Wirth v Wirth [1956] HCA 71; (1956) 98 CLR 228 (25 October 1956)

HIGH COURT OF AUSTRALIA

WIRTH v. WIRTH [1956] HCA 71; (1956) 98 CLR 228

Trust and Trustees

High Court of Australia
Dixon C.J.(1), McTiernan(2) and Taylor(3) JJ.

CATCHWORDS

Trust and Trustees - Resulting trust - Presumption of advancement - Engaged couple purchasing land for matrimonial home in their joint names - Transfer by prospective husband of his half interest in the land to intended wife - Expressed to be for specified monetary consideration - No money paid - House afterwards erected on land - Each paying portion of the cost - Marriage - House used as matrimonial home - Summary application by husband to a judge for a declaration that wife held the land as trustee for the two of them - The Married Women's Property Acts 1890 to 1952 (Q.), s. 21.

HEARING

Brisbane, 1956, July 26;
Melbourne, 1956, October 25. 25:10:1956

DECISION

Cobb v. Cobb (1955) 2 All ER 696; 1 WLR 731
Coultwas against Swan (1871) 19 WR 485
Lloyd v. Spillit [1740] EngR 89; (1740) Barn C 385 (27 ER 689)
Young v. Peachy [1741] EngR 446; (1741) 2 Atk 255 (26 ER 557)
Fordyce v. Willis [1792] EngR 3065; (1792) 3 Bro CC 577 (29 ER 708)
Fowkes v. Pascoe (1875) LR 10 Ch App 343
House v. Caffyn (1922) VLR 67
Coultwas v. Swan (1870) 22 LT 539
Moate v. Moate (1948) 2 All ER 486; 92 SJ 484
Soar v. Foster [1858] EngR 247; (1858) 4 K & J 152 (70 ER 64)
Murdock v. Aherne (1878) 4 VLR (E) 244
Tucker v. Burrow (1865) 2 H & M 515 (71 ER 563)
Nicholson v. Mulligan (1869) 3 IR Eq 308
Finch v. Finch [1808] EngR 125; (1808) 15 Ves Jun 43 (33 ER 671)
Rimmer v. Rimmer (1953) 1 QB 63
Dyer v. Dyer (1788) 2 Cox 92 (30 ER 42)
Rider v. Kidder (1805) 10 Ves Jun 360 (32 ER 884)