Wills Estates and Trusts Outline and Case Chart

Michael Mroczka
Wills, Estates, and Trusts Outline
Chapter 1. Introduction Section A. The Power to Transmit Property at Death: Justifications and Limitations 1. The Right to Inherit and the Right to Covey Hodel v. Irving Whether the original version of the escheat Decedents have a right to control disposition of provision of the Indian Land Consolidation their property at death, and the original provision Act of 1983 effected a taking of appellees of the escheat provision of the Indian decedents property without just Consolidation Act of 1983 effected an compensation. unconstitutional taking of their property without just compensation. Shaw Family Archives v. Marilyn Monroes willcan govt. increase MM did not have the testamentary capacity to CMG Worldwide property rights that pass as part of decedents devise property rights she did not own at the time estate? Could MM devise a right to her name, of her death. Law of the domicile of the testator at likeness and persona? his death applies to all questions of a wills construction (majority rule). California law said you could but not retroactive. Then amended to make retroactive (notes). 3. The Problem of the Dead Hand To what extent should a person be able to use wealth to influence behavior after death? Restatement: The donors intention is given effect to the maximum extent allowed by law. American law does not grant courts any general authority to question the wisdom, fairness, or reasonableness of the donors decisions about how to alloca te his or her property. Shapira v. Union National Testator, conditioned his sons, Ps, The conditions contained in decedents will are Bank inheritance under his will upon P being reasonable restrictions. His unmistakable married to, or marrying within seven years of testamentary plan was for his possessions to be Ts death, a Jewish girl with two Jewish used to encourage the preservation of the Jewish parents. P filed suit alleging that such a faith. The condition did not pressure plaintiff into condition was unconstitutional based upon the marriage by the reward of money because the premise that the right to marry is protected by seven year time limit is a reasonable grace period, the 14th AMD. which would give plaintiff ample time for reflection and fulfillment of the condition without constraint or oppression. Restatement: a restraint to induce a person to marry within a religious faith is valid if, and only if, under the circumstances, the restraint does not unreasonably limit the transferees opportunity to marry. The restrained unreasonably limits the transferees opportunity to marry if a marriage permitted by the restraint is not likely to occur. A will or trust provision is ordinarily invalid if it is intended or tends to encourage disruption of a family relationship. Thus, provisions encouraging separation or divorce have usually been held invalid, unless the dominant motive of the testator is to provide support in the event of separation or divorce. Section B. Transfer of the Decedents Estate 1. Probate and Nonprobate Property Probateproperty that passes under the decedents will or by intestacy o Distribution of probate assets under a will or to interstate successors may require a court proceeding involving probate of a will or a finding of intestacy followed by appointment of a personal representative to settle the probate estate. Nonprobateproperty passing under an instrument other than a will, which became effective before death. Most property is passed outside of probate o Nonprobate Property Joint tenancyboth real and personal Decedents interest vanishes at deathnothing passes to survivor at death, they just have it. Life insurancepaid to the beneficiary named in the K Contracts with payable on death provisions Interests in trust Property held in a testamentary trust created under decedents will goes through probat Inter vivos (put in during decedents lifetime) does not. 2. Administration of Probate Estates a. The Functions of Probate Probate is intended to: (1) provide evidence of transfer of title to the new owners (2) protects creditors by requiring the payment of debts; and (3) it distributes the decedents property to those intended after the creditors are paid. b. Probate Terminology and History When a person dies and probate is necessary, the first step is the appointment of a personal representative to oversee the winding up of the decedents affairs
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o Inventory and collect the assets o Manage the assets during the administration o Receive and pay the claims of creditors and tax collectors o Clear any titles to cars, real estate, or other assets and o Distribute the remaining assets to those entitled. If there is a will, and it names a personal representative, this person is the executor If there is no will or no person named, the person appointed by the probate court is called the administrator. Most wills waive bond; But, if there is no will or bond is not waived in the will, the personal representative must post bond In England various courts dealt with these issues; in the U.S. there is one court in each county. There is complication because there are different words that refer to personal and real property. For example, a will disposed of real property and a testament disposed or personal property. Thus, an instrument that disposed of both was both a will and testament. A person dying testate devises real property to devisees and bequeaths personal property to legatees. Real property descends to heirs; Personal property is distributed to next-of-kin. o Today, a single statute usually outlines the descent for both real and personal property c. A Summary of Probate Procedure (1) Opening Probate Administration should be sought in the jurisdiction in which the decedent was domiciled at the time of his death. o If real property is located in another jurisdiction, an ancillary administration is required. (2) Formal versus Informal Probate There are formal and informal probatein formal, notice is given to beneficiaries and heirs. (3) Barring Creditors of the Decedent Every state has a statute requiring creditors to file claims within a specified period of time; claims filed thereafter are barred. These are known as non-claim statutes. o They either (1) bar claims within a short period after probate begins (2-6 months) or (2) whether or not probate proceedings are commenced, they bar claims not filed within a longer period after the decedents death, generally 1 -5 years (1 year under the UPC). The Supreme Court has held that known or reasonably ascertainable creditors must be give actual notice before they are barred by a short-term statute running from the commencement of probate proceedings. o 1yr SOL is believed to be constitutional even w/o notice. (4) Closing the Estate Creditors must be paid, titles must be cleared. Taxes must be paid and tax returns audited and accepted by tax authorities. Real estate or sole proprietorship may have to be sold. Judicial approval of the personal reps action is required to relieve the rep from liability, unless some SOL runs upon a cause of action against the rep. The rep is not discharged from fid. Resp. until the court grants discharge. d. The Cost of Probate Why is probate bad? Court delays, court costs, its a public record (both good or bad) Why is it good to have a will? Provide for alternative takers in case the state laws are not what the individual wants, name executor and successor executor, name guardian for the children (this is usually the biggest deal for many people). e. Is Probate Necessary? With the rising popularity of Nonprobate modes of transfer, the ready availability of summary or affidavit administration for small estates, and special provisions for transfer of automobiles and other items with formal title registration, increasingly probate is necessary only for very large estates to clear title to real property. Section D. Professional Responsibility 1. Duties to Intended Beneficiaries Simpson v. Calivas Whether an attorney who drafts a testators will owes a duty of reasonable care to intended beneficiaries? -A drafting attorney owes a duty of care to an intended beneficiary, notwithstanding lack of privity, due to the foreseeability of injury to the intended beneficiary. After the testator's death, the failure of his testamentary scheme works only to deprive his intended beneficiaries of the intended bequests. If a testator contracts with an attorney to draft a will and has identified those to whom he wishes his estate to pass, the identified beneficiaries may enforce the contract as third-party beneficiaries. -Where the terms of the will are ambiguous, extrinsic evidence of the testator's intent may be admitted to probate proceedings to the extent that it does not contradict the express terms of the will. While both the probate court and the superior court are competent to consider the same evidence on the issue of T's intent, that is not dispositive of an identity of issues. The probate court's role is to determine the testator's intent expressed in the language of the will. Direct declarations of the testator's intent are generally inadmissible in probate proceedings. A finding of actual intent is not necessary (or essential) to that judgment. Even an explicit finding of actual intent by a probate court cannot be the basis of collateral estoppel. Collateral estoppel is only applicable if the finding in the
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first proceeding was essential to the judgment of that court.
2. Conflicts of Interest A. v. B.
Law firm, represented both husband, H, A firm that represents a husband and wife may respondent, and wife, W. Both executed mutual only disclose to the wife the fact that the husband wills transfer all the property to the survivor had fathered another child but may not disclose the with the reasonable expectation that each identity of the other woman or the child. The Court would provide for their children. Meanwhile, will allow the firm to tell the wife that her husband the firm mistakenly took on another client, a has a child by another woman because it is crucial woman who sued H for paternity. The to her needs in her won estate planning. However it existence of the additional child was vital to must protect the confidentiality of its client, the Hs and Ws estate plan. The firm withdrew other woman, because it also owes her a duty from representation in the paternity suit and because they had formerly represented her. ordered H to tell W of his other child or the firm would. H sued firm to prevent disclosure. Chapter 2. Intestacy: An Estate Plan by Default Section A. The Basic Scheme 1. Introduction Probate property of a person who dies w/o a will is governed by the states statute of descent and distribution. If a will disposes of only part of the probate estate, then the result is a partial intestacy. UPC Intestacy Statutes UPC 2-101: Intestate Estate o (a) Any part of estate not effectively disposed of by will passes by intestate succession to the decedents heirs as prescribed, except as modified by the will. o (b) Decedent may expressly exclude or limit the right of an individual or class to succeed to property of the decedent passing by intestate successionPasses as if that individual or class had disclaimed his intestate share. UPC 2-102: Share of Spouse o Spouse inherits whole estate if no descendant or parent survives the decedent OR all of the decedents descendants are also descendants of the surviving spouse. Outlines shares if there are some other descendants. UPC 2-103: Share of Heirs Other Than Surviving Spouse o Any part of the estate that does not pass to the surviving spouse, descends in this order. Children grandchildren surviving parent(s) descendants of ones parents UPC 2-105: No Taker o If there is no taker under these provisions, the estate passes to the state. Meaning of Heirs and the Transfer of an Expectancy Under law, a living person does not have heirs. They are called heirs apparent. This is so because they have no interest at allthey have an expectancy, but that can be altered by will or deed. Because it is not an interest, an expectancy may not be transferred. However, under equity, such an interest may be granted by the court where it is just under the circumstances. 2. Share of Surviving Spouses In designing an intestacy statute, the primary policy is to carry out the probable intent of the average intestate decedent. Studies show that when there are no children from a prior marriage, most persons want everything to go to the surviving spouse, thus excluding parent and siblingsand children. Under the current intestacy laws in most states, the surviving spouse usually receives at least one-half share of the decedents estate. If there is no descendant, nearly half of the states provide, as does the UPC, that the spouse share with the decedents parents, if any. Simultaneous Death: A person succeeds to the property of a decedent only if the person survives the decedent for an instant of time. It is presumed that the beneficiary died first and thus, neither inherits from the other. If two joint- tenants die together, each gets their half to transmit. Same applies to property held in tenancy by the entirety or community property. Janus v. Tarasewicz This declaratory judgment action arose out of In Illinois, if the title to property depends on the the deaths of a husband and wife who died priority of death and theres no sufficient evidence after ingesting Tylenol capsules laced with that the persons have died otherwise than cyanide. H was pronounced dead shortly after simultaneously and there are no other provisions in he was admitted to the hospital. However, W testamentary or other governing instruments for was placed on life support systems for almost distribution of the property, the property of each two days before being pronounced dead. person shall be disposed of as if he had survived. It Claiming that there was not sufficient evidence was not necessary to determine by how long that W survived H, P brought this action for Theresa survived Stanley. After viewing the record
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the proceeds of Hs life insurance policy, in its entirety, the trial courts finding of sufficient which named W as the primary beneficiary evidence of Theresas survivorship was not against and P as the contingent beneficiary. the manifest weight of the evidence. The 120-hour RuleUPC 2-104 and 2-702 provide that an heir or devisee or life insurance beneficiary who fails to survive by 120 hours (5 days) is deemed to have predeceased the decedent. The USDA was amended to conform. The rule also addresses contemporaneous deaths even if they do not arise from a common disaster. 3. Shares of Descendants In the U.S., after the surviving spouse takes their share, the children and issue of deceased children of the decedent take the remainder of the property to the exclusion of everyone else. When one of several children has died before the decedent, leaving descendants, all states provide that the childs descendants represent the dead child and divide the childs share among themselves. There are different views about what taking by representation means. The fundamental issue is whether the division into shares should begin at the generational level immediately below the decedent or at the closest generational level with a descendant of the decedent alive. There are 3 basic systems with a twist in some states that might be considered a 4th system. English per stirpes: 1/3 of States follow this. o (strict per stirpes by the stocks): divide property into as many shares as there are living children and deceased children who have descendants living. Then divide shares at first generation level after decedent. Represents each line of descendants equally. Modern Per Stirpes Nearly 1/2 of States o (per capita with representation) look first to see whether any children survived the decedent; if so, distribution is identical to EPS; where no children survive D, estate is divided equally at the first generation in which there are living takers. Come down until you find someone alive; then divide according to people who are alive OR have died but left descendants. Treats equally each line beginning at the closest living generation. Per capita at each generation (1990 UPC) About 12 states o initial division of shares is made at level where one or more descendant is alive, but shares of the deceased persons on that level are treated as one pot and are dropped down and divided equally among the representatives on the next generational level. Start out like Modern, find someone then divide according to people who are alive or who have left descendants Treats equally each taker at each generation with the other takers at that generation. Negative disinheritancean express statement in a will that disinherits o An old American rule was that not only must a person be disinherited, the remainder of their entire estate must be otherwise disposed of. o UPC 2-101(b) changes this and authorizes a negative will. The barred heir is treated as if he disclaimed.
