The dispute centres on a 46-hectare property in Euberta, near Wagga. Photo: realestate.com.au.
The NSW Supreme Court has appointed a temporary independent administrator to take control over a Riverina man’s deceased estate, following months of bitter litigation between his former wife and son over his property.
John Leslie Boreland Snr died at Wagga Wagga Base Hospital on 28 April, 2025, at age 81, from gastric cancer.
His final will, dated 23 April (five days before his death), appointed his son John Boreland Jnr as executor of his estate, which included a 114-acre (46-hectare) property in Euberta (near Wagga) and a house in Harden.
A previous Supreme Court judgment, handed down in July 2025, was critical of how John Jnr had behaved towards his 78-year-old mother, Robyn, since his father’s death, stating that appointing him as executor of the will could place the administration of the estate “in jeopardy”.
Robyn had lived with John Snr until his death and remained on good terms with him despite their divorce in 1987. In November 2025, she applied to the Supreme Court to replace John Jnr as administrator of John Snr’s will.
However, at a hearing in December, Supreme Court Justice Geoff Lindsay decided that neither the mother nor the son would control the estate. Instead, he appointed a neutral lawyer, Kevin Emanuel of Boyd House & Partners, as an interim administrator.
Both sides agreed to this appointment.
Mr Emanuel’s role is limited to collecting and preserving estate assets, paying bills, operating estate bank accounts and keeping financial records. He is not allowed to distribute any part of the estate to family members or anyone else without further court approval. The administrator can be paid up to $550 an hour plus GST for his work.
Robyn has also lodged a family provision claim, which is a legal challenge for a larger share of her ex-husband’s estate than what was allocated to her in the final will.
According to the previous judgment, John Jnr prevented his mother from living at the Euberta property, even though John Snr’s final will granted her the home as a life estate, which gave her the right to keep residing on the property.
The published decision stated that John Jnr effectively blocked his mother from attending his father’s funeral in Harden. He organised a private ceremony and informed his mother of the venue one hour before it was due to take place. She was in Wagga when she found out and didn’t have time to reach Harden (90 minutes away), so missed the funeral.
It was also stated that John Jnr installed CCTV cameras at the property and removed all Robyn’s personal belongings from the house.
Judge Mark Richmond made an interim ruling in favour of Robyn, ordering John Jnr to vacate the Euberta property and preventing him from entering the land or contacting his mother except through his lawyers.
The next court hearing on this case is scheduled for 12 February, 2026, when the judge is expected to set the timetable for resolving the remaining issues, including the final administration of the estate and Robyn’s family provision claim.
