Stayko v. Stayko Estate, 2002 ABQB 1005

• Judge: Slatter, J.
• Court: Court of Queen's Bench of Alberta (Canada)
• Case Date: November 05, 2002
• Citations: 2002 ABQB 1005;(2002), 331 A.R. 373 (QB)

Stayko v. Stayko Estate (2002), 331 A.R. 373 (QB)

MLB headnote and full text

Temp. Cite: [2002] A.R. TBEd. NO.114

Mary Stayko (applicant) v. Steve Stayko, Executor of the Estate of John George Stayko (respondent)

(No. SES03-114840; 2002 ABQB 1005)

Indexed As: Stayko v. Stayko Estate

Alberta Court of Queen's Bench

Judicial District of Edmonton

Slatter, J.

November 13, 2002.

Summary:

The testator left nothing to his wife. They had been separated for 50 years. The wife applied for relief under the Family Relief Act.

The Alberta Court of Queen's Bench dismissed the application.

Family Law - Topic 6626

Dependents' relief legislation - Persons entitled to relief - Widow - Separated from husband - The testator left nothing to his wife - They had been separated for 50 years, with no contact for the last 30 years - Both were of modest means - The Alberta Court of Queen's Bench dismissed the wife's application for relief where: (1) the wife would not have had any realistic prospect of receiving an award for spousal support; and (2) she had no moral claim to a share of the estate.

Family Law - Topic 6682

Dependents' relief legislation - Considerations in making awards - Moral duty of testator - [See Family Law - Topic 6626 ].

Cases Noticed:

Tataryn et al. v. Tataryn Estate, [1994] 2 S.C.R. 807; 169 N.R. 60; 46 B.C.A.C. 255; 75 W.A.C. 255; 116 D.L.R.(4th) 193; 93 B.C.L.R.(2d) 145, consd. [para. 10].

Provost v. Provost, [1997] B.C.T.C. Uned. 162; 27 R.F.L.(4th) 184 (S.C.), refd to. [para. 13].

Tatlock v. Tatlock (1992), 71 B.C.L.R.(2d) 194 (S.C.), refd to. [para. 14].

Moge v. Moge, [1992] 3 S.C.R. 813; 145 N.R. 1; 81 Man.R.(2d) 161; 30 W.A.C. 161, refd to. [para. 15].

Kazmierczak v. Kazmierczak, [2001] 10 W.W.R. 139; 292 A.R. 233; 94 Alta. L.R.(3d) 116; 22 R.F.L.(5th) 321 (Q.B.), not folld. [para. 16].

Murray, Re (1966), 60 D.L.R.(2d) 76 (B.C.S.C.), refd to. [para. 17].

Callegari, Re (1958), 13 D.L.R.(2d) 585 (B.C.S.C.), not folld. [para. 17].

Keane v. Keane Estate (1972), 7 N.B.R.(2d) 187 (Q.B.), refd to. [para. 18].

Sandhu v. Sandhu Estate (1999), 176 N.S.R.(2d) 67; 538 A.P.R. 67; 26 E.T.R.(2d) 286 (S.C.), refd to. [para. 19].

Butts Estate, Re (1999), 96 O.T.C. 61; 27 E.T.R.(2d) 81 (Gen. Div.), refd to. [para. 20].

Counsel:

C.R. Head, for the applicant;

J.R. Nickerson, for the Beneficiaries;

R. Hall, for the Executor.

Slatter, J., of the Alberta Court of Queen's Bench, Judicial District of Edmonton, heard this application on November 5, 2002, and delivered the following reasons for judgment on November 13, 2002.