made out to ‘Willandra Property’ and I will use the money to purchase the property ‘Willandra’ situated at Lot 238 DP 750549 Monaro Highway Michelago NSW.

I have found that the sums paid to the plaintiff by the deceased did not even equate to half of the net sale proceeds of their jointly owned assets because the evidence establishes that the payments made by the deceased to the plaintiff following their separation were limited to: (1) a sum of $8,800 that he paid to her in November 1992 in circumstances where she was reliant on social security benefits, she moved into rented accommodation with two of their children following their separation while he remained in their jointly owned family home, they had not yet discussed any property settlement and he was making not making any maintenance payments to her; [59] (2) a sum of only $10,800 that the deceased paid to the plaintiff in November 1998 following the sale of the Coorparoo property, which did not represent the whole of the plaintiff’s share of the net sale proceeds of that property; [60] and (3) a sum of $100,000 paid by the deceased to the plaintiff following the sale of the Kaleen property for $235,500, shortly before the plaintiff completed her purchase of the Michelago farm in December 2000. [61]
59. See [27] above.
60. See [58]-[63] and [71] above.
61. See [91]-[97] above.
There is no contemporaneous documentary evidence of the sale price or net sale proceeds of the Coorparoo property, but the plaintiff was not challenged in cross-examination on her evidence that the net sale proceeds were between $140,000 and $150,000, and the contemporaneous receipt that the deceased required her to sign for the $10,800 payment states that this sum represented only part of the plaintiff’s half of the net sale proceeds.
Thus, the deceased resisted the plaintiff’s demands for him to pay her full half share of the net sale proceeds of the Coorparoo property, which may have been in the order of $75,000.
The payment of $100,000 in December 2000 may have represented one half of the net sale proceeds of the Kaleen property, as the plaintiff acknowledged in cross-examination.
I have not included in the payments listed above the amounts totalling $40,000 that the deceased paid to the plaintiff in 1994 and 1996. The contemporaneous documents establish that those payments were loans that the deceased required the plaintiff to pay for, and the plaintiff was not challenged on her evidence that she did in fact make those repayments of $344 per month. [62] Nor have I included the $49,000 loan that the deceased made to the plaintiff in December 2000 at a time when he had retained part of the plaintiff’s share of the sale proceeds of the Coorparoo property (which likely exceeded $49,000). That loan was repaid to the deceased in 2005. [63]
62. See [24], [40]-[43] and [71] above.
63. See [91]-[97] and [108]-[109] above.
In relation to the third category of alleged representations, [64] I accept the plaintiff’s unchallenged evidence that, in about March 2015, the deceased gave her a copy of his will made on 24 March 2014. However, I reject the plaintiff’s evidence that the deceased said words to the effect of: “I told you I would look after you when I’m gone. I am keeping that promise”. I also reject the plaintiff’s evidence that she was thereby satisfied that the deceased was “keeping his promise to me that he would provide for me in his death”. [65] For the reasons explained above, it is plain from the conduct of the deceased and the plaintiff during the period from 1993, and from the plaintiff’s evidence in cross-examination, neither the deceased nor the plaintiff regarded him as having made a promise that continued to apply after the deceased’s health recovered in 1993. It is therefore inherently improbable that the deceased said words to the effect attributed to him by the plaintiff in March 2015, and equally improbable that the plaintiff understood those words as reaffirming a promise on which I have found that she had ceased to rely more than 20 years earlier. The plaintiff’s evidence of what was said in conversations that she had with the deceased almost 10 years prior to the hearing of these proceedings is inherently unreliable in any event, for all of the reasons explained at [159]-[164] above.
64. See [146] above.
65. See [120]-[121] above.
The plaintiff relies on her evidence that, during the period after 2015 until his death in January 2021, the deceased said to her words to the effect that “you know you are getting basically everything”, “you are getting everything”, and “you’re going to be rich”. [66] Having regard to the inherent fallibility of evidence of this nature to which the deceased is unable to respond, the demonstrated unreliability of material aspects of the plaintiff’s evidence, and the plaintiff’s inability to place any of those alleged statements in a particular time or context within the six year period in which they are said to have been made, and the inconsistency between the terms of the alleged statements and the terms of the deceased’s 2014 will under which he had not given the plaintiff “everything” or “basically everything”, I do not feel actual persuasion that the deceased made those statements.
66. See [123] and [126] above.
The plaintiff also relies on her evidence of the conversation that she says she had with the deceased in December 2019. I am not persuaded that any such conversation occurred for all of the reasons explained at [159]-[164] above, and for the further reason that Ms Grimm’s unchallenged evidence about her relationship with the deceased and the manner in which they spent their time together following his stage 3 liver cancer diagnosis has the ring of truth about it and renders it inherently improbable that the deceased travelled to Canberra to visit the plaintiff in or about December 2019. [67]
67. See [127]-[129] above.
For those reasons, I find that the deceased, by his conduct in giving the plaintiff a copy of his 2014 will in March 2015, made a representation to her about his testamentary intentions at that time. The plaintiff has failed to establish the third category of alleged representations.
Even if I had found that the deceased had made the third category of alleged representations, I would not have been persuaded that the plaintiff relied on those representations by not pressing for a property settlement, continuing to allow the deceased to retain the benefit of the marital assets, accepting only modest payments from the deceased, and not pressing for her proportionate share of the proceeds of sale of the marital assets. [68] As I have explained above, the plaintiff abandoned her quest for a property settlement in late 2003, long after she ceased to have any expectation that she would benefit from the deceased’s estate. For the reasons I have already explained, I reject the plaintiff’s evidence that she acquiesced in the deceased’s refusal to provide her with a proper property settlement or adequate maintenance because he continued to promise her that “I would receive everything when he died”, and that she believed that she “would be better off just waiting for him to die”. [69]
68. See [147] above.
69. See [137]-[138] above.
As counsel for the plaintiff acknowledged, the evidence does not provide a sufficient basis for the Court to estimate the amount that would have been payable to the plaintiff by way of an appropriate property settlement following her divorce from the deceased in 1992. Nevertheless, for all of the reasons explained above, the evidence does provide a sufficient basis to find that the deceased refused to enter into an appropriate property settlement with the plaintiff, and was determined to disable the plaintiff in their property settlement negotiations by threatening her with violence if she persisted in having a solicitor represent her, and by refusing to disclose relevant financial information to which only the deceased was privy. This was clearly detrimental to the plaintiff, but her limited success in extracting some funds from the deceased after ten years of consistently pressing him for a property settlement had nothing to do with any expectation on her part about what she might receive from the deceased by way of inheritance. For the reasons explained above, I have found that the plaintiff held no such expectation from 1993 onwards.

