From www.bartier.com.au: The High Court of Australia ruled in Kramer v Stone [2024] HCA 48 that a verbal promise made by Dame Leonie Kramer to David Stone regarding inheriting a farm was enforceable under the doctrine of proprietary estoppel.

The court determined that Stone’s reliance on the promise, which led to significant detrimental actions over 23 years, merited upholding his claim to the farm against her Will’s provisions.

This decision emphasises the need for consistency between verbal promises and formal testamentary documents to prevent legal disputes.