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The woman had been estranged from her father for more than a decade. He died in 2023, aged 81, and left 50 per cent of his estate to his eldest daughter, who has significant medical challenges, and 15 per cent each to his other two daughters. He left the remaining 20 per cent to his friend, who was also his executor. “NSW judges have signalled … the era of ‘open slather’ family provision litigation at the estate’s expense is over.”Sydney lawyer Mary-Ann de Mestre His youngest daughter applied to the court for a family provision order, which is a way for current or former dependants of a deceased, among others, to seek a larger slice of the inheritance pie if inadequate provision was made for them in a will. But the court will make such an order only on a needs basis. In this case, the judge did not accept the woman had “fallen on hard times”, although she noted her “assets and income are modest, at best”.