4. Shares of Ancestors and Collaterals All persons who are related by blood to the decedent but who are not descendants or ancestors are called collateral kindred (see p.93). If there are no first-line collaterals, the states differ on who is next in the line of succession; two basic schemes are used: 1. Parentelic system : the intestate estate passes to grandparents and their descendants, and if none to great-grandparents and their descendants, etc. 2. Degree-of-Relationship system: the intestate estate passes to the closest of kin, counting degrees of kinship (count the steps on the table of consanguinity p.93) *If the intestate leaves no survivors entitled to take under the intestacy statute, the intestates property escheats to the state When the intestate decedent is survived by a descendant, the decedents ancestors and collaterals do not take. When there is no descendant, after deducting the spouses share, in nearly half the states the rest of the intestates property is usually dis tributed to the decedents parents, as under the UPC. There are numerous variations and mixtures of the parentelic and degree-of-relationship systmes in force in various states. MA for example, has long followed a degree-of-relationship system subject to a parentelic preference to break a tie between kin of equal degree. Laughing Heirs Those that are so distantly related that they can laugh all the way to the bank. o Rules of succession have been revised to abolish the laughing heir. o Roughly 1/2 of the states have done so, typically by drawing the line at grandparents an their descendants. In these jurisdictions, there is no inheritance by relatives traced through great-grandparents and other more remote ancestors. o A few states and the UPC have created a new class of heirs consisting of stepchildren, who take as a last resort if there are no surviving grand-parents or descendants of grandparents or more closely related kin. Half-BloodsIn a large majority of states, and under the UPC, a relative of the half-blood are treated the same as a relative of the whole-blood. In a few states, including FL and TX, a half-blood is given a 1/2 share. In a few other states, a half-blood takes only when there are no whole-blood relatives of the same degree. In OK, half-bloods are excluded when there are whole-blood kindred in the same degree and the inheritance came to the decedent by an ancestor and the half-blood is not a descendant of the
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ancestor. Section B. Transfers to Children 1. Meaning of Children a. Adopted Children Hall v. Vallandingham Four children appeal from a judgment wherein it was determined they were not entitled to inherit from their natural uncle, by taking the share their deceased father would have received intestate, due to the fact they were adopted by the man their mother married after their fathers death.
The court held that because Est. & Trusts Art. Section:1-207(a) eliminates the adopted childs right to inherit from the natural parent, it also abrogated the right to inherit through the natural parent by way of representation. Since an adopted child has no right to inherit from the estate of a natural parent who dies intestate, it follows that an adopted child may not inherit through the natural parent by way of representation. Adult adoptionThe overwhelming majority of inheritance statutes draw no distinction between the adoption of a minor and the adoption of an adult. Occasionally the adoption of an adult may be useful in preventing a will contest. The only persons who have standing to challenge the validity of a will are those who would take if the will were denied probate. Thus, if an adult is adopted, the other heirs cannot contest the will on the basis that they would have inherited if the decedent had died intestate. o In a majority of states, an adult person, married or unmarried may adopt any other person, minor or adult, but the adoption of a spouse or lover may not be allowed. In NY, the adoption of an adult lover is not possible. Because adoption was unknown to the common law, children and issue necessarily connote a blood relationship. Thus, when adoption laws were enacted courts were faced not only with the question of an adopted childs intestacy rights, but also whether an adopted child took under a will of a person who was not their adoptive parent (i.e. relatives etc.). o These cases gave rise to the stranger-to-the-adoption rulethat an adopted child is presumptively barred, whatever generic word (child, issue etc.) is used, except when the decedent is the adoptive parent (i.e. they must be specific if Kates children is used, adoptive child is not included) Courts have begun to carve exception into the stranger-to-the-adoption rule. o An adopted child might be permitted to take if adopted before, but not after, Ts death. o In most states today, a minor adopted by A is presumptively included n a gift by T to the children, issue, descendants, or heirs of A. The presumption yields to a contrary expression of intent by the donor. Minary v. Citizens Fidelity Decedents son adopted his adult wife in the hopes of bringing his wife under the provisions of Bank and Trust Co. decedents trust in order for his wife to share in the proceeds from the trust. Even though the statute provides that the adoption of an adult shall be given the same legal effect as the adoption of a child, the court views this practice to be an act of subterfuge which in effect thwarts the intent of the ancestor whose property is being distributed and cheats the rightful heirs. Adopting an adult for the purpose of bringing that person within the provisions of a pre-existing testamentary instrument, when that person was clearly not intended to be covered by the instrument, should not be permitted. Adult adoption and class giftsUPC 2-705 excludes a person adopted after reaching the age of 18 from a class gift to the adoptive parents children, issue, descendants, or heirs by someone other than the adoptive parent unless the adoptive parent was the adoptees stepparent or foster parent, or the adoptive parent functioned as a parent of the adoptee before the adopte e turned 18. ONeal v. Wilkes Although he never statutorily adopted Page had no authority to enter in to the adoption appellant, Cook raised her and provided for contract with Cook, and therefore the contract was her and she resided with him until her invalid. The obligation to care and provide for marriage. Appellant never took Cooks name appellant undertaken by Campbell, and later Page, but Cook referred to her as his daughter and was not a legal obligation, but rather a familial referred to her children as his grandchildren. obligation resulting in a custodial relationship that Cook died intestate in. Administrator of the is characterized as something less than that of a estate refused to recognize appellant as having legal custodian. This relationship carried no an interest in the estate. Appellant filed a authority to contract for appellants adoption. petition in equity, asking the court to declare a Georgia Code defines legal custodian as a person virtual adoption that would thereby entitle her to whom legal custody has been given by court to the share in the estate she would have order, and who has the right to physical custody of received had she been statutorily adopted by the child, and has the right to determine the nature Cook. of the care and treatment of the child, as well as to provide that care. Equitable adoption doctrinerecognized in a majority of statesAn oral agreement to adopt A, between H and W and As genetic parents, is inferred if H and W take baby A into their home and raise A as their child. As against H and W, equity treats A as if the contract to adopt had been performed by H and W. They are estopped to deny a formal adoption took place. o Equitable adoption permits an equitably adopted child to inherit from the foster parents. On the other hand, the foster parents (and their relatives) cannot inherit from the child.
