The court considered whether the executor should have his costs out of the estate unless he had acted unreasonably. Scrutton LJ warned: ‘I should be reluctant to do anything to create the idea that unsuccessful litigants might get their costs out of the estate, without making a very strong case on [the] facts. The lure of ‘costs out of the estate’ is responsible for much unnecessary litigation.’
Judges:
Scrutton LJ, Lord Hanworth MR
Citations:
[1926] P 139
Jurisdiction:
England and Wales
Citing:
Endorsed – Twist v Tye 1902
The three plaintiff executors, who had unsuccessfully propounded a will, were also residuary legatees under the will, had themselves managed the deceased’s affairs before she made it, and had had ample opportunity of forming an opinion as to her . .
Endorsed – Spiers v English 1907
The two main principles which should guide the court in determining that costs in an appropriate suit are not to follow the event are firstly where the testator or those interested in the residue had been the cause of the litigation and secondly, if . .
Cited by:
Cited – Kostic v Chaplin and others ChD 7-Dec-2007
The claimant had brought contentious probate proceedings, and succeeded in establishing that the deceased had not had capacity to make the will. The defendant beneficiaries appealed an order for costs.
Held: The costs of the trial itself . .
Lists of cited by and citing cases may be incomplete.
Wills and Probate, Costs
Updated: 07 May 2022; Ref: scu.263526