Decision
68The application is made under s 59 of the Succession Act 2006 (NSW). The first question that arises is whether Ms Bouttell is an eligible person (see s 59(1)(a)). That takes one back to s 57(1)(a). It is clear that Ms Bouttell is an eligible person.
69The next question to consider is whether, at the time the application is considered by the court, it can be said that the will did not make adequate provision for the proper maintenance etc. of Ms Bouttell (s 59(1)(c)). For reasons I will give in a moment, I conclude (although it is not really controversial in this case) that the will failed to do so.
70The next matter to be considered is whether the application is made within time (s 58). It was.
71I return to the jurisdictional question posed by s 59(1)(c).
72The will seems to me to make it clear, objectively, that the deceased understood that he had some obligation to provide a residence for Ms Bouttell. Further, the will makes it clear (having regard to the circumstances existing when it was made) that the deceased formed this view acknowledging that Ms Bouttell had the benefit of ownership of the Teal Close property.
73Further, of course, and again viewed objectively, the will makes it clear that the deceased recognised an obligation to make provision for his sons Luke and Dylan.
74I do not think that anything turns on the draft will except to note that, had the deceased's estate been more ample, the provision that he would have made for Ms Bouttell might have been somewhat larger.
75To my mind, the deceased was correct to recognise the obligation to provide Ms Bouttell with a residence. However, I do not think that the right given by the will is sufficient.
76First, Ms Bouttell has no ownership interest in the property. She is dependent on others for its upkeep: for some time, the executor; and thereafter, Luke and Dylan. It may be that the executor would be able to meet his obligations of upkeep, although this would mean inevitably that he would have to delay distribution of the balance of the estate. However, there is no reason to think that Luke and Dylan would be able to do so.
77Further, quite apart from the ability of Luke and Dylan to provide for the upkeep of the property (when that obligation falls upon them), there is some question I think as to their willingness to do so.
78Secondly, and because Ms Bouttell does not have the benefit of an ownership interest in the property, she is not able to use it (for example) as security to enable her, should her financial position change, to acquire other assets on which she might rely for her support as she grows older.
79Thirdly, and as another result or consequence of the lack of an ownership interest, Ms Bouttell has no right to move to another, and it may be in the future more suitable, property. I do accept that it might be possible, by agreement between all parties concerned, for some substitute property to be bought. However, all that means is that Ms Bouttell's future residence rights must depend on the agreement of others and not on the exercise of her own volition.
80In short, I do not think that the arrangements made by the will in this respect give sufficient certainty and sufficient flexibility to Ms Bouttell to enable her to live in comfort and security for the rest of her life.
81It follows, in my view, that an appropriate provision under the will should have recognised the need for Ms Bouttell to buy another property. That leads to the next questions which are, given that in my view the jurisdictional factors set out in s 59(1) of the Succession Act have been satisfied, the question of whether an order should be made and, if it should, what that order should be.
82There was not advanced any case of some discretionary reason for refusing to make an order. Nor do I think that the evidence gives any basis for exercising the discretion not to do so, in circumstances where the jurisdictional questions have been answered in Ms Bouttell's favour.
83I turn to the question of what provision ought be made.
84In my view, that provision should be by way of legacy, in place of the rights given to Ms Bouttell by the will.
85Before I turn to the amount of the legacy, I should deal with some relatively peripheral matters. First, there are the moneys taken by Ms Bouttell from the deceased's account after his death. In theory, they are owing to the estate and would form part of the estate's assets. In my view, the provision that is to be made for her should be in effect in addition to those benefits that she has de facto, although not de jure, received.
86Secondly, the executor has made some provision, by way of advancement, for the benefit of Dylan. That provision appears to be of the order of about $20,000 in total. Again, that should not be disturbed by the further provision to be made in favour of Ms Bouttell.
87Thirdly, it appears to be common ground that the deceased made gifts of money to Ms Bouttell shortly prior to his death. She said, and I accept, that he did so to enable her to clear some debts. Those gifts might be thought to form part of the deceased's notional estate. The proper provision to be made for Ms Bouttell should leave those where they are: that is to say, should not require them to be taken into account.