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o
One court concluded that the effect of equitable adoption should be limited to inheritance from the parent who is estopped. o Many courts, though not all, refuse to apply equitable adoption to testate estates. b. Posthumous Children The typical posthumous child case involves a child who is conceived before, but born after, her fathers death. Where for purposes of inheritance or determining property rights, it is to a childs advantage to be treated as being from the time of conception rather than form the time of birth, the child will be so treated if born alive. Courts have established a rebuttable presumption that the normal period of gestation is 280 days (10 lunar months). If the child claims that the conception dated more than 280 days before birth, the burden of proof is usually upon the child. c. Nonmarital Children All states have alleviated unsympathetic treatment of nonmarital children and now permit inheritance from the mother. But rules respecting inheritance from the father vary. Most states permit paternity to be established by evidence of subsequent marriage of the parents, by acknowledgement by the father, by adjudication during the life of the father, or by clear and convincing proof after his death. As DNA analysis has made paternity testing both fairer and more accurate, the clear trend is toward allowing it, even if exhumation of the body is required. d. Reproductive Technology and News Forms of Parentage A posthumous child is treated as in being from the time of conception rather than from the time of birth if it is to the childs advantage to do so and the child is born alive. The posthumously conceived child differs from the posthumous child in that the former is both born and conceived after the death of on or both of the childs genetic parents. Hence a posthumously conceived child is, by definition, a nonmarital child even though the childs parents might have been married prior to the childs conception. Woodward v. Warren Woodward After learning that he his sickness may later cause him to be sterile decided to put Commissioner of Social his semen in a holding bank so his wife could be artificially inseminated. After he died three years Security later, appellant, his wife, became pregnant and bore children as a result of the insemination. The wife filed an application to receive her husbands social security benefits on behalf of her children. -To determine whether posthumously conceived genetic children may enjoy inheritance rights under an intestacy statue, the court balances (1) the best interests of children, (2) the States interest in the orderly administration of estates, and (3) the reproductive rights of the genetic parent. Under intestacy law, a non-marital child must obtain a judicial determination of paternity as a prerequisite to succeeding to a portion of the fathers estate if there is no acknowledge ment of paternity by the father. -Posthumous genetic children may enjoy the inheritance rights of issue under intestacy law in limited circumstances where, (1) the surviving parent or the childs other legal representative demonstrates a genetic relationship between the child and the decedent, (2) the survivor or representative must establish that the decedent affirmatively consented to posthumous conception and to the support of any resulting child, (3) the proper time limitations are met, and (4) notice is given to all parties. Social security and inheritance lawunder federal law, a child of a deceased father is eligible for Social security survivors benefits only if the child would inherit from the father under state law. Nearly all litigated cases over the inheritance rights of a posthumously conceived child involve eligibility for Social Security benefits, and cases have reached different results. Legislation and reformdifferent statutes say different things with the Rst. Being most relaxed. In re Martin B. James predeceased his father, Grantor. When Where a governing instrument is silent, children James discovered he was sick, he deposited born of this new biotechnology with the consent of semen to be held at the directions of his wife their parent are entitled to the same rights for all upon his death. 3 and 5 years later, wife had 2 purposes as those of a natural child. For purposes children. Whether the terms issue and of determining the beneficiaries of these trusts, the descendants include children conceived by controlling factor is the grantors intent as gleaned means of in vitro fertilization of the Grantors from a reading of the trust agreements. Such son who had died several years prior to such instruments provide that upon the death of the conception? grantors wife, the trust fund would benefit his sons and their families equally. In view of such overall dispositive scheme, a sympathetic reading of these instruments warrants the conclusion that the grantor intended all members of his bloodline to receive their share. Surrogate childrenp. 130 Assisted Reproduction and Same-Sex Couplesp. 132 2. Advancements If a child wishes to share in the intestate distribution of a deceased parents estate, the child must permit the administrat or to include in the determination of shares the value of any property that the decedent, while living, gave the child by way of
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advancement. When a parent makes an advancement to a child and the child predeceases the parent, the amount of the advancement is deducted from the shares of the childs descendants. (not so for UPC) Largely because of problems of proof of the donors intent, many states have reversed the common law presumption of advancement. In these states, a lifetime gift is presumed NOT to be an advancement unless it is shown to have been intended as such. UPC 2-109 3. Guardianship and Conservatorship of Minors a. Guardian of the Person When clients with young children plan for death, you should advise them to provide for the possibility that their children might be orphaned. A guardian of the person has the responsibility for the minor childs custody and care. As long as one parent of the child i s living and competent, that parent is the natural guardian of the childs person. Thus, if only one of two persons dies, ther e is no need to appoint a guardian of the person. If both parents die while a child is a minor and their wills do not designate a guardian, the court will appoint a guardian of the person from among the nearest relatives. b. Property Management Options (1) Guardianship of the Property Guardianship of the PropertyGuardianship for a minors property is somewhat like going through a continuous probate until the child reaches the age of majority. It should be avoided. Basically the guardian has to continuously report to the court and ask the court for permission when making any types of dispositions of the property included in the estate, even if for the ch ilds benefit. (2) Conservatorship Conservatorship The guardian of the property has been renamed the conservator and given title as trustee to the protected persons property, as well as investment power similar to those of trustees. This established a fiduciary duty without puttin g excessive constraints on the guardian. This system is much more flexible, however, the guardian/ conservator may have to go to court annually for an accounting. Conservatorship terminates when the minor reaches the age of majority or dies before then. UPC 5-431 (3) Custodianship CustodianshipA person who is given property to hold for the benefit of a minor. The custodian is a fiduciary. Even if there is no will or trust or the will or trust does not expressly authorize payment to the childs parents, many states have laws permitting a fiduciary to pay small sums to the custodial parent or to an account in the childs name alone without requiring the appointment of a guardian or conservator, but not more than $5000 a year under UPC 5-104. A custodianship is not under the supervision of court, however, the beneficiary can still enforce fiduciary duties. Ideal for modest gifts to a minor, but when a large amount of property is involved, a trust is usually preferable. (4) Trusts TrustsSee Chapters 8-14 Section C. Bars to Succession 1. Homicide In re Estate of Mahoney Appellant was convicted of manslaughter for Legal title passes to the slayer but equity holds him the death of her husband, and appeals from a to be a constructive trustee for the heirs or next of decree, wherein the probate court determined kin of the decedent. The principle that one appellant was not entitled to a share of her shouldnt be able to profit thru their wrong must deceased husbands estate. not be extended to every case in which a killer acquires property from his victim as a result of the killing. Does the statute apply to nonprobate transfers? UPC 2-803 bars the killer from succeeding to nonprobate as well as probate property. If the killer is barred from taking, who takes? UPC 2-803 provides that the killer is treated as having disclaimed the property, and under the UPC disclaimer statute 2-116, the disclaimant is treated as predeceasing the victim. If the killer is treated as predeceasing the victim, should the court follow the victi ms will that leaves crap to the killers heirs? Cases disagree about this. Is a criminal conviction required? UPC 2-803(g) provides that a conviction for an intentional killing is enough (doesnt have to be murder). Also, the in absence of a conviction, the court must determine under the preponderance of the evidence standard that the individual would be found guilty. 2. Disclaimer Sometimes an heir or devisee will decline to take the property, a refusal that is called a disclaimer. Under the common law, an intestate successor cannot prevent title from passing to him or her. BUT, if they refuse to accept, the common law treated the situation as if the heir renounced and as if the title went to the next heir. If a person dies TESTATE, the devisee can refuse to accept the devise, thereby preventing title from passing to them. Any gift
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requires acceptance. There used to be different tax consequences between the twoToday most states have enacted disclaimer legislation that provides that the disclaimant is treated as having predeceased the decedent. Saving estate taxes: O dies intestate, survived by one sister- A. If A disclaims, she is treated as if she predeceased O and Os estate will pass under intestacy statutes to As children. THUS, to pass the property without tax, A may chose to disclaim. Also, if child is taxed at a lower rate than A, child may want to take. 2-1101 does not contain a time limit on when a disclaimer may be made. BUT, the IRS does impose a 9-month cap on what is classified as a qualified disclaimer. Disclaimer can correct a drafters error saving the estate lots of money. Avoiding creditors: Most disclaimer statutes provide that a disclaimer relates back for all purposes to the date of the decedents death. In the above example, if A disclaims, most cases have held that As ordinary creditors cannot reach her share in Os estate because the disclaimer date is the date of death, and thus it was never As. While in most States individual creditors cannot reach assets disclaimed by a debtor not already in bankruptcy, the IRS as a creditor is treated differently. \/ \/ \/ \/ Drye v. U.S \/ \/ \/ \/ Drye v. United States Decedent, died intestate, leaving her son, Where one has the power to channel an estates appellant, as the sole heir to her estate. Prior assets, it warrants the conclusion that they hold to decedents death, appellant had an unpaid property or a property right that is subject to tax bill, which caused the IRS to file tax liens governments liens. The disclaiming heir against all of appellants property and rights inevitably exercises dominion over the property, as to property. To prevent the IRS from taking they determine who will and will not receive the his inheritance from decedents estate, property. The control rein appellant held under appellant disclaimed his interest in the estate, state law rendered the inheritance property or which allowed the entire interest to pass to his rights to property belonging to him within the daughter, who was next in line under the meaning of federal law, and thus is subject to the intestacy scheme. Daughter then set up a trust federal tax liens. under which appellant was a beneficiary. Chapter 3. Wills: Capacity and Contests Section A. Mental Capacity 1. The Test of Mental Capacity To be competent to make a will, the testator must be an adult (age 18 or older) and must be capable of knowing and understanding in a general way, (1) the nature and extent of his or her property, (2) the natural objects of his or her bounty, and (3) the disposition that he or she is making of that property, and must also be capable of (4) relating these elements to one another and forming an orderly desire regarding disposition of property. o The test is one of capability, not actual knowledge. In re Estate of Washburn The testatrix executed three wills. The first two A reasonable trier of fact could determine that the wills are similar with $1000 to certain testatrix was incompetent to execute the will individuals and the rest to the sister and niece. because the third will was changed three weeks The last will was executed three weeks after after the second will and there were signs that the the second will and gave $5000 to the niece testatrix suffered from some degree of Alzheimers and the residue to the caretaker. The probate when the will was executed in 1992. *The majority court held that the testatrix lacked the approach is that the contestant has to show a lack testamentary capacity necessary to execute a of capacity and then it shifts to the beneficiary. will. The testatrix was found to have suffered New Hampshire took the minority approach and from Alzheimer's disease at the time of the places of burden of proof on the proponent of the execution of the third will, resulting in her will to show capacity. inability to recollect the property she wished to dispose of and understand its general nature. Wilson v. Lane The will is challenged that the testatrix lacked testamentary capacity. The drafting attorney testified in his opinion, that at the time the will was signed, the testatrix was mentally competent, and that she emphatically selected every beneficiary named in the will. A person is mentally capable to make a will if she has sufficient intellect to enable her to have a decided and rational desire as to the disposition of her property. The law does not withhold from the aged, the feeble, the weak-minded, the capricious,the right to make a will, provided such person has a decided and rational desire as to the disposition of his property. All that is required to sustain a will is proof that the testator was capable of forming a certain rational desire with respect to the disposition of her assets. The challengers to the will claimed that Greer was eccentric and paranoid but this is not enough to prove lack of testamentary capacity. None of the evidence that Greer was possibly suffering from Alzheimers or that she was blind was enough to prove the lack of testamentary capacity.