The family provision claim

The proceedings were commenced within 12 months after the date of death of the deceased. [70] Because the plaintiff is an eligible person by reason of being the deceased’s former spouse, s 59(1)(b) of the Succession Act 2006 (NSW) requires the Court to be satisfied that, having regard to all the circumstances of the case, there are factors warranting the making of the application. [71]
70. Succession Act 2006 (NSW), s 58(2).
71. Succession Act 2006 (NSW), ss 57(1)(d), 59(1)(b).
As submitted on behalf of both parties, the “factors” that might warrant the making of a family provision application by a former spouse in a particular case are those factors which give the former spouse the status of a person who, in all the circumstances of the case, would be regarded according to community standards and expectations as a natural object of testamentary recognition by the deceased. [72]
72. Re Fulop Deceased (1987) 8 NSWLR 679 at 681 (McLelland J); Lodin v Lodin [2017] NSWCA 327 at [106]-[107] (Sackville AJA, Basten JA agreeing at [1]-[3] and White JA agreeing at [4]-[14]); Spata v Tumino (2018) 95 NSWLR 706; [2018] NSWCA 17 at [97] (Payne JA, McFarlan JA and Sackville AJA agreeing); Sun v Chapman [2022] NSWCA 132 at [119] (White JA, Leeming JA agreeing); Curtis v Curtis [2024] NSWCA 136 at [14] (Leeming JA, Mitchelmore JA and Basten AJA agreeing); Frank v Angell [2024] NSWCA 264 at [4] (Gleeson JA, Bell CJ agreeing) and [70]-[87] (Stern JA, Bell CJ and Gleeson JA agreeing).
There are no fixed or closed categories of “factors” which former spouses must address, as each case depends on all of its circumstances. However, significant factors will include any final settlement of the financial relationship between the claimant and the deceased, whether by agreement or court order, following their divorce. [73] The absence of a property settlement will also be relevant, although its significance will generally diminish with the passage of time because intervening events and circumstances will be likely to have shaped the claimant’s financial circumstances at the time of the family provision application more than the absence of a property settlement with their deceased former spouse. [74]
73. Lodin v Lodin at [127]-[128] (Sackville AJA, Basten and White JJA agreeing).
74. See Rogic v Samaan [2018] NSWSC 1464, especially at [142] (Kunc J).
The nature of the relationship between the claimant and the deceased is also relevant. Specifically, the Court considers whether there are any features of that relationship that create a moral obligation on the deceased to make provision for the claimant. However, “considerable care needs to be taken to prevent a family provision claim becoming a forum for litigating questions of matrimonial fault long since removed from family law”. [75]
75. Lodin v Lodin at [129] (Sackville AJA, Basten and White JJA agreeing).
If the Court is satisfied that there are factors warranting the making of the application, then ss 59(1)(c) and s 59(2) of the Succession Act require the Court to determine whether the deceased’s last will made adequate provision for the claimant’s proper maintenance, education and advancement in life and, if not, whether any order for provision should be made. This is an evaluative judgment that takes into account all relevant circumstances. The words “adequate” and “proper” in s 59(1)(c) are always relative. As was submitted on behalf of the plaintiff, the Court’s judgment is informed by its own general knowledge and experience of current social conditions and community values and standards. The adequacy or otherwise of provision is not determined merely by a calculation of the financial needs of the claimant and other persons with claims on the deceased’s estate. In determining whether to make an order for provision, and the nature of any such order, the Court may have regard to the matters in s 60(2) of the Succession Act, giving each relevant matter such weight as is appropriate in all the circumstances of the particular case. If the deceased was capable of giving due consideration to the question of what provision was required for the claimant’s proper maintenance, education and advancement in life, and has done so, then considerable weight should be given to the deceased’s testamentary wishes in recognition of the advantages of the deceased over the Court in knowing all of the details of the family’s relationships. However, s 59 of the Succession Act is to be applied according to its terms and is not confined by notions of reluctance to interfere with freedom of testamentary disposition. Evidence of the testamentary intentions of the deceased are but one of the many factors in s 60(2), and the weight to be attributed to each of those factors depends on all of the circumstances of each case. [76]
76. Megerditchian v Khatchadourian [2020] NSWCA 229 at [29]-[35] (Payne JA, Macfarlan JA and Emmett AJA agreeing) and the authorities there referred to; Olsen v Olsen (2019) 101 NSWLR 225; [2019] NSWCA 278 at [75]–[78] (White JA, Meagher JA and Emmett AJA agreeing); Steinmetz v Shannon (2019) 99 NSWLR 687; [2019] NSWCA 114 at [49]-[56] (White JA) and [94]-[97] (Brereton JA, Simpson AJA agreeing).
