Wild claims in court as step-kid and sister fight over legend's money…
The Gold Coast photographer Marty Tullemans, who was as much a part of surf history as the iconic photographs he took but who suffered from bi-polar disorder and, later, dementia, died of kidney failure a little over one year ago.
And ol Marty, who was pretty canny with his money, left a total of 625k, which included $379,000 in cash.
A will from 2013 shared his estate equally between his ex-partner’s four kids, including his step-daughter Tamar Tane, and nothing to his sister, Maria Shaw.
Now, his sister claims she found an envelope, marked “Powderkeg”, after he went into a nursing home that contained an updated version of his will, this time leaving most of his fortune to her.
The step-daughter, Tamar Tane, is challenging Maria’s application and has filed a counterclaim.
Tane’s lawyer alleges there are “suspicious circumstances” surrounding the signing of the will.
In a court doc, Maria says she and her husband found a safe containing the updated will, dated October 18, 2019, in Marty’s Kirra Beach Caravan Park cabin.
Maria said the will had been witnessed by her dad Petrus Tullemans and Marty’s pal and neighbour of thirty years, Deborah Phillips.
Shaw’s son, David, said his Uncle Marty asked him to fill in a will form and then dictated his wishes and then watched as Marty signed the form in front of his grandfather Petrus and neighbour Deborah.
Marty, says David, told him to keep the will confidential, telling his nephew, “I have put the will in an envelope which has ‘Powderkeg’ written on it and put it in my safe”.
The “Powderkeg” will left fifty k to Tamar Tane to divide with her siblings however she wanted, fifty k to Marty’s bro Frank and the rest to Maria.
And here comes a new twist.
Deborah Phillips, whose signature is allegedly on “Powderkeg”, has signed a stat dec saying she didn’t see or witness Marty or his Dad signing it.
In November 2020, Deborah says Maria invited her for dinner and said, “I need you to sign a document for Martin” which she says she refused.
Maria denies asking Deborah to sign the will.
The judge, meanwhile, has ordered Maria to reveal text messages between her and Deborah and to surrender all of Marty’s phones and computers.
More as this dirty little episode unfurls.
Supreme Court Case Tamar Tane Vs Mary Shaw was held last week over 2 days. Deborah Phillips on the stand confirmed she did not know she was signing a Will and was left in the dark about what the signature was required for in the first place. She confirms she was not shown the full document. Judge Jackson retires early next year so his deliberations and final judgement should be expected around then. Mary Shaw came across just as Amber Heard did in her recent court case – of which she of course lost – full of lies, deception and dramatic window dressing of her narrative, rather than simply answering yes/no etc while on the stand. Mary Shaw’s answers on the stand were laughable and amused the army of Tamar’s lawyers and supporters – consisting of Tamar’s partner, Martin’s brother, wife & their son / nephew (me!)
Wills don’t need to be notarized in CA, and they generally are not. There is a specific law that says you have to validate the will by having two witnesses.
Trusts do not require notarization either, but they generally are. I think it’s because there isn’t a specific law that says “a trust is validated by two witnesses” like there is for wills, so a notary is just the easiest way to demonstrate that it’s someone’s trust.
Maybe someone will make a HB/Ronnie G surf t-shirt someday!
YOU ARE NOT A TROLL, YOU ARE A FUCKING LEGEND! This is BG. we are all trolls here!
I’ve got a handwritten letter from Marty somewhere in my hall cupboard if anyone needs a writing specimen.
$625k estate. Each law firm will charge $150k leaving $325k. Probably outstanding bills from the nursing home, caravan park, tax office. Maybe $200-$250k left at the end of the day. Barely worth the fight, definitely not worth a year of your life in court over.
Since when do “surf photographers” make AUD $379, 000 thousand dollars?
Maybe I should buy a telephoto lens –
Nothing says classy more then getting your father with dementia to sign a will while in a nursing home
(if that’s true)
Knowing we are talking about a small amount of aus dollars I say move on to a better story like what else has his sister been faking, Jonah’s latest surfing safari or Ben Gravy surfing waves in Nebraska
Nothing brings family together again like the contents of a will…
Obviously, allegedly, allegedly.
A surf photographer claimed he had money? That’s suss right there.
What is a “surf photographe”?
Nothing to see here, move along etc.
Got it.