Michael Mroczka
*Professional responsibility: if a lawyer believes that someone lacks testamentary capacity, they may not draft a will for that person, however, the lawyer can rely on their own assessment when making this determination. An attorney should try and build up a record to prove testamentary capacity at a later date. *Ante-mortem probate: can have a will validated during your life so as to keep post-death contests from coming forth. *Capacity Thresholds: Need greatest mental capacity to enter into a contract, intermediate capacity to write a will and the lowest threshold for mental capacity to enter into marriage. The fact that entering into marriage requires the lowest level of capacity presents a paradox since upon death, the surviving spouse will get a forced share. 2. Insane Delusion Some courts have held if there is any factual basis for the delusion, then it is not a delusion A person may have sufficient capacity to execute a will, but may be suffering from an insane delusion so as to cause a particular provisionor the whole willto fail. A delusion is a false conception of reality. There are two approaches to insane delusions: o Majority approach: uses the rational person test to determine what constitutes an insane delusion. If a rational person in the testators situation could not have reached the same conclusion, the belief is an insane delusion. Probeneficiary. o Minority approach: applies the any factual basis to support test to determine what constitutes an insane delusion. If there is any factual basis to support the testators belief, then it is not an insane delusion. Pro-testator. In re Strittmater A person may have sufficient mental capacity generally to execute a will but may be suffering from an insane delusion so as to cause a particular provision in a will, or perhaps the entire will to fail for lack of testamentary capacity. Decedents disease seemed to have become well developed by 1936. She had been a member of the Womens Party for eleven years at that time but the evidence doesnt show that she had taken great interest in it. The court believed it was her paranoiac condition, especially her insane delusions about the male, which led her to leave her estate to the National Womens Party. It seems as though this case most likely would have been decided differently today given that society now recognizes a womans right to have avant-garde social view, much more so than in the late 1940s. Certainly, the opinion would have been written very differently if decided today. Breeden v. Stone Decedent committed suicide two days after killing a driver in a hit-and-run accident. Before he died, he wrote a handwritten (holographic) will leaving all of his money to Sydney Stone. He was drunk and high at the time of the accident, and continued the bender after the accident. Stone offered the will for probate and Breedens family contested the will on the grounds that there was a lack of mental capacity and that he was suffering from insane delusions. He believed there were plots against him and the house was bugged. Before a will can be invalidated because of a lack of testamentary capacity due to an insane delusion, the insane delusion must materially affect the disposition in the will. Based on the Cunningham and the insane delusion tests, the decedent was of sound mind because he could index the disposition of his property, identify the devisee, and the insane delusion did not materially affect the wills disposition. Applying the Cunningham test for sound mind, Breeden was able to (1) identify the major categories of the property comprising his estate, (2) knew his home and rental addresses, and (3) was able to identify the devisee Stone by name and provide her current address. For the insane delusions test, the court considered that Breeden had not made provisions for his father and sister in his prior 1991 will. Even though he had insane delusions, the court found that the insane delusions were not related to the making of his will. Cunningham TestMental capacity to make a will requires that: (1) the testator understands the nature of her act; (2) she knows the extent of her property; (3) she understands the proposed testamentary disposition; (4) she knows the natural objects of her bounty; and (5) the will represents her wishes. Insane Delusion TestA person who was suffering from an insane delusion at the time he executed the will may lack testamentary capacity. Insane delusion is a persistent belief in that which has no existence in fact, and which is adhered to against all evidence. A party asserting that a testator was suffering from an insane delusion must meet the burden of showing that the testator suffered from such delusion. The insane delusion must materially affect the contested disposition in the will. In order to have testamentary capacity, a testator must have a sound mind. A sound mind includes the presence of the Cunningham factors and the absence of insane delusions that materially affect the will. In re Honigmans Will T after coming to believe his wife was having A will is invalid if the insane delusion cause or Decedent became a member of the New Jersey branch of the National Womens Party and worked for them as a volunteer in the New York office from 1939 to 1941. During this period she spoke about leaving her estate to The Party and on October 31, 1944, she executed her last will, putting this intention into effect. A month later she died. Decedents will was denied admission to probate based on the ground that decedent was insane.
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an affair left his wife only the minimum affected, or might have caused or affected, the necessary to satisfy her statutorily forced disposition of the property. (1960 well before share. Breeden.) *Dead Mans Statutes: Only good law in a minority of states. Prohibit testimony by an interested party of a decedents oral statement in support of a claim against the decedents estate. The theory is that since the decedent cannot refute the testimony, the surviving parts lips should be sealed too. Section B. Undue Influence 1. Introduction To be undue influence in the eyes of the law, there must be coercion. It is only when the will of the person who becomes a testator is coerced into doing that which he or she does not desire to do, that it is undue influence o The coercion may of course be of different kinds, it may be in the grossest form, such as actual confinement or violence, or a person in the last days or hours of life may have become so week and feeble, that a very little pressure will be sufficient to bring about the desired result, and it may even be that the mere talking to him at that stage of illness and pressing something upon him may so fatigue the brain, that the sick person may be induced, for quietness sake, to do anything Undue influence may occur where there is a confidential relationship between the parties or where there is no such relationship. Proof may be wholly inferential and circumstantial. The influence may be that of a beneficiary or that of a third party imputed to the beneficiary. If part of a will is the product of undue influence, those portions of the will that are the product of such influence may be stricken and the remainder of the will allowed to stand, if the invalid portions of the will can be separated without defeating the testators intent or destroying the testamentary scheme. An inter vivos transfer that is the product of undue influence is likewise invalid. Restatement (Third) of Property: Wills and Other Donative Transfers 8.3 Undue Influence, Duress. Or Fraud (a) A donative transfer is invalid to the extent that it was procured by undue influence, duress, or fraud. (b) A donative transfer is procured by undue influence if the wrongdoer exerted such influence over the donor that it overcame the donors free will and cause the donor to make a donative transfer that the donor would not otherwise have made. The alleged wrongdoer need not be present when the donative document was executed in order to exert undue influence. In the absence of direct evidence of undue influence, circumstantial evidence is sufficient to raise an inference of undue influence if the contestant proves that (1) the donor was susceptible to undue influence, (2) the alleged wrongdoer had an opportunity to exert undue influence, (3) the alleged wrongdoer had a disposition to exert undue influence, and (4) there was a result appearing to be the effect of the undue influence. Typically courts focus on a confidential relationship between the parties and whether there is an unnatural disposition. 2. What Influence is Undue? Estate of Lakatosh Appellant, befriended decedent, who was then in her seventies and living alone. Appellant assisted decedent around her house and drove her to various appointments. A few months after they met, appellant suggested that decedent give him power of attorney. Decedent executed POA as well as a new will that left all but $1,000 of her estate to appellant. Appellants second cousin drafted the will, and a tape recording of the execution ceremony evidenced that while decedent didnt entirely lack competence, she had a weakened intellect. The three elements of the test for undue influence were easily met. First, the confidential relationship was established by decedents dependency on appellant as well as the power of attorney. Second, appellant received the bulk of the estate. Third, decedents intellect was weakened as evidenced by the fact she was an elderly woman unable to prevent the consumption of her assets by the appellant and she was living in filth with her bills unpaid. Once the burden of disproving undue influence shifts to the proponent of the will, it is incumbent upon the proponent to demonstrate the absence of undue influence by clear and convincing evidence. When the proponent of a will proves that the formalities of execution have been followed, a contestant who claims there had been undue influence has the burden of proof. The burden proof proof may be shifted so as to require the proponent to disprove undue influence if the contestant proves by clear and convincing evidence: 1) that there was a confidential relationship, 2) that the person enjoying such relationship received the bulk of the estate, and 3) that the decedents intellect was weakened. Presumptions, Burden Shifting and Undue Influence The proponent of a will has the burden of proving its validity, but this is easily done in most cases by showing due execution. The person contesting the will then has the burden of proving undue influence either directly or indirectly by proving facts that would give rise to a presumption of undue influence. To trigger this presumption, the contestant must establish the existence of a confidential relationship between the influencer and the testator, plus, in most jurisdictions, one or more additional suspicious circumstances. o Confidential RelationshipThe term confidential relationship embraces three sometimes distinct and sometimes
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overlapping relationshipsfiduciary, reliant, or dominant-subservient. A fiduciary relationship is one in which the confidential relationship arises from a settled category of fiduciary obligation. (attorney, power of attorney, etc.) Whether a reliant relationship exists is a question of fact. The contestant must establish that there was a relationship based on special trust and confidence. (financial advisor, doctor, etc.) Dominant-subservient is also a question of fact. The contestant must establish that the donor was subservient to the alleged wrongdoers dominant influence. (h ired caregiver, adult child over feeble parent) o Suspicious CircumstancesIn addition to confidential relationship, to trigger a presumption of undue influence, the contestant must usually show the existence of suspicious circumstances. May be satisfied by showing that the influencer procured the will, or that the person in the confidential relationship received the bulk of the estate and that the decedent had a weakened intellect (Lakatosh). Restatement provides a non exhaustive list: The extent to which the donor was in a weakened condition, physically, mentally or both, and therefore susceptible to undue influence The extent to which the alleged wrongdoer participated in the preparation or procurement of the will or will substitute. Whether the donor received independent advice from an attorney or from other competent and disinterested advisors in preparing the will or substitute Whether the will or substitute was prepared in secrecy or in haste Whether the donors attitude toward others had changed by reason of his or her relationship with the alleged wrongdoer Whether there is a decided discrepancy between a new and previous wills or substitutes of the donor Whether there was a continuity of purpose running through former wills or substitutes indicating a settled intent in the disposition of her property, and Whether the disposition of the property is such that a reasonable person would regard it as unnatural, unjust, or unfair, for example, whether the disposition abruptly and without apparent reason disinherited a faithful and deserving family member. o Burden ShiftingIf the presumption of undue influence is triggered, the burden shifts back to the proponent to rebut the presumption. The rule for rebutting the presumption of undue influence arising from a confidential relationship only requires the grantee of a transaction to prove by clear, satisfactory, and convincing evidence that the grantee acted in good faith throughout the transaction and the grantor acted freely, intelligently, and voluntarily. In re Will of Moses Decedent, became friends with appellant, Where a confidential relationship between the Clarence Holland, an attorney, fifteen years testatrix and devisee creates suspicious her junior. After decedents third husband circumstances, a presumption of undue influence died, appellant became decedents lover as arises. A fiduciary relationship, such as attorneywell as her attorney. This relationship client, gives rise to a presumption of undue continued for several years until decedent influence, where the fiduciary is a beneficiary died. 3 years before she died, decedent made a under the will, and the testatrix has not received will devising almost all of her property to independent advice and counsel in making her will. appellant. The will was drafted by an attorney, Its clear from the testimony that the attorneywho had no connection with appellant, and did draftsman did no more than write down, according not tell appellant about the will. Decedents to the forms of law, what decedent told him. There closest relative was her older sister, who was no meaningful independent advice or counsel attacked the will on the ground of undue touching upon the area in question. influence. In re Kaufmanns Will D executed a will before he died leaving substantially all of his property to Weiss. He also included a letter to his family stating his appreciation for having Weiss in his life, hoping that his family would be happy for him. At Ds death, his brother sought to have his will set aside on grounds of undue influence after suspecting that D had a homosexual relationship with Weiss. The trial court found that Weiss made false accusations against Ds brother and caused D to believe that his family was resentful of his drive for independence. A will is invalid where the evidence shows that the testator did not freely and voluntarily creates his or her will because another individual exerted undue influence over his mind. A will is invalid for reason of undue influence where the evidence shows that the beneficiary dominated the testator, the testator could be easily taken advantage of, and the testator relies exclusively on the beneficiarys knowledge and judgment concerning the disposition of all material things in the testators life. Here the proponent of the will planted in the testators mind that his family was obstructing his goal of independence and made false accusations against the testators brother. The testator was inexperienced, and the proponent exerted undue influence over him when he disposed of almost his entire estate to the proponent. The Court found that evidence showing that the proponent kept Weiss away from his family and caused him to distrust them was enough to show that Weiss unduly influenced Kaufman.
