Making a will or left out of one? Important considerations on family provision claims in Queensland

Apr 13, 2021 | Article

TABLE OF CONTENT

It is important to have a will.
A will provides your executor with directions on how to distribute everything you have saved in life, collectively called your estate. Through years of work and prudence, your estate may well be worth over a million dollars, especially if you own land.
It comes as a surprise to many though that a court can overrule a person’s testamentary wishes, even if recorded clearly in writing in a will.
This does not mean there is no respect for testamentary freedom (although some would argue this is exactly what it means). What it means indisputably, is that a will (or no will) is not necessarily definitive of how an estate will be distributed.
In Queensland, the making and interpretation of a will is primarily regulated by the Succession Act 1981 and decisions of judges, referred to as case law.
The Succession Act and case law also regulate a dispute process that allows disgruntled persons, left out of a will entirely or who think they are entitled to more, to make a claim for provision.
Normally (although not always according to case law) it is necessary to be a family member to be able to make a legitimate claim.
If successful, a family provision claim will result in a court order varying the effect of a will, or if there is no will, the ordinary rules of intestacy.
The table on the next page identifies who it is important for to understand the substantive principles and the regulated process which can influence the outcome of a family provision claim.

A court has the power to determine whether “adequate provision” for “proper maintenance and support” has been made for a qualifying person.
Important factors relevant to the substance of a family provision claim are identified in the table below:

Below is a simplified table identifying factors relevant to a family provision claim and their impact on the prospects of a claim succeeding.

Because each situation is different and there are other relevant considerations, the above table is not conclusive on the merits of a claim.
A principle worth noting, and which has been supported by the courts, is that:
“The more distant the family relationship between the deceased and a claimant, the greater must be the need of the claimant for maintenance and support if it is to give rise to an obligation..” (Freeman & Ors v Jacques [2005] QCA 423 at paragraph 5). While other general principles can be expressed and worked around for guidance, the reality is that the case law has an element of unpredictability. General principles and criteria which can be used for guidance include:

a. what would a wise and just parent have done in the circumstances?

b. the term “adequate provision” is not a reward for services rendered,

c. the term “adequate provision” is not based on notions of fairness or equality,

d. the financial position and needs of the claimant are likely to be relevant.

The first step for someone who wants to make an application to court for family provision is to give formal notice to the executor of such an intention.
The person applying then has up until 9 months from the date of death to institute proceedings (section 41 (8) of the Succession Act). This involves making an application to either the District or Supreme Court and including a detailed affidavit with supporting evidence showing that at least, on the face of it, the applicant is entitled to apply.
Once the application is served, the process is regulated by court practice directives which require a disclosure and settlement process to be attempted before a trial takes place.
Important things to consider relating to timing, costs and disclosure are identified in the table below:

Because of the issues and process involved, a claim for family provision can be successful for an applicant, even if the chances of it succeeding in a trial are remote. This is because an executor might make a commercial decision that it is better for the beneficiaries under a disputed will for an application for provision to be settled.
Navigating the process sensibly involves balancing the prospects of a claim succeeding, the extent of provision which a court might award, and the time and costs involved.

22. We are available to assist if you:

a. require assistance drafting a will and need to factor in the possibility of a family maintenance claims,

b. are an executor and require assistance responding to a family maintenance claim,

c. have been excluded from a will or through the laws of intestacy and want advice on the prospects of succeeding in a family maintenance claim.

If you need advice on wills or family provision claims, please call Peter for an obligation free discussion.

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