Wills: Execution and revocation

Reference received: 20 June 1983

Report

Report 47: Wills Execution and Revocation (PDF, 519.9 KB) [PDF, 519Kb], March 1986

Tabled in parliament: 14 October 1987

Legislative action: Wills, Probate and Administration (Amendment) Act 1989; Succession Act 2006 s 32

Judicial citation: Layer v Burns Philp Trustee Co Ltd (1986) 6 NSWLR 60, 68; Cloonan v Allingham; Estate of Pugh (NSW SC, No 103129/90, Needham J, 14 December 1990, unreported), 8; Re Application of Brown (Estate of Springfield) (1991) 23 NSWLR 535, 540; Mortensen v State of New South Wales (NSW CA, No 40544/90, 12 December 1991, unreported), 6 (Sheller JA); Estate of Gillespie (NSW SC, No 114668/91, Powell J, 25 October 1991, unreported), 5; Re Application of Kencalo (Estate of Buharoff) (NSW SC, No 110613/91, Powell J, 23 October 1991, unreported), 10; Re Brisbane (NSW SC, No 107483/92, Powell J, 19 June 1992, unreported), 6-8; Perpetual Trustees Victoria Ltd v Sabine (Vic, Supreme Court, Practice Court, No 6562/92, O'Bryan J, 5 May 1992, unreported, 10; Estate of Masters (1994) 33 NSWLR 446; Pahlow-Silady v Siladi (NSW CA, No 40164/95, 22 April 1997, unreported) (Mason P); Pahlow-Silady v Siladi [1999] NSWSC 890 [37]; Amy v Permanent Trustee [1999] NSWSC 862 [16], [49]; Treacey v Edwards (2000) 49 NSWLR 739 [22]; Miller v Miller (2000) 50 NSWLR 81 [13]; Fisher v Barnes (2000) 13 P 3d 1231 (Colorado, Court of Appeals); Tonkiss v Graham[2002] NSWSC 891 [85]; McKinney v Campbell[2003] NSWSC 244 [5], [21]; Hoobin v Hoobin [2004] NSWSC 705 [51]; Re Application in the Estate of Pischner [2004] ACTSC 129 [13]; Dolan v Dolan (PDF, 95.6 KB)[2007] WASC 249, [18]; Schneider v Sydney Jewish Museum Inc [2008] NSWSC 1331 [8]; Re Yates; Ex Parte the Public Trustee[2008] WASC 211; In the estate of Hennekam [2009] SASC 188 [34], [35]; Fawcett v Crompton [2010] NSWSC 219 [28]; Estate of Scott [2014] NSWSC 465 [77]

Terms of reference

To inquire into and report on:

(i) The law relating to the execution and revocation of wills and documents of a testamentary nature, including the law relating to:

signature, attestation and witnessing;
privileged wills;
revocation by marriage and by dissolution of marriage.

(ii) Any incidental matter.