Supreme Court of Western Australia
Court or Tribunal: Supreme Court of Western Australia
Catchwords: Family Provision, High Value Estates, Large Estate, Wills & Probate
Judges: Sanderson Master
Background: Olivia Jacqueline Mead was the 19 year old love-child of WA mining magnate Michael Wright, where upon his death Olivia had been left $3 million from the estate, estimated at more than $1 billion. The 19-year-old challenged the will in the Supreme Court of Western Australia this month, suing executor David Lemon and demanding $20 million worth of cash and luxury items. She claimed to have been left without adequate funds for her proper maintenance, support, education and advancement in life. Ms Mead was provided for with a $3 million trust, which she could not touch until she was aged 30, and the trust included a number of provisions, including a clause that Ms Mead would be excluded if she converted to Buddhism or Islam, or even if she had an association with a person who practice
[Legal Issue]In awarding an unprecedented $25 million cash on condition of forfeiting any right in the trust set up under the will, Master Sanderson mostly focussed on the size of the estate and the fact that, wisely invested, Olivia and her family would never want for anything ever again.
In the context of the estate he commented that that sum was “little more than a rounding error”. He commented though that it was not about fairness or about compensating Olivia for the deceased’s limitations as a father but considered the position of a wise and just testator, that of community expectation and the duties of a parent arising under the Act.
The award of such an enormous sum is extraordinary, particularly as it is higher than Olivia sought herself. Nonetheless the principles applied will
[Court Orders]The third daughter of late mining heir Michael Wright has succeeded in her bid to extract much more than she was left from his will, with a judge ruling she should get $25 million.
Catchwords: Family Provision, High Value Estates, Large Estate, Wills & Probate
Judges: Sanderson Master
Background: Olivia Jacqueline Mead was the 19 year old love-child of WA mining magnate Michael Wright, where upon his death Olivia had been left $3 million from the estate, estimated at more than $1 billion. The 19-year-old challenged the will in the Supreme Court of Western Australia this month, suing executor David Lemon and demanding $20 million worth of cash and luxury items. She claimed to have been left without adequate funds for her proper maintenance, support, education and advancement in life. Ms Mead was provided for with a $3 million trust, which she could not touch until she was aged 30, and the trust included a number of provisions, including a clause that Ms Mead would be excluded if she converted to Buddhism or Islam, or even if she had an association with a person who practice
[Legal Issue]In awarding an unprecedented $25 million cash on condition of forfeiting any right in the trust set up under the will, Master Sanderson mostly focussed on the size of the estate and the fact that, wisely invested, Olivia and her family would never want for anything ever again.
In the context of the estate he commented that that sum was “little more than a rounding error”. He commented though that it was not about fairness or about compensating Olivia for the deceased’s limitations as a father but considered the position of a wise and just testator, that of community expectation and the duties of a parent arising under the Act.
The award of such an enormous sum is extraordinary, particularly as it is higher than Olivia sought herself. Nonetheless the principles applied will
[Court Orders]The third daughter of late mining heir Michael Wright has succeeded in her bid to extract much more than she was left from his will, with a judge ruling she should get $25 million.
Court or Tribunal: Supreme Court of Western Australia
Catchwords: Family Provision, Family Provision, Moral Duty, Succession, Succession, Wills
Judges: LE MIERE J
Background: John Costigan and Muriel Josephine Costigan were married for 62 years before Mr Costigan died on 9 July 2004. There were four children of the marriage (one has since deceased): The plaintiff was the second daughter, Meredith. The defendants were the first and third daughers, Suzanne & Robynne. Muriel Costigan, the mother, was deceased on 20 May 2007 and left a will. Under her will the mother left the plaintiff $50,000 in shares. The mother left assets totalling $1,780,538.96 to Suzanne and Robynne in equal shares.
[Legal Issue]The plaintiff claims that she has been left without adequate provision for her proper maintenance, support or advancement in life and applies under s 6 of the Inheritance (Family and Dependants Provision) Act 1972 (WA) (the Act) for an order that such provision as the court thinks fit be made out of the estate for that purpose.
The legal issue for the Court will consider whether adequate provision had been made for the plaintiff's proper maintenance, support or advancement in life. Whether the deceased had a moral duty to make further provision for the plaintiff after 30 years of estrangement. Turns on own facts
[Court Orders]Will varied to make further provision for plaintiff. The will of the deceased should be varied by providing that the sum of $260,000 be paid to the plaintiff from the estate after the distribution, in accordance with the will, of the furniture, paintings, jewellery and other household goods and the proceeds of the sale of the Investa Property Trust shares, as well as the Department of Veterans Affairs one off payment.
Catchwords: Family Provision, Family Provision, Moral Duty, Succession, Succession, Wills
Judges: LE MIERE J
Background: John Costigan and Muriel Josephine Costigan were married for 62 years before Mr Costigan died on 9 July 2004. There were four children of the marriage (one has since deceased): The plaintiff was the second daughter, Meredith. The defendants were the first and third daughers, Suzanne & Robynne. Muriel Costigan, the mother, was deceased on 20 May 2007 and left a will. Under her will the mother left the plaintiff $50,000 in shares. The mother left assets totalling $1,780,538.96 to Suzanne and Robynne in equal shares.
[Legal Issue]The plaintiff claims that she has been left without adequate provision for her proper maintenance, support or advancement in life and applies under s 6 of the Inheritance (Family and Dependants Provision) Act 1972 (WA) (the Act) for an order that such provision as the court thinks fit be made out of the estate for that purpose.
The legal issue for the Court will consider whether adequate provision had been made for the plaintiff's proper maintenance, support or advancement in life. Whether the deceased had a moral duty to make further provision for the plaintiff after 30 years of estrangement. Turns on own facts
[Court Orders]Will varied to make further provision for plaintiff. The will of the deceased should be varied by providing that the sum of $260,000 be paid to the plaintiff from the estate after the distribution, in accordance with the will, of the furniture, paintings, jewellery and other household goods and the proceeds of the sale of the Investa Property Trust shares, as well as the Department of Veterans Affairs one off payment.