Slain Brazilian mining executive Cecilia Haddad may have still been legally married to her estranged husband when she died.
Felipe Torres has joined Ms Haddad's father in a legal battle over her estate, which the NSW Supreme Court heard on Monday could be worth more than $1.8 million.
The pair wed in Brazil and began the process to dissolve their marriage but no application was made to do the same in Australia, Justice Geoffrey Lindsay was told.
Mr Torres lives in Perth and works in the mining industry, as did Ms Haddad. The two went to the same Brazilian university, according to their online profiles.
A lawyer representing Ms Haddad's family said a document from Brazil was being translated that could shed light on how far through the process they were.
The pair had sought to divide assets in November 2017, including two properties in Queensland and Western Australia.
The court also heard inquiries were being made into an estimated $1.8 million in life insurance and/or superannuation and an off-the-plan unit which had been sighted on documents in Ms Haddad's belongings.
The figures have yet to be confirmed by both parties.
"There are two factors which may be significant - is there a will? Nobody has found a will." Justice Lindsay said.
"The other is did the deceased die with a husband? That's something being worked out apparently.
"There may be enough for people to fight about if they were inclined to fight."
He adjourned the matter until on August 6.
Ms Haddad's father, Jose Ibrahim Haddad, in June filed a civil claim in the NSW Supreme Court to be the administrator of her estate.
Mr Torres also made an application soon after Mr Haddad's lawyer was granted "special letters of administration" on his behalf.
Ms Haddad's former partner Mario Marcelo Santoro was last week charged with her murder in Brazil.
Australian Associated Press