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If Robert were a woman named Roberta, would the results have been the same? Lipper v. Weslow Ps are 3 grandchildren of Block by a deceased son; Ds are Blocks 2 surviving children. The will left the estate to her two children and nothing to her grandchildren. Will was prepared by her son, one of the Ds. Will explained why she didnt leave anything to grandchildren. The test of undue influence is whether such control was exercised over the mind of the testatrix as to overcome her free agency and free will and to substitute the will of another so as to cause the testatrix to do what she would not otherwise have done but for such control. Here the will and the circumstances may raise suspicion, but does not give proof of the vital facts of undue influence. All of the evidence reflected that decedent was of sound mind, strong will, and in excellent physical condition. Additionally, subsequent to the execution of the will decedent told three disinterested witnesses what she had done with her property in her will as well as the reason for it. A person of sound mind has the legal right to dispose of his property as he wishes, with the burden on those attacking the disposition to prove that it was the product of undue influence. No Contest Clauses: Provides that a beneficiary who contests the will shall take nothing, or a token amount, in lieu of the provisions made for the beneficiary in the will. o These clauses can discourage unmeritorious litigation, family quarrels, and reputational damage. BUT, this could inhibit someone from being a legitimate suit, or one that goes to prove forgery, fraud, or undue influence. o A majority of courts enforce a no-contest clause unless there is probable cause for the contest. The probable cause rule is adopted by the UPC in 2-517 and 3-905. o UPC 2-517 does not enforce a no-contest clause if there is probable cause to support the will contest. The rationale for this is that if there is probable cause to support a claim, then the no-contest clause should not be used to shield wrongful conduct. Florida does not enforce no-contest clauses at all. o In a minority of jurisdictions, courts enforce no-contest clauses unless the contestant alleges forgery or subsequent revocation by will or codicil. Undue InfluenceMan y courts, concerned with the appearance of impropriety, hold that a presumption of undue influence arises when an attorney-drafter receives a legacy, except when the attorney is related to the testator.Rebutted only by clear and convincing evidence. Unethical ConductRule 1.8(c) of the MRPC provides; A lawyer shall not solicit any substantial gift from a client, including a testamentary gift, or prepare on behalf of a client an instrument giving the lawyer or a person related to the lawyer any substantial gift unless the lawyer or other recipient of the gift is related to the client Fiduciary Appointments(executor or trustee) The attorney may have a personal interest in the appointment, which usually entitles the fiduciary to fees. MRPC says lawyer should advise the client of the nat ure and extent of the lawyers financial interests and the availability of alternative candidates. 3. Planning for and Avoiding a Will Contest Realize the grounds for contest Notice warning signs Have strategies o Letter to the lawyer o Video discussion o Family meeting o Professional examination o Extra precautions at the will execution o No contest clausealthough not that powerful o Inter vivos trust o Inter vivos gifts o Have the donor write a check to potential contesters Sections C. Fraud Fraud occurs where the testator is deceived by a misrepresentation and does that which the testator would not have done had the misrepresentation not been made. It is usually said that the misrepresentation must be made with both the INTENT to deceive and the PURPOSE of influencing the testamentary disposition. A provision in a will procured by fraud is invalid. The remaining portion of the will stands unless the fraud permeates the entire will or the portions invalidated by fraud are inseparable from the rest of the will. If fraud occurs in the testamentary setting, it is usually either fraud in the inducement or fraud in the execution. o Fraud in the inducementoccurs when a misrepresentation causes the testator to execute or revoke a will, to refrain from executing or revoking a will, or to include particular provisions in the wrongdoers favor. Basically, intentional misrepresentation of facts to the testator. Concerns a fact that is important to the testator and may induce the testator to dispose of their property differently due to the misrepresentation. Heir induces O not to execute will with A in it, by promising O that H will give part to A. BUT, if at the time H intended to do so, but then later changed his mind, this is not fraud in the inducement o Fraud in the execution person intentionally misrepresents a document either as being or not being the testators will. O, who has bad eyesight, asks H to bring her the document so that she can sign it. H brings her something that is
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not her will, knowing that this is not the document that O had requested. Puckett v. Krida Whether a presumption of fraud and undue influence is raised where the testator is in a confidential relationship with people who involuntarily isolate the testator and make misrepresentations on which the testator relied in making her will? D provided care for the testator. D persuaded the testator that her relatives were wasting her money and wanted to put her in a nursing home. Neither was true. A presumption of undue influence and fraud is raised where the testator is in a confidential relationship with individuals who make false statements on which the testator relies when creating his will. There is sufficient evidence here to support a finding of fraud and undue influence because the defendants, standing to benefit from the will, had exclusive access to the testator and control over her physical person. Furthermore, the defendants were in a confidential relationship with the testator because they were employed as nurses to provide the testator with around the clock care and one of them was her attorney-in-fact. These facts together with evidence showing the defendants told false statements which they were aware would cause the testator to exclude her family from the will. Section D. Duress When undue influence becomes overtly coercive, it becomes duress. Duress is found if the wrongdoer threatened to or did perform a wrongful act that coerced the testator into making a disposition the testator otherwise would not have made. Latham v. Father Divine Lyon left her estate to D, Father Divine, a When an heir or devisee under a will prevents the leader of a religious group. P, sought to have testator from making a will or deed in favor of a constructive trust imposed on Ds gift on another, by fraud, duress, or undue influence, such grounds that the D defrauded and unduly heir or devisee will be deemed a trustee over the influenced Lyon. P claims that Lyon expressed gift in favor of the intended beneficiary. A a desire on several occasions to include them beneficiary is liable for undue influence and fraud as beneficiaries in her will, but D killed her where he makes misrepresentations, uses force, before the will could be executed. and murders a testator to prevent him from signing a will that names another person as a beneficiary. In such a case, the beneficiary holds the property in constructive trust for the intended beneficiaries. Though the court will enforce the will, valid on its face, it will not allow an heir to benefit from such wrongful conduct. Constructive Trust: A constructive trust is sometimes said to be a fraud-rectifying trust. But a constructive trust may be imposed where no fraud is involved if the court things that unjust enrichment would result if the person retained the property. Once converted into a constructive trustee the holder of the property must transfer it to the constructive trust beneficiary. Thus, to repeat, the constructive trust is a remedy that employs the language of trusteeship. Section E. Tortious Interference with and Expectancy Restatement (Second) of Torts recognizes intentional interference with an expected inheritance or gift as a valid cause of action. The plaintiff must prove that the interference involved conduct tortious in itself, such a fraud, duress, or undue influence. Schilling v. Herrera Decedent, appoints P (brother) as power of attorney, personal representative, and sole beneficiary under the will. She then goes into a rehab facility and moves in with her nurse, (D). Decedent makes a new will and the nurse is named power of attorney and the new beneficiary in the will. Decedent dies in Aug. and P is not notified until Dec. The new will had been offered for probate three weeks after decedents death. D rushes the will through probate, but FL recognizes tortious interference with an expectancy, so the P sues D on this theory. By alleging that the caretaker did not advise the brother of the decedent's death until after she had petitioned the probate court for discharge of probate, the brother sufficiently alleged that he was prevented from contesting the will in the probate court due to the caretaker's tortious conduct. To state a cause of action for intentional interference with an expectancy of inheritance, the complaint must allege the following elements: The existence of an expectancy Intentional inference with the expectancy through tortious conduct Causation Damages *FL requires that you first exhaust your options in probate before pursuing a tortious interference with an expectancy, as do most states that recognize this tort. (But if fraud is not discovered until after) An action for tortious interference with an expectancy is not a will contest. It does not challenge the probate or validity of a will, but rather seeks to recover tort damages from a third party for tortious interference. In the jurisdictions that have recognized this tort, the courts usually require the plaintiff to pursue probate remedies first, if they are adequate, and a failure to do so usually results in barring a tortious interference suit. Under this rule, if the plaintiff contests the will and loses, the plaintiff ordinarily is barred by the principle of res judicata from suing later in tort.
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Because a suit for tortious interference is not a will contest, a no-contest clause might not apply to such a suit. Punitive damages may be recovered against a wrongdoer in a suit in tort but not a suit seeking to prevent probate of a will on the ground of undue influence or fraud. Chapter 4. Wills: Formalities and Forms Section A. Execution of Wills 1. Attested Wills a. The Function of Formalities There are four generally excepted functions of formalities in wills: Ritual function: Dispositive effect should not be given to statements, which were not intended to have that intent. Formalities therefore generally require the performance of some ceremony for the purpose of impressing on the transferor the significance of his statements. This justifies the courts belief that if the ceremony is performed the testator so intended the results. Evidentiary function: Requirements for a transfer may increase the reliability of the proof presented at court. The inaccuracies of oral testimony suffer because of lapse of memory, misinterpretation, and unconscious coloring. Existing requirements for transfer emphasize the purpose of providing evidence to the court. Protective function: Goal of safeguarding the testator against undue influence. **This goal is difficult to justify today** It is a reasonable assumption that in history wills were usually executed on the deathbed. A testator in this situation may need extra protection due to his weakened ability. Channeling function: Much as it is easier to determine whether a coin is a quarter if every quarter is the same size, it is easier to determine a persons wishes at death if they are channeled into a will with standardized formalities. Basic formalities: o Writing o Signed by the testator o Attestation by two witnesses At common law there were two bodies of law that governed wills - the Wills Act and the Statute of Frauds. Statute of Frauds requires a signature by the testator and signatures of three witnesses. These requirements for will formalities now vary from state to state. Most jurisdictions now only require two witnesses, however, there may be other requirements as well. Comparison of Statutory Formalities for Formal Wills Statute of Frauds (Land) Wills Act (1837) Uniform Probate Code (1990) Uniform Probate Code (1990, (1667) rev. 2008) Writing Writing Writing Writing Signature Subscription Signature Signature Attestation & subscription by Attestation & subscription by Attestation & signature by 2 Attestation & signature by 2 3 witnesses 2 witnesses witnesses witnesses OR notarization Uniform Probate Code (1990, as amended 2008) 2-502. Execution: Witness or Notarized Wills; Holographic Wills o (a) [Witnessed or Notarized Wills.] Except as otherwise provided in subsection (b) and in Sections 2-503, 2-506, and 2-513, a will must be: (1) in writing; (2) signed by the testator or in the testators name by some other individual in the testators conscious presence and by the testators direction; and (3) either: (A) signed by at least two individuals, each of whom signed within a reasonable time after the individual witnessed either the signing of the will as described in paragraph (2) or the testators acknowledgment of that signature or acknowledgment of the will; or (B) acknowledged by the testator before a notary public or other individual authorized by law to take acknowledgments. o (b) [Holographic Wills.] A will that does not comply with subsection (a) is valid as a holographic will, whether or not witnessed, if the signature and material portions of the document are in the testators handwriting. o (c) [Extrinsic Evidence.] Intent that a document constitute the testators will can be established by extrinsic evidence, including, for holographic wills, portions of the document that are not in the testators handwriting. b. Writing, Signature, and Attestation: Strict Compliance Under traditional law, for a will to be admitted to probate it must be in strict compliance with the formal requirements of the applicable Wills Act. The will must be in writing, signed by the testator, and attested by at least two witnesses, plus any additional requirements that are mandated by the particular jurisdiction must be satisfied precisely. In re Groffman Both witnesses were not present together when Groffman acknowledged his signature. A will is not valid where the two subscribing witnesses to a will sign the will or acknowledge their signature on a will, but not in each others presence. Though a will represents the testators testamentary intentions, it is not valid if the testator does not acknowledge his signature or sign in the presence of two witnesses who are together at the time the testator signs or acknowledges his signature.
