Identifying with the sovereign citizen movement and expecting to be addressed as dora-elizabeth-mary:house of edmonds, Dora Edmonds demanded she was the only person competent to handle her later mother’s estate, to the exclusion of two sisters named as fellow executors, leading the High Court to remove her as executor on grounds she intended to distribute her late mother’s assets contrary to terms of her will.
Mary Edmonds died in 2022. Three years on, probate of her will was yet to be granted. Daughters Dora, Rachel and Veronica are named as executors.
The High Court was told Dora’s interpretation of the will is disputed. She refused to assist her sisters’ application for probate.
In dispute is one clause in Mary’s will which states her home on Vogel Street in Palmerston North is to be sold, the proceeds used to make specified cash gifts to Mary’s two sisters and further money used for specified improvements to properties on Maori land at Whangarei in which Mary has an ancestral interest.
The legal complication is that Vogel Street was sold nearly five years prior to her death.
At law, specific legacies to be paid out of specified property adeem if prior to death the property is sold and no longer forms part of the estate. By implication, the specific legacy is revoked.
Regardless of this rule, Dora wants to see estate money used for the proposed improvements in Whangarei.
The court was told this would see estate money used for improvements to a property Dora currently occupies.
Dora claims that as sole executrix of their late mother’s will, and with the assistance of her ‘hapu native counsel,’ she would carry out terms of the will ‘to the letter.’
Justice McHerron granted probate of Mary’s will to daughters Veronica and Rachel, excluding Dora.
Dora’s motivation in seeking sole appointment is self-interest, with an intention to use estate funds to achieve a purpose that is no longer provided for in the will, he said.
Complaints by Dora about distribution of their mother’s personal effects were dismissed.
Veronica and Rachel had made reasonable attempts to involve Dora in gathering up and dealing with their mother’s belongings, Justice McHerron said. These assets were of minimal value and decisions were necessary to minimise storage costs, he said.
re Estate Mary Tahuhu Edmonds – High Court (9.07.25)
25.155