The interests of other claimants on the deceased’s estate, and of beneficiaries entitled to a share of the estate under the deceased’s last will, are relevant to the Court’s consideration of the propriety and adequacy (or inadequacy) of any provision for the claimant. This includes consideration of the financial circumstances and needs of any beneficiaries who have adduced evidence of those matters. Even if beneficiaries do not adduce evidence of their circumstances – and they are under no obligation to do so – their claims as the chosen objects of the deceased’s testamentary bounty, and as persons whose interests in the estate may bear the burden of any order for provision made in favour of the claimant, must be borne in mind. [77]
77. Succession Act 2006 (NSW), s 61; Sammut v Kleemann [2012] NSWSC 1030 at [134]-[140] (Hallen AsJ, as his Honour then was); Blendell v Byrne [2019] NSWSC 583 at [114]-[118] (Hallen J).
On the basis of the evidence referred to at [15]-[21] above, I find that the plaintiff made significant financial and non-financial contributions to the assets accumulated during her 23 year marriage to the deceased, and that the deceased controlled their combined earnings at the same time as enjoying the benefit of the plaintiff’s unpaid labour within their household. I have found that, after their marriage ended in 1992, the deceased refused to enter into an appropriate property settlement with the plaintiff, and was determined to disable her in their property settlement negotiations by threatening her with violence if she persisted in having a solicitor represent her, and by refusing to disclose relevant financial information to which only the deceased had access. [78] I have found that the payments that the deceased made to the plaintiff from time to time were even less than her one half share of the net sale proceeds of their two jointly owned properties that the deceased could not conceal from the plaintiff. [79] In my opinion, those matters give the plaintiff the status of a person who would be regarded as a natural object of testamentary recognition by the deceased, and warrant the plaintiff making the application for provision out of his estate.
78. See [186] above.
79. See [176]-[180] above.
I now turn to the question whether adequate provision has been made in the deceased’s last will for the plaintiff’s proper maintenance, education and advancement in life, and whether any order for provision should now be made and the nature of any such order. Given that the plaintiff is 82 years of age, the focus is on her proper maintenance and advancement in life.
According to the defendant’s affidavits sworn on 10 May 2024, 30 May 2024, and 19 June 2024 the estate has assets of $4,006,781 (including $595,987 in superannuation benefits that are the subject of the specific gift in favour of Thomas) and liabilities of between $970,316 and $1,008,316, leaving a total net distributable estate of between $2,998,464 and $3,036,464. Those figures do not include any liabilities of the estate in respect of the executor’s costs or the plaintiffs’ costs of these proceedings.
Pursuant to consent orders made in proceedings 2022/50997, Brendan has relinquished the 20% share of the residue of the estate bequeathed to him under the deceased’s last will.
Pursuant to consent orders made in proceedings 2021/209636, Ms Grimm is to be paid a lump sum of $180,000, together with her costs of those proceedings in the amount of $110,000, out of the net distributable estate, in lieu of the 7% share of the residue of the estate bequeathed to her under the deceased’s last will.
After payment of those amounts totalling $290,000 to Ms Grimm and after payment of the superannuation benefits of $595,987 for the benefit of Thomas, there will be a balance of between approximately $2,112,477 and $2,150,877. Assuming that the executor’s costs of these proceedings of approximately $142,000 (on an indemnity basis) are ordered to be paid out of the estate, and that an amount of up to approximately $150,000 is ordered to be paid out of the estate in respect of the plaintiff’s costs, the balance available for distribution to the residuary beneficiaries will be between approximately $1,820,477 and $1,858,877. I express no final view about the costs orders to be made in these proceedings. The assumed amount of $150,000 in respect of the plaintiff’s costs reflects my preliminary view that the plaintiff’s actual costs of $330,677 on an indemnity basis and $266,677 on a party and party basis, according to the affidavit affirmed by the plaintiff’s solicitor on 24 July 2024, [80] are excessive for a two day hearing with a slim single volume court book containing all pleadings, affidavits and documentary evidence.
80. Both costs figures inclusive of GST.
Mr Basha’s affidavit sworn on 30 May 2024 sets out the following calculation of the residuary beneficiaries’ share in the residuary estate, grossed up to account for Brendan’s relinquishment of his 20% share and the lump sum payment to Ms Grimm in lieu of 7% of the residuary estate:

