Hansen v Hennessey

[2014] VSC 20

IN THE SUPREME COURT OF VICTORIA Not Restricted

AT MELBOURNE
COMMERCIAL AND EQUITY DIVISION

S CI  2011 1753

IN THE MATTER of Part IV of the Administration and Probate Act 1958

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IN THE MATTER OF the Will and Estate of Christa Meta Elisabet Phillips, deceased

B E T W E E N

DORIS HANSEN, KAREN HANSEN and RALF HANSEN	Plaintiffs
v
INGE HENNESSY	Defendant

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JUDGE:	Lansdowne AsJ
WHERE HELD:	Melbourne
DATE OF HEARING:	3 December 2012, 12 February 2013, 26 March 2013 and 19 December 2013; written submissions
DATE OF JUDGMENT:	10 February 2014
CASE MAY BE CITED AS:	Hansen v Hennessey
MEDIUM NEUTRAL CITATION:	[2014] VSC 20

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FAMILY PROVISION — Applications by adult children of the deceased — Defendant executor is sibling and residuary beneficiary — Long history of family conflict — Minimal provision for the plaintiffs in will — Estrangement between the first and second plaintiffs and the deceased prior to her death — Whether caused by the deceased — Whether third plaintiff abandoned the deceased prior to her death — Previous good relationships — Whether the deceased retained a responsibility to make provision for them — Small estate — award for third plaintiff — Defendant mixed estate funds with her own funds — Personal liability for award - Administration and Probate Act 1958 (Vic) ss 91 and 99A.

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APPEARANCES:	Counsel	Solicitors
For the Plaintiffs	Mr R Wells	Maddens Lawyers
For the Defendant	In person

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Introduction........................................................................................................................................ 2

Outline of the facts............................................................................................................................ 4

Applicable law.................................................................................................................................. 12

Application of these principles to this case................................................................................ 16

Issues.................................................................................................................................................. 17

Relationship between the plaintiffs and the testatrix.............................................................. 18

The relationship prior to 2009................................................................................................... 18
Relationship with the plaintiffs from 2009.............................................................................. 21

Ralf........................................................................................................................................... 21
Doris......................................................................................................................................... 25
Karen........................................................................................................................................ 32

Conclusions as to relationship and conduct........................................................................... 33

Size and nature of the estate.......................................................................................................... 34

Mercedes Benz van..................................................................................................................... 36
Debts due by Ralf........................................................................................................................ 39
Ford bus........................................................................................................................................ 41
Shares............................................................................................................................................ 42
Allowable expenses and liabilities........................................................................................... 43
Conclusions as to the size and nature of the estate................................................................ 47

Other s 91(4) factors......................................................................................................................... 49

Section 91(4)(h) – financial resources and needs of the plaintiffs and the beneficiaries... 49
Section 91(4)(k) – contributions by the plaintiffs to the estate or welfare of the testatrix 50
Section 91(4)(l) – benefits previously given by the testatrix to the plaintiffs, defendant and other beneficiaries................................................................................................................................. 51
Section 91(4)(o) – character and conduct of the plaintiffs and any other person.............. 51
Section 91(4)(p) – any other relevant matter........................................................................... 52

Conclusion in relation to responsibility to make provision................................................... 53

Conclusion in relation to amount of further provision............................................................ 55

HER HONOUR:

Introduction

1. The plaintiffs are three of the five children of Christa Meta Elisabet Phillips and Gerhard Hansen.  Ms Phillips died 14 November 2010 from pancreatic cancer, first diagnosed in May 2010.  This proceeding concerns the plaintiffs’ application for further provision from her estate pursuant to Part IV of the Administration and Probate Act 1958 (“the Act”).

1. The first plaintiff, Doris Hansen, is the eldest child, born 19 July 1958…