Promises to make provision from an estate, even if vague as to the quantum or precise form of provision, may found a claim in proprietary estoppel where the promisee refrains from bringing testamentary family maintenance proceedings in reliance on those promises. The loss of the opportunity to bring Part IV proceedings constitutes sufficient detriment, and relief may be measured by the provision the court would have ordered under Part IV rather than by enforcement of the full expectation. The certainty required for proprietary estoppel is significantly less than that required for an enforceable contract, and representations must be assessed by how they would be reasonably understood by the addressee in context.
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