Thomas – 6.85%;

Louisa – 21.92%;

Tamara Hayward – 41.1%;

Denise Boonstra – 21.92%;

Fred Hollows Foundation – 4.11%; and

Medicins Sans Frontieres – 4.11%.

Thomas’ 6.85% share of the residuary estate is in addition to the specific gift to him of any superannuation death benefits and superannuation paid to the deceased’s estate. The defendant’s opening submissions recorded his understanding that no challenge is made in the plaintiff’s family provision claim to that gift to Thomas. No submission to the contrary was made by the plaintiff at any stage during the hearing.
Notice of the plaintiff’s application was served on all other potential claimants in accordance with s 61 of the Succession Act. As I have already mentioned, Ms Grimm also made a claim for provision, which was resolved by consent orders made in separate proceedings. No other provision claims have been made, and Ms Tamara Hayward is the only beneficiary under the deceased’s last will who has adduced evidence of her circumstances as a competing claimant.
As I have mentioned earlier in these reasons, the plaintiff is 82 years of age.
The plaintiff presently owns no real property. In her affidavit affirmed on 8 September 2021, the plaintiff gave evidence that she sold her Cowra property for $355,000 on 12 October 2017. She then transferred to Brendan and Mark the sum of $343,509 – representing almost the whole of the sale proceeds – in return for their promise to provide her with accommodation for the rest of her life.

In her affidavit sworn on 6 May 2024, the plaintiff deposed that she currently lives alone in a three-bedroom home owned by Mark in Downer in the Australian Capital Territory. The plaintiff does not pay rent to Mark, but provides other assistance to him, including regular childcare for his son Thomas. One of the three bedrooms in the home is designated as Thomas’ bedroom so that he can stay with the plaintiff whenever he wants to.
The plaintiff deposed that she is reliant on the “financial support of my son, Mark, who has allowed me to live in his house rent-free” because “I do not have sufficient assets to support myself”. The plaintiff deposed that this living arrangement “feels very insecure and uncertain”, and that Mark has told her that he needs to sell the Downer property. However, in oral evidence in chief given on 3 June 2024, the plaintiff gave evidence that the Downer property in which she has lived since October 2017 is owned by Brendan and Mark. The plaintiff gave evidence that she expects her sons to continue providing her with accommodation in the future in accordance with their agreement, which she considers to be enforceable. In cross-examination, the plaintiff disavowed any suggestion that Brendan or Mark have suggested to her that they need to sell the Downer property. I accept the plaintiff’s evidence in cross-examination.
The plaintiff has no superannuation funds.
In late 2023 or early 2024, the defendant caused the Telstra shares referred to at [114]-[115] above to be transferred to the plaintiff, and paid to the plaintiff the sum of $68,993.01, representing the $65,000 sum referred to at [113] above plus interest in accordance with s 84A of the Probate and Administration Act 1898 (NSW).
At the time of swearing her affidavit on 6 May 2024, the plaintiff had an everyday savings account with a credit balance of $10,955 and a high interest account with a balance of $52,206. The plaintiff continues to own the Telstra shares. Her only other assets are her vehicle (estimated value of $1,000) and household contents (estimated value $10,000). She has no liabilities.
The plaintiff receives a Centrelink pension of approximately $28,500 per annum plus any dividends paid on the Telstra shares, which she estimates as amounting to approximately $900 per annum. The plaintiff gave evidence that, with great difficulty and strict control over her spending, she lives on about $27,000 per annum, including a budget of about $7,400 for groceries, $4,550 for utilities, $4,500 for petrol, $4,000 for car insurance, servicing and repairs, and $780 for medication and medical bills. I accept the plaintiff’s evidence about the difficulty which she experiences in limiting her spending according to that budget.
In relation to her state of health, the plaintiff gave evidence, which I accept, that she suffers chronic pain and reduced mobility, a chronic cough, brittle bones, and heart problems. The plaintiff deposed that, since the death of the deceased, she has also been diagnosed by her general practitioner as suffering from depression and anxiety.
In her affidavit sworn on 6 May 2024, the plaintiff gave evidence that, if she were required to leave the home in Downer, she would be able to rent a similar house in Downer for approximately $960 per week. The plaintiff likes the Downer area, and she would wish to continue having three bedrooms with one for Thomas and one for visitors. The plaintiff estimates that she would only be able to afford to pay rent for one year before exhausting the proceeds of the payments made to her by the defendant, which are presently held in her savings and high interest accounts referred to above.
The plaintiff described her needs as follows:

a house of her own in or around Downer in the Australian Capital Territory, which the plaintiff estimates would cost between about $400,000 (for a modest one-bedroom home) and $1,300,000 (for a modest three-bedroom home);

approximately $8,000 to fund the cost of moving home, including refurnishing her new home;

approximately $25,000 to purchase a more reliable and accessible vehicle;

a cash reserve of approximately $200,000 to fund any medical, dental and residential care expenses for the rest of her life; and

a fund of approximately $40,000 to meet the costs of visiting her daughter Louisa who lives in the United States of America and other family members living in Italy.

In closing submissions, counsel for the plaintiff quantified the plaintiff’s claim as a claim for provision in the sum of $823,000, comprising $550,000 to purchase a modest flat plus the other four components of the claim referred to above.
Tamara Hayward is presently 51 years of age. She first met the deceased at the age of 15 when her mother, Ms Boudville, introduced them. Ms Hayward considered the deceased to be her stepfather, or like a third parent, even though he and Ms Boudville were never married. She describes the deceased as having been kind to her and having guided her through her life, and as having acted as a mentor for her. The deceased received palliative and end of life care at Ms Hayward’s home, where he died on 29 January 2021.
Ms Hayward works as an IT Service Delivery Manager, earning approximately $7,690 per month after tax. Ms Hayward does not own any real property, but has a modest pool of savings (approximately $6,000 at the time of her most recent affidavit affirmed on 13 May 2024), a car worth approximately $10,000 and a superannuation balance of approximately $444,262. Ms Hayward has a credit card debt of approximately $4,000. Her monthly expenses include rent of approximately $2,167.
Ms Hayward has a daughter who was born in March 1997 and is presently 27 years of age. Ms Hayward raised her daughter as a single parent without assistance, financial or otherwise, from the father. Ms Hayward’s evidence did not suggest that her daughter remains financially dependent on her.
Ms Hayward gave evidence of her ambition to purchase her own property, which she envisages as a small home with a garden in the Canberra area. She estimates the cost of such a home at about $880,000, based on the median house price in the Tuggeranong region. She would also like to purchase a new car at a cost of about $40,000.
Ms Hayward gave evidence that the deceased had discussed his last will with her, telling her that he had left her approximately $950,000 and he hoped that she would be able to leave her job, retire and live a happier life. According to Ms Hayward’s evidence, the deceased was aware that her job was demanding and required her to work excessive hours, and that he hated her being “on call 24/7”.
For the reasons I have already explained, the plaintiff has the status of a person who would be regarded as a natural object of testamentary recognition by the deceased in all the circumstances of this case. [81] The deceased has made no provision for the plaintiff other than the purported gifts which do no more than repay the $65,000 loan that she made to him in 2012 and return to her the Telstra shares which he was only ever holding for her benefit. This has left the plaintiff in a position where, as a consequence of the deceased refusing to enter into an appropriate property settlement with her and bullying her out of negotiating for a settlement on anything resembling an even playing field, the plaintiff has managed with far more limited financial resources than she was entitled to for the whole of her adult life since separating from the deceased and her financial security is now dependent on the fortunes of her sons and their ability to continue to provide accommodation for her in accordance with the agreement that she made with them in 2017. Her savings provide some money for a rainy day, but are insufficient in my opinion to provide a comfortable buffer against the risks of ill health and increased medical costs in her advancing years. Her savings do not afford her the ability to travel overseas to see her daughter and other family members. To be separated from family due to inadequate funds to travel is a hardship. For those reasons, I do not consider that the deceased made adequate provision for the plaintiff in his last will dated 27 January 2021.
81. See [193] above.
I have had regard to the following matters referred to in s 60 of the Succession Act in forming my judgment that, in all the circumstances of this case, adequate provision for the plaintiff’s proper maintenance and advancement in life requires an order in her favour for provision out of the deceased’s estate in the sum of $600,000.
As I have already observed, [82] the relationship between the plaintiff and the deceased was one in which the plaintiff made significant financial and non-financial contributions to the assets that they accumulated during the course of their 23 year marriage, yet the deceased controlled their funds during and after the marriage, denied the plaintiff the share of their jointly owned assets to which she was entitled after the end of the marriage, and denied the plaintiff an appropriate property settlement. The deceased refused to discharge his obligations to his former wife, and threatened her with violence when she took steps towards commencing legal proceedings to enforce those obligations. [83]
82. See [193] above.
83. Succession Act, section 60(2)(a)-(b), (h)-(i).
The deceased’s intentions to benefit his grandson Thomas, his daughter Louisa, and Ms Boudville’s daughters Ms Hayward and Ms Boonstra are entitled to considerable weight. However, it also relevant that there is no evidence that Thomas has ever been financially dependent on the deceased, or that his daughter or Ms Boudville’s daughters have been dependent on him at any time during their adult lives. An order for provision in favour of the plaintiff in the amount of $600,000 will not deprive those beneficiaries of a benefit under the deceased’s will, but will reduce the quantum of the benefit that each of them will receive. I consider that it would be appropriate for the provision for the plaintiff to be paid before any distribution to the residuary beneficiaries, so that the burden of the provision will fall on those beneficiaries proportionate to their shares in the residuary estate identified at [199] above. If no provision were to be made in favour of the plaintiff, but her costs of the proceedings were nevertheless ordered to be paid out the estate as is sometimes done in family provision proceedings, the residuary beneficiaries would share in a residuary estate of approximately $1,820,477, and Ms Hayward’s 41.1% share would be worth approximately $750,000. As a result of the $600,000 provision that I have determined is to be made in favour of the plaintiff, the total value of the residuary estate will be approximately $1,220,477, of which Ms Hayward’s 41.1% share will be worth approximately $500,000. According to Ms Hayward’s evidence, that will cover more than half of the cost of the home that she wishes to buy. Applying my general knowledge of social conditions and community values and standards, I do not consider that this impact on the residuary beneficiaries weighs against an order for provision of $600,000 in the plaintiff’s favour. In particular, I do not consider that community values and standards would regard Ms Hayward’s wish to buy a home debt-free and retire from her chosen occupation at the age of 51 as giving her a stronger claim on the deceased’s estate than the claim of the plaintiff, who contributed to the assets that were the genesis of the deceased’s bounty, and who is financially insecure in her old age as a result of the deceased having failed to discharge his obligations to her following their separation. The plaintiff’s age and state of health, and her dependence on her sons for accommodation, mean that she has a genuine need for a fund to enable her to meet the vicissitudes of life, including any need that may arise for alternative accommodation if her sons become unable to continue providing her accommodation for any reason, and including any increased medical expenses. Contrary to the defendant’s submissions, it is not to the point that there is no evidence of a present risk of Brendan and Mark being unable to accommodate their mother. The point is that her dependence on them for her accommodation appears to have been her solution to the modest funds raised from the sale of the Cowra property in 2017, which would have been unlikely to stretch to the purchase of another property, plus stamp duty, with a sufficient savings pool left over to meet ongoing costs associated with home ownership (insurance, repairs and maintenance etc). The defendant’s submission that the plaintiff simply gave away to her sons the capital gain earned from the sale of the Cowra property fails to engage with those realities facing the plaintiff at 75 years of age in 2017. In circumstances where the deceased’s refusal to enter into an appropriate property settlement with the plaintiff has contributed to her limited funds, she should not be forced to continue to be dependent on her sons for accommodation if she does not wish to be so dependent. As counsel for the plaintiff submitted, that would be a most unsatisfactory state of affairs. [84] For those reasons, and in circumstances where it is no part of the plaintiff’s case that her sons will be unable to continue providing her accommodation, I reject the defendant’s submission that the plaintiff’s dependence on her sons to provide her accommodation makes their financial position relevant to the Court’s consideration of her family provision claim.
84. Succession Act, section 60(2)(b)-(d).
It is not entirely clear to me whether the defendant relied on the plaintiff’s inability to account for the whole of the sale proceeds of the Michelago farm as a withholding of information about her own financial circumstances that are relevant to the family provision claim. If so, then I reject that submission. In my opinion, the plaintiff gave evidence about the net proceeds raised by that sale in late 2004 or early 2005 to the best of her ability, having regard to the passage of time. Her evidence may be inaccurate or incomplete, but she has not deliberately withheld information about those sale proceeds from the Court. [85]
85. See [109] above.
I consider that the quantum of each component of the plaintiff’s claim for provision identified at [212]-[213] above reflects a reasonable sum for her proper maintenance and advancement in life in all the circumstances, save that I have not included in the total provision of $600,000 the full amount of $550,000 that the plaintiff submitted she needs in order to purchase a modest home. If the plaintiff purchases her own home and ends her current arrangement with Brendan and Mark, it seems to me that it would be open to her to look to them to refund part of the moneys that she paid to them in 2017. For the reasons already explained, I reject the defendant’s submission that no provision should be made for the plaintiff’s accommodation having regard to her arrangement with her sons. Contrary to the defendant’s submissions, I do not consider that the mere fact that the plaintiff does not use her car very often means that the provision to be made in her favour should not take into account the cost of purchasing a newer, more reliable car. The plaintiff gave evidence that she enjoys driving her own car, from which I infer that it is important to her independence. I consider that independence is appropriately characterised as a need rather than a wish.

Conclusion and orders

For all of the foregoing reasons, the orders of the Court are as follows:

Order pursuant to s 59 of the Succession Act 2006 (NSW) that provision be made for the plaintiff’s maintenance, education and advancement in life out of the estate of the late Anthony Siracusa who died on 29 January 2021 (the Deceased) in the amount of $600,000 to be paid as a lump sum prior to any distribution to the residuary beneficiaries in accordance with clause 13 of the last will of the Deceased dated 27 January 2021 (noting that Michael Brendan Siracusa and Jane Diana Grimm have relinquished their entitlements under that clause 13).

Order that the Amended Statement of Claim is otherwise dismissed.

Reserve all questions of costs.

I will hear the parties in relation to costs.

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Endnotes

Decision last updated: 13 November 2024

Medium Neutral Citation:	Alessandra Hart v Gerard John Basha [2024] NSWSC 1441
Hearing dates:	3 June, 1 and 2 August 2024
Date of orders:	13 November 2024
Decision date:	13 November 2024
Jurisdiction:	Equity - Real Property List
Before:	Williams J
Decision:	See orders at [225].
Catchwords:	ESTOPPEL – Promissory estoppel – Where plaintiff and her deceased former husband separated and divorced in 1992 – Where plaintiff claims to have relied to her detriment on representations allegedly made by the deceased in conversations over many years to the effect that he would leave the whole or the bulk of his estate to her in his will if she did not pursue a property settlement – Where the plaintiff sought unsuccessfully for 10 years to negotiate a final property settlement with the deceased, but did not commence property settlement proceedings – Where the deceased controlled the assets and funds generated during their marriage, and refused to disclose relevant financial information and threatened the plaintiff with violence during the property settlement negotiations – Where the deceased’s last will made no provision for the plaintiff – Held that the Court is bound by authority that the doctrine of promissory estoppel operates as a restraint on the enforcement of legal rights and does not operate as a source of an obligation for the deceased to provide for the plaintiff in his will – Held that the plaintiff failed to prove most of the alleged representations, and failed to prove that she relied to her detriment on those representations which were proved – Promissory estoppel claim dismissed. SUCCESSION – Family provision – Claim by plaintiff for provision out of the estate of her deceased former husband – Where plaintiff made significant financial and non-financial contributions to the assets that were the genesis of the assets comprising the deceased’s estate – Where the plaintiff sought unsuccessfully for 10 years to negotiate a final property settlement with the deceased, but did not commence property settlement proceedings – Where the deceased controlled the assets and funds generated during their marriage, and refused to disclose relevant financial information and threatened the plaintiff with violence during the property settlement negotiations – Where the deceased failed to pay the plaintiff even a half share of the net sale proceeds of their jointly owned assets following their separation and divorce – Where the plaintiff is aged 82 years, owns no real property, has no superannuation, and is forced to live frugally due to her lack of financial resources – Where the deceased made no provision for his former wife in his will – Where an order for provision will reduce the benefits to paid to named beneficiaries – Held: There are factors warranting the plaintiff’s application for provision, and the plaintiff has a superior claim on the deceased’s estate than the beneficiaries named in the will – Order for provision in favour of the plaintiff in a lump sum of $600,000.
Legislation Cited:	Civil Procedure Act 2005 (NSW) s 100 Succession Act 2006 (NSW) ss 57, 58, 59, 60, 61
Cases Cited:	Ashton v Pratt (2015) 88 NSWLR 281; [2015] NSWCA 12 Blendell v Byrne [2019] NSWSC 583 Chant v Curcuruto [2021] NSWSC 751 Curtis v Curtis [2024] NSWCA 136 Eggins v Robinson [2000] NSWCA 61 Eyota Pty Ltd v Hanave Pty Ltd (1994) 12 ACSR 785 Fiorenza v Fiorenza [2024] NSWSC 549 Fox v Percy (2003) 214 CLR 118; [2003] HCA 22 Frank v Angell [2024] NSWCA 264 Grundt v Great Boulder Pty Gold Mines Ltd (1937) 59 CLR 641; [1937] HCA 58 John Holland Pty Ltd v Kellogg Brown & Root Pty Ltd [2015] NSWSC 451 Kramer v Stone (2023) 112 NSWLR 564; [2023] NSWCA 270 Lodin v Lodin [2017] NSWCA 327 Megerditchian v Khatchadourian [2020] NSWCA 229 Nock v Maddern [2018] NSWCA 239 Olsen v Olsen (2019) 101 NSWLR 225; [2019] NSWCA 278 Plunkett v Bull (1915) 19 CLR 544; [1915] HCA 14 Re Estate of Legler [2024] NSWSC 726 Re Fulop Deceased (1987) 8 NSWLR 679 Rogic v Samaan [2018] NSWSC 1464 Saleh v Romanous (2010) 79 NSWLR 453; [2010] NSWCA 274 Sammut v Kleemann [2012] NSWSC 1030 Sidhu v Van Dyke (2014) 251 CLR 505; [2014] HCA 19 Slade v Brose [2024] NSWCA 197 Smith v Moore [2020] NSWSC 1446 Spata v Tumino (2018) 95 NSWLR 706; [2018] NSWCA 17 Steinmetz v Shannon (2019) 99 NSWLR 687; [2019] NSWCA 114 Sun v Chapman [2022] NSWCA 132 Waltons Stores (Interstate) Ltd v Maher (1988) 164 CLR 387; [1988] HCA 7 Warner v Hung (2011) 297 ALR 56; [2011] FCA 1123 Watson v Foxman (1995) 49 NSWLR 315
Texts Cited:	N/A
Category:	Principal judgment
Parties:	Alessandra Hart (Plaintiff) Gerard John Basha (Defendant)
Representation:	Counsel: Mr N Kirby (Plaintiff) Mr C Birtles (Defendant) Solicitors: Baker Deane & Nutt (Plaintiff) Bartier Perry Lawyers (Defendant)
File Number(s):	2021/258013
Publication restriction:	N/A