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Stevens v. Casdorph First, Haskell signed the will. Then Pauley took the will to two other bank employees, Ms. Waldron and Ms. Ginn to sign as witnesses. Both ladies testified in their depositions they did not see Haskell sign and Haskell did not go to with Pauley to the ladies work areas.
A will is not valid if the testator did not sign in it or acknowledge his signature in the presence of two witnesses, who are together, and sign their name or acknowledge their signature on the will. The law favors testacy over intestacy but this Court has held that a valid will must have testamentary intent and execution in a manner provided by the code, concurrently. A will is not valid where the two subscribing witnesses do not see the testator sign the will or acknowledge his signature, nor does the testator see the witnesses sign their names or acknowledge their signatures on the will. Attestation clauseAn attestation clause recites that the will was duly executed. Although no state requires the use of an attestation clause, such a clause gives rise to a presumption of due execution and it is almost certainly professional malpractice not to include one. o With an attestation clause, the will may be admitted to probate even though the witnesses predecease the testator or cannot recall the events of execution. Moreover, if one of the attesting witnesses testifies that the steps for due execution were not satisfied, the attestation clause gives the lawyer for the proponent ammunition for a vigorous cross-examination, and the will can often be admitted to probate on the presumption of due execution despite such testimony. The Meaning of Presence in Will Execution Why require witnesses to be present at the same time? For one, we want to be sure that the witnesses are witnessing the same document, but we also require simultaneous presence in order to ensure the capacity of the testator. The testator s capacity can change over time. Line of Sight: Presence test is satisfied only if the testator is capable of seeing the witness during the act of signing. It does not matter if the testator DOES see, but only that if they looked they would have seen. (exception for blind testators) Conscience Presence Test: This test is met if the testator, through sight, hearing, or general consciousness of events, comprehends that the witness is in the act of signing. UPC 2-502(a) dispenses altogether with the requirement that the witnesses sign in the testators presence. Meaning of Signature in Will Execution A signature by the testator with her full name at the end of the document will almost always satisfy the signature requirement. Problems arise when the testators signature takes a different form. o Signature by mark, with assistance from anotherAlthough it is preferable for the testator to sign in full, a mark, cross, abbreviation, or nickname can be sufficient. If one has trouble holding a pen and a witness assisted him in signing his name, the signature would be valid if he intended to adopt the document as his will. Likewise, if someone else signed their name at their direction and in their presence, the will would be valid. (also signing on computer was valid) Signed or signature includes a mark, the name being written near the mark and witnessed, or any other symbol or methodology executed or adopted by a party with intention to authenticate a writing or record, regardless of being witnessed. o Order of SigningIn general, the testator must sign or acknowledge the will before the witnesses attest, but if they all sign as part of a single or continuous transaction, the exact order of signing is not critical. o Subscription and Addition After SignatureStatutes in a few states have adopted the English Wills Act requirement that the testator sign the will at the foot or end thereof, a requirement that is usually called subscription. If a handwritten line was added after the testator signed the will, the will would be admitted to probate, but the line would be ineffective as a subsequent unexecuted codicil. o Delayed AttestationSuppose a witness observes the testator make or acknowledge his signature, but the witness does not immediately sign the will herself. How long may a witness delay attestation without compromising the validity of the will? NY=30 days. UPC= within a reasonable time. Estate of Morea Three witness attest to Ts will. One of the The NY statute requires at least two other witnesses is uninterested, one is an interested witnesses who receive no benefit if an attesting friend the third is the testators son. What witness is also a beneficiary. Kevin, the son, gets should happen to the will and/or the bequest to his share because he receives less than the intestate the son/friend? share under the will and therefore receives no benefit. Friend is okay because there are other witnesses who receive no benefit. Interested Witnesses and Purging StatutesEarly wills in England could not be attested by an interested party. The court would allow a will to probate but would purge the bequest to the interested party. The purging statutes apply only to a witness who is necessary for the wills validity. If the will is witnessed by a sufficient numbe r of disinterested witnesses, the interested witness is said to be supernumerary and is entitled to take his full bequest
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o o
Most statutes purge only the benefit that the witness would receive under the will that is in excess of what the witness would have received in intestacy A substantial Minority of States follow UPC 2-505(b) which provides that an interested party may witness even if getting a share larger than intestacy
Self- Proving AffidavitsAffidavit reciting that all the requirements of due execution have been complied with; permits the will to be probated. Self-proving affidavits are executed in front of a notary public o One stepcombined attestation clause and self-proving affidavit o Two-stepseparate attestation clause and affidavit 2. Curing Defects in the Execution of Attested Wills a. Excusing Execution Defects by Ad Hoc Exception Under the traditional rule of strict compliance with the Wills Act, almost any mistake in execution invalidates the will. To avoid this harsh result, some courts have occasionally excused or corrected an obvious execution defect, while others have taken the position that there can be no relief from the rule of strict compliance In re Pavlinkos Estate H and W agreed to leave their property to each other in the event that either of them died. W signed the will that was created for her husband and H signed the will that was created for his wife. A will is not valid if the will specifically purports to be the will of one person but is signed by his or her spouse. The Wills Act specifically requires that a will be in writing and signed by the testator. Here the will was not signed by the person whom the will describes as being the creator. Even though the facts show that the husband signed his wifes will by mistake and both the spouse and the husband intended to leave their property to each other, the will cannot be probated because it does not meet the requirements. In re Snide H and W intended to execute mutual wills at a One of two mutual wills that are simultaneously will execution ceremony. Both mistakenly executed according to statutory formality may be signed each others will. The wills were admitted to probate even though both parties identical except as to the names of the donors mistakenly signed the others will. Because both and beneficiaries on the wills (they left wills have the same attesting witnesses, and were everything to each other). Some of Hs signed at the same time, there is no risk of fraud or descendants objected to the will. mistake. The testators intent is present along with his awareness of the seriousness of the event. There are two different modes of correcting a switched wills error. o One option is to probate the will that the decedent intended to sign but did not. The difficulty under this approach is that the document offered for probate was not signed by the decedent. o The other option is to probate the will that the decedent actually signed and then to reform its terms to make sense. b. Curative Doctrines: Substantial Compliance and Harmless Error Under the substantial compliance doctrine, the court may deem a defectively executed will as being in accord with the statutory formalities if the defective execution nonetheless fulfills the purposes of those formalities. Under the harmless error rule, also known as the dispensing power, the court may excuse noncompliance with statutory formalities if there is clear and convincing evidence that the decedent intended the document to be his will. In re Will of Ranney During the execution of decedents will, the two witnesses did not sign the will. Instead, they signed an affidavit swearing they had previously witnessed decedent sign his will. The lawyer executing the ceremony was not aware that the will itself needed an attestation clause. He believed that the affidavit alone without the witnesses signature on the will was sufficient. If a will is not formally executed in compliance with statutory requirements, then that will may still be admitted to probate if its substantially complies with those requirements. If the witness, with the intent to attest sign a self proving affidavit, but do not sign the will or an attestation clause, clear and convincing evidence of their intent should be adduced to establish substantial compliance with the statute. Under statutory requirements, the will may not be probated unless attesting witnesses sign it, even though the witnesses may have signed the affidavit. Affidavits and attestation clauses serve different purposes. The legislature expressed the intent that the affidavit be submitted along with a duly executed will. A will without an attestation clause is not duly executed. A will may be probated if the proponents of the document can prove by clear and convincing evidence that the testator intended the document to be his will. Statutory formalities exist for the purposes they serve. The purpose of a signature is to provide reliable evidence that the will and its terms reflect the testamentary intent of the deceased. Substantial compliance is a functional rule designed to cure the inequity caused by the harsh and relentless formalism of the law of wills. Finding of a formal defect should not lead to automatic invalidity, but to a further inquiry: does the noncomplying document express the decedents intent, and does its form sufficiently approximate Wills Act formality to enable the court to conclude that it serves the purposes of the Wills Act? Reasons for the formalities: o To ensure that the document reflects the uncoerced intent of the testator.
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o o o
Serves as an evidentiary function by providing evidence of the terms of the will and the testamentary intent. Attestation requirements prevent fraud and undue influence. The formalities perform a channeling function by requiring a certain degree of uniformity in the organization, language, and content of wills. o The ceremony serves as a ritual that impresses the testator with the seriousness of the occasion. Uniform Probate Code (1990, as amended 1997) Section 2-503. Harmless Error o Although a document or writing added upon a document was not executed in compliance with Section 2-502, the document or writing is treated as if it had been executed in compliance with that section if the proponent of the document or writing establishes by clear and convincing evidence that the decedent intended the document or writing to constitute (i) the decedent's will, (ii) a partial or complete revocation of the will, (iii) an addition to or an alteration of the will, or (iv) a partial or complete revival of his [or her] formerly revoked will or of a formerly revoked portion of the will. In re Estate of Hall H and his W executed a joint will and their attorney notarized it said that he would rewrite it without scribbles. H asked his lawyer if the will was valid and the lawyer assured him that it was valid. However no witnesses were present. On their way home, H told W to tear up the first will. W tore up the first will. A document that is not properly witnessed by two people who see the testator sign the will and also sign themselves may be probated if the proponent of the document establishes by clear and convincing evidence that the decedent intended that document to be his will. A proponent establishes by clear and convincing evidence that decedent intended a document to be his will where he revoked his first will in second will and instructed his wife to tear up his first will. Testamentary intent may still exists where there is evidence that the testator did not give the will to anyone because he said it was not finished because the testator may have wanted the will to stand until his attorney provided for a final will. 3. Notarized Wills As ameded in 2008, UPC 2-502(a)(3) provides that a will is valid if it is signed by two witnesses or by a notary. As long as it is clear that the decedent adopted the document as his or her will, the law has no reason to deny validity on he ground of defective execution. A testator who goes to the trouble of going to a bank or even a package or photocopy store to get a home-drawn will notarized shows as much of a deliberate purpose to make the will final and valid as asking a couple of individuals to sign as witnesses. 4. Holographic Wills In slightly over half of the states, holographic wills are permitted. A holographic will is a will written by the testators hand and signed by the testator; attesting witnesses are not required. Kimmels Estate Kimmel wrote a letter on the morning of his death to his sons and family. He discussed the bad weather and his desire to write a second letter. However he expressed doubt that the letter would ever be made. He then wrote, if enny thing happens, and stated that specific property should go to his two children George and Irvin. The form of a document is only one element in determining the testamentary character of document. A document is testamentary in character where it expresses intent make a gift at death. Here, (1) the testator disposed of property on the condition of an event occurring, (2) the event that occurred was the testators death, (3) the testator was sick at the time of writing the letter, and (4) the testator sent the letter to his beneficiaries and instructed them to preserve the letter. A holographic will may be probated where the testator writes a name or word other than his specific name if the evidence shows that in light of the nature of the document, the testator intended the writing to be his signature. Here, the evidence showed that the testator wrote several letters and signed them with the word , Father. Conditional Wills: o Eaton v. BrownI am going on a journey and may not return. If I do not . . . . Here T survived the journey and later died. Was this a probatable will? Most cases similarly find that the language of condition does not mean that the will is to be probated ONLY if the STATED event occurs, but it is merely a statement of the inducement for the execution of the will, which can be probated upon death from any cause. (sometimes the oppositeheart surgery case) If a testator writes her will by hand on a typed or preprinted will form but fails to have the form properly attested, the instrument fails, as a formal will. Whether the instrument can be probated as a holograph depends on how much of the instrument is in the testators handwriting. Estate of Gonzalez Case involving standard will form. Much of Must be seen as a holographic will b/c its lack of the document is written in the testators signature would defeat a formal will to probate. handwriting, however he dies before anyone Look at context of handwritten words. Court holds can attest to the will. The writing is pretty that printed portion of a will form can be extensive; he makes gifts to three of his five incorporated into a holographic will where the trial children, leaving out two of them. The form is court finds testamentary intent. A holograph will fairly messy, multiple cross outs, phone may be valid even though immaterial parts are
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numbers scribbled on the form and the form is printed or stamped. signed on the first page To be valid, a holographic will must be written by the testators hand and signed by the testator. Out of this simple formulation, however, arise two important interpretive problems: (a) the nature of the requirement that the testator sign the holograph, and (b) how much of the holograph must be in the testators handwriting. o SignatureIn almost all states permitting holographs, the will may be signed at the end, at the beginning, or anywhere else on the face of the document. But if it is not signed at the end, there may be doubt about whether the decedent intended his name to be a signature. o The Extent of the Testators Handwritinghow much of the doc must be written in the testators own handwriting? The statutes fall into three categories. First Generation statutes: entirely written, signed and datedUnder these statutes, holographs were sometimes struck down even when they included only one or two printed words. 2nd Gen Statutes (1969 UPC): material provisionsrequires only the signature and the material provisions of the holograph be in the testators handwriting. 3rd Gen statutes (1990 UPC): material portions and extrinsic evidence allowedA will is valid as a holograph will whether or not witnessed, if the signature and material portions of the document are in the testators handwriting. Also extrinsic evidence may be used to establish testamentary intent. In re Estate of Kuralt Kuralt executed a will disposing his real property to his wife and children. Two weeks before his death, Kuralt wrote a letter to his mistress, Elizabeth Shannon, expressing his desire that she inherit a specific item of real property. Shannon sought to probate the letter as a codicil. When a second will does not make a complete disposition of the testators estate, the second will is a codicil the first will. A letter expresses testamentary intent where the evidence shows the testator believed that he was close to death at the time of writing the letter and the facts show that intent to convey a specific item of property to a particular beneficiary. Kuralts 1997 letter to Shannon expressed testamentary intent, not a future intent to create a will. Letter is a codicil to his will because the testator only disposed of his remaining ownership interest in the Montana property and did not dispose of his entire estate. (Extrinsic evidence was allowed.) A codicil is a testamentary instrument (i.e., a will) that amends a prior will but does not replace it. Section B. Revocation of Wills 1. Revocation by Writing or Physical Act Wills are ambulatory, which means that they are subject to modification or revocation by the testator during her lifetime. All states permit revocation of a will on one of two ways: (1) by a subsequent writing executed with testamentary formalities or (2) by a physical act such as destroying, obliterating, or burning the will. Uniform Probate Code (1990) Section 2-507. Revocation by Writing or by Act. o (a) A will or any part thereof is revoked: (1) by executing a subsequent will that revokes the previous will or part expressly or by inconsistency; or (2) by performing a revocatory act on the will, if the testator performed the act with the intent and for the purpose of revoking the will or part or if another individual performed the act in the testator's conscious presence and by the testator's direction. For purposes of this paragraph, "revocatory act on the will" includes burning, tearing, canceling, obliterating, or destroying the will or any part of it. A burning, tearing, or canceling is a "revocatory act on the will," whether or not the burn, tear, or cancellation touched any of the words on the will. o (b) If a subsequent will does not expressly revoke a previous will, the execution of the subsequent will wholly revokes the previous will by inconsistency if the testator intended the subsequent will to replace rather than supplement the previous will. o (c) The testator is presumed to have intended a subsequent will to replace rather than supplement a previous will if the subsequent will makes a complete disposition of the testator's estate. If this presumption arises and is not rebutted by clear and convincing evidence, the previous will is revoked; only the subsequent will is operative on the testator's death. o (d) The testator is presumed to have intended a subsequent will to supplement rather than replace a previous will if the subsequent will does not make a complete disposition of the testator's estate. If this presumption arises and is not rebutted by clear and convincing evidence, the subsequent will revokes the previous will only to the extent the subsequent will is inconsistent with the previous will; each will is fully operative on the testator's death to the extent they are not inconsistent. The modern view is to treat a subsequent will that does not expressly revoke the prior will, but makes a complete disposition of the testators estate, as presumptively replacing the prior will and revoking it by inconsistency. If the subsequent will doe s not make a complete disposition of the testators estate, it is not presumed to revoke the prior will but is viewed as a codicil, and the property not disposed of under the codicil is disposed of in accordance with the prior will. A codicil is a testamentary instrument that supplements, rather than replaces, an earlier will; the codicil supersedes the will to
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the extent of inconsistency between them. The older view is that, in the absence of a revocation clause, a general residuary clause in a later will was not enough to revoke specific bequests in an earlier will because the earlier individual bequests and the later residuary clause were not literally inconsistent. Harrison v. Bird Speer called her lawyer and told him that she If there is evidence that a will was in a testators wanted to revoke her will. Then the lawyer or possession before death and not found among her his secretary, in each others presence, tore personal effects at death, a rebuttable presumption the will, put the torn pieces in an envelope arises that the testator revoked her will. If a testator along with a letter informing Speer that her destroys her will before death, a presumption arises will had been revoked. Harrison attempted to that she revoked the will and all duplicates even probate her copy. though a duplicate may exist with another person. The proponent of the will must rebut the presumption by clear and convincing evidence. Presumption of RevocationThe restatement (third) takes the position that the revocation is not such a strong one that clear and convincing evidence is required to rebut it. Estate of TurnerThe presumption was rebutted under a preponderance of the evidence standard by the testimony of a disinterested witness who saw the will on the day of the testators death and the fact that the testators disinherited sibli ngs had access to the testators house immediately after testators death. Some courts require clear and convincing evidence. Probate of Lost Wills: in the absence of a statute to the contrary, a will that is lost, destroyed without Ts consent, or destroyed with Ts consent but not in compliance with the revocation statute can be admitted into probate if its contents are proved (e.g. by a copy of the original or other clear and convincing evidence). A lost will can still be a valid will. In a few states, statutes prohibit the probate of a lost or destroyed will unless the will was in existence at the testators death (and destroyed thereafter) or was fraudulently destroyed during the testators life. Thomson v. Royall Kroll asked Coulling and Brittain to bring her To revoke a will other than by creating another will and codicil to her home. She told them duly executed will, the first will must be destroyed both in the presence of her attorney to destroy by a cutting, tearing, burning, obliterating, or them. Coulling suggested that instead of destroying the will. If it is revoked by words that destroying the will and codicil, Kroll should do not quality themselves as a validly executed retain the will and codicil in the event that she will, those words must physically come into decided to execute a new will. Coulling wrote contact with the words of the will. A will or codicil on the back of the manuscript cover to the will is not revoked where the testator attaches a paper the words, This will null and void and to be to a will writing this will null and void because it only held by H.P. Brittain instead of being was not executed the way a will is required to be destroyed as a memorandum for another will if executed. The will was not revoked because the I desire to make the same. This 19 Sept., words this will null and void did not physically 1932. Kroll then signed the document. The come into contact with the words of the original same was written on the back of the codicil will, even though the testator wrote words on a except the name S.M.B. Coulling was separate paper attached to the will that declared the substituted for H.P. Brittain and signed by will null and void. Furthermore, the words Kroll. The trial court admitted the will and themselves did not constitute a validly executed codicil and Krolls heirs at law appeal the will. decision. The UPC would change the result in Thompson. 2-507 allows for a cancellation regardless of whether the cancellation touches any of the words of the will. The codicil would be revoked but the will is a tougher case because it was written on a manuscript cover and not the will itself. However, it would have been revoked under the harmless error rule of 2-503. Tearing up a copy may not revoke a will (depending on harmless error). However in a case that the court held that it is not, the court imposed a constructive trust on the codicil beneficiary for the benefit of the will beneficiary because it was a mistake of fact. Partial Revocation by Physical Act: The jurisdictions are split over whether partial revocation by physical act is permitted. There are two concerns. First, it increases the potential for fraud. Second, it raises fears that a partial revocation intrinsically is also a new gift. By revoking only part of a will, the revoked part has to go somewhere. If it goes anywhere else in the will, it arguably is a new gift. New gifts should be executed with Wills Act formalities so the reasoning goes. Due to these concerns, not all jurisdictions recognize partial revocation by physical act. UPC 2-507 allows it. A few cases have held that the testator can revoke a complete devise, but cannot rearrange the shares in a single devise to increase the other devisees gift. 2. Dependent Relative Revocation and Revival DDRIf the testator purports to revoke his will upon a mistaken assumption of law or fact, the revocation is ineffective if the testator would ot have revoke his will had he known the truth. The doctrine is one of presumptive intent, not actual intent. LaCroix v. Senecal Celestine Dupre executed a codicil to her will but only change a minor detail. She clarified A codicil that revokes a prior will but only makes a change to refer to a beneficiary in a manner so that
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the name of her nephew in the codicil. The there is no mistake about his identity, is only codicil was invalid because it did not have the effective as a revocation if the codicil is valid. proper number of witnesses and the court Where a testator executes a codicil to revoke a considers whether the codicil revoked the first prior will the revocation is dependent upon the will. Whether the doctrine of dependent validity of the codicil if the codicil only clarifies relative revocation may be invoked to sustain a the relationship of a beneficiary to the testator. The gift by will, when such gift has been revoked in only change the testator made in the codicil to her a codicil which substantially reaggirmed the prior will is that she referred to nephew by the gift but was void as to it by reason of the name in the will and also an additional name by interest of a subscribing witness? which he was also known. Doctrine of Dependent Relative Revocationif a testator cancels or destroys a will with a present intention of making a new one immediately and as a substitute and the new will is not made or, if made, fails of effect for any reason, it will be presumed that the testator preferred the old will to intestacy, and the old one will be admitted to probate in the absence of evidence overcoming the presumption. o Where the intention to revoke is conditional and where the condition is not fulfilled, the revocation is not effective. Estate of Alburn In 1955 T executes Milwaukee will; in 1959 Court applies DRR and permits K will (not M will she executes Kankakee will; 1960 T shows her b/c statute). Court finds that although K will was brother the torn up K will and tells him she physically destroyed by T, T assumed destruction revoked it because she wanted to revive M of K will would revive M will. Since that was a will; under WI statute revival does not occur mistake of law on Ts part, court considers that T without re-execution of the M will. Evidence did not have intent to revoke when she destroyed K suggests that T did not wish to die intestate will. and destroyed the K will under the mistaken belief that this would revive the M will. Tendencies: Almost invariably, where the revocation is by act, the mistake is a mistake of law in that the testator attempted a new will or codicil that was invalid. Almost invariably, where the revocation is by writing, the mistake is a mistake of fact that must then be set forth in the valid revoking instrument. It is possible however, to have a valid revocation by writing where the mistake is of law. But the mistake still has to be set forth in the writing (the new gift fails because it violates the Rule against Perpetuities, it violates public policy, and so forth). Courts have let limits on the DRR doctrine. With rare exceptions, courts have held that DRR applies only (1) where there is an alternative plan of disposition that fails, or (2) where the mistake is recited in the terms of the revoking instrument or, possibly, is established by clear and convincing evidence. Revival of a Revoked Will Assuming a testator validly executes will #1, and thereafter validly executes will #2 that expressly or implicitly revokes will #1, and thereafter validly revokes will #2 intending to give effect to will #1, the jurisdictions are split over what the testator must do to revive will #1. English approach: Under the English approach, will #1 was never really revoked so it could be probated. The English approach takes literally the statement that a will is not effective until the testator dies. (Few States) The large majority of states assumes that will #2 legally revokes will #1 at the time will #2 is executed. But they divide into two groups. o A majority of states holds that upon revocation of will #2, will #1 is revived if the testator so intends. The testators intent may be shown from the circumstances surrounding revocation of will #2 or from the testators contemporaneous or subsequent oral declarations that will #1 is to take effect. o A minority of states take the view that a revoked will cannot be revived unless re-executed with testamentary formalities or republished by being refered to in a later duly executed testamentary writing. Nearly half of the states have adopted a statute based on UPC 2-509, either in its 1969 or 1990 version. Uniform Probate Code (1990) Section 2-509. Revival of Revoked Will. o (a) If a subsequent will that wholly revoked a previous will is thereafter revoked by a revocatory act under Section 2-507(a)(2), the previous will remains revoked unless it is revived. The previous will is revived if it is evident from the circumstances of the revocation of the subsequent will or from the testator's contemporary or subsequent declarations that the testator intended the previous will to take effect as executed. o (b) If a subsequent will that partly revoked a previous will is thereafter revoked by a revocatory act under Section 2-507(a)(2), a revoked part of the previous will is revived unless it is evident from the circumstances of the revocation of the subsequent will or from the testator's contemporary or subsequent declarations that the testator did not intend the revoked part to take effect as executed. o (c) If a subsequent will that revoked a previous will in whole or in part is thereafter revoked by another, later, will, the previous will remains revoked in whole or in part, unless it or its revoked part is revived. The previous will or its revoked part is revived to the extent it appears from the terms of the later will that the testator intended the previous will to take effect.
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3. Revocation by Operation of Law: Change in Family Circumstances Divorce: o The overwhelming majority rule is that divorce automatically and irrebuttably revokes all provisions in a testators will in favor of the ex-spouse, unless the will expressly provides otherwise. In the remaining states, revocation occurs only if divorce is accompanied by a property settlement. o UPC 2-804 (1990) applies to nonprobate transfers as well as wills. The term governing instrument is defined to mean a deed, will, trust, insurance or annuity policy, account with a payable-on-death designation, pension plan, or similar nonprobate donative transfer. Marriage: o If the testator executes a will and subsequently marries, statutes in a large majority of states give the spouse his intestate share, unless it appears from the will that the omission was intentional or the spouse is provided for in the will or by a will substitute with the intent that the transfer be in lieu of a testamentary provision. In a minority of states, the premarital will is revoked entirely upon marriage. Birth of Children: o Statutes in a few states follow the old common law rule that marriage followed by birth of children revokes a will executed before marriage, but this rule has not been incorporated into the UPC and is rapidly disappearing. o Almost all states have pretermitted child statutes, giving a child born after the execution of a parents will, and not mentioned in the will, a share in the parents estate. Sometimes pretermitted child statutes include children born before the execution of the will as well as children born thereafter. A pretermitted child statute, if applicable, results in the revocation of the parents will to the extent of the childs share. Section C. Components of a Will 1. Integration of Wills Under the doctrine of integration, all papers present at the time of execution, intended to be part of the will, are integrated into the will. Litigation involving integration arises when the pages are not physically connected and there is no internal coherence, or there is evidence that a staple has been removed, or one page is in one font whereas the rest of the will is in another font. 2. Republication by Codicil Under the doctrine of republication by codicil, a will is treated as re-executed as of the date of the codicil: A will is treated as if it were executed when its most recent codicil was executed, whether or not the codicil expressly republishes the prior will, unless the effect of so treating it would be inconsistent with the testators int en. Updating the original will in this manner can have important consequences. Suppose that the testator revokes the first will by a second and then executes a codicil to the first will. The first will is republished, and the second will is revoked. Should only be applied when updating a will carries out the testators intent.. 3. Incorporation by Reference Uniform Probate Code (1990) 2-510. Incorporation by Reference. o A writing in existence when a will is executed may be incorporated by reference if the language of the will manifests this intent and describes the writing sufficiently to permit its identification. Clark v. Greenhalge Helen Nesmith executed a will and made reference to a document outside of the will that would give guidance on how to distribute her estate. The executor, also a beneficiary under the will, refused to distribute a painting in accordance with a notebook that listed how Nesmith wanted to distribute certain pieces of personal property at her death. A document may be incorporated into a will by reference if the will makes reference to the document, the document was in existence at the time that the will was created, and is the document is sufficiently identifiable in the will. The language in the will, a memorandum does not preclude the existence of more than one memorandum. It also does not preclude the existence of a document in the form of a notebook from being included in the will. The fact that it was not labeled as such does not mean that it was not intended by the testator to be an instruction as to how to distribute her property at death. Since the testator retained the right to amend and alter her will after execution, the notebook is sufficiently described since it guides the executor in distributing her estate at death and the notebook was in existence at death. A document may be incorporated by reference if the will refers to the document and the document was in existence when codicils were made to the will, even if it did not exist at the time the original will was created. Also, the item is sufficiently described in the will even if it is not specifically referred to if it serves the same purpose as is indicated in the will. Simon v. Grayson Grayson executed a will making reference to A document may be incorporated into a will that another document that would explain how to was in existence at the time a later codicil was distribute $4,000 of his estate. The will made but not in existence at the time the will was indicated that the document would be dated written. A will makes sufficient reference to a March 25, 1932. Instead the document was document outside of the will to be incorporated by dated July 3, 1933. The testator executed a reference even though the will states the date on codicil on November 25, 1933 and the court the document is different to the date referenced in
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considers whether to include the document as a part of the will.

the will as long as the document serves the same function as the one stated in the will.
Uniform Probate Code (1990) Section 2-513. Separate Writing Identifying Devise of Certain Types of Tangible Personal Property. o Whether or not the provisions relating to holographic wills apply, a will may refer to a written statement or list to dispose of items of tangible personal property not otherwise specifically disposed of by the will, other than money. To be admissible under this section as evidence of the intended disposition, the writing must be signed by the testator and must describe the items and the devisees with reasonable certainty. The writing may be referred to as one to be in existence at the time of the testator's death; it may be prepared before or after the execution of the will; it may be altered by the testator after its preparation; and it may be a writing that has no significance apart from its effect on the dispositions made by the will. Johnson v. Johnson Dexter G. Johnson typed a will that he did not Where a testator makes a testamentary disposition sign or have witnessed. He handwrote another in his own handwriting on an invalid typed will, testamentary provision on the same document and the circumstances show he intended the and signed the will. The Court considers writing to be a codicil to the invalid will, the court whether the document may be admitted to will incorporate the