88Fourthly, the specific bequests and legacies given by cl 12 of the will should not be disturbed.
89Turning to the question of the amount of the legacy: Ms Bouttell's wish is to have a legacy that will enable her to buy, without encumbrance, some alternative place to live. That it seems to me to be in principle appropriate. For the reasons I have given, I do not accept that it would be appropriate for Ms Bouttell to undertake a mortgage to assist her in the purchase of a property. However, she does have the benefit of a capital sum of $200,000, and it does not seem to me to be reasonable for her to say that she should receive a legacy of sufficient size to enable her to purchase a property without having to touch her own reserves.
90The next problem that arises is the one generated by the late and unsatisfactory nature of the evidence on the topic of cost. In circumstances where it was Ms Bouttell's obligation to prove this aspect of her case, but where her evidence on the point was late and unsatisfactory, I do not propose to make assumptions in her favour as to the amount required.
91To my mind, the surer guide comes from the recent sale price of her property at Teal Close. As I have said already, it seems to me that if a three bedroom property, apparently well located and otherwise "desirable", sells for $390,000, then a smaller and equally "desirable" property in the same area should sell for substantially less. Doing the best I can in the state of the evidence as it has been left, I think that an amount of about $350,000, together with stamp duty and costs, might be the sort of money needed to put Ms Bouttell into another house.
92However, I do not think that she should expect the estate to bear the whole of that cost. I do not think that it is unreasonable to expect her to contribute towards it.
93Thus, I conclude, the proper provision would be by way of a legacy in the sum of $300,000. If Ms Bouttell can acquire a property for that sum of money, then so be it. If the sum proved to be insufficient and she is required to spend some of her own savings, then again so be it.
94If I am right in my attempts to estimate the likely cost, provision in that amount would leave Ms Bouttell with still substantial savings against the exigencies of life. It would leave her with her constantly steady employment and income. And it would leave her with her constantly accumulating superannuation benefit.
95At the same time, on the figures as I have summarised them, provision in that sum would leave Luke and Dylan with about $150,000 each to support them in life, in particular while they complete their studies. It seems to me that redividing the estate in this manner gives proper expression to the three claims that the evidence discloses were ones for which it was proper for the deceased to provide; and it does so in a way which, although not entirely satisfactory (a function of the relatively meagre estate as much as anything), nonetheless gives appropriate recognition to the strength and merits of those claims.
96As I have said, Mr Lakeman contended for a legacy by way of a percentage share in the estate. That does not seem to me to be appropriate. If proper provision for Ms Bouttell is of the order that I have indicated, in all the circumstances, then to make provision by way of a share, the value of which can only be ascertained until after realisation of all the estate's assets, runs the very real risk of under-providing (or over-providing) for her needs.
97In short, on this point, I think that to the extent that the estate is insufficient or more than sufficient to meet the provision that I have indicated, Luke and Dylan should bear the burden or enjoy the consequences.
98It is obvious that some care will need to be given to the drafting of the orders. First, they must make it clear that the legacy that I conclude should be given in lieu of the provision made by the will is not to disturb the four matters that I have listed. Secondly, it will no doubt take some time to realise the estate's assets and thus there will be a question of the time from which interest should run. Thirdly, it may well be, those beneficially interested (Ms Bouttell, Luke and Dylan), all being of age and capable in law, may well direct the executor to proceed in a particular way, the effect of which would be to truncate the administration of the estate, for the benefit of all concerned (including, in particular, the executor).
99For those reasons, I direct the parties to bring in short minutes of order to give effect to what I have just said.
100That leaves the question of costs. On the face of things, the usual costs orders should follow: namely, that Ms Bouttell should have her costs on the ordinary basis out of the estate, and the executor his on the indemnity basis. If there is to be some dispute about that, I will hear argument. If not, those orders can be included in the draft.
101Finally, there are the exhibits. I have no wish to retain them. They should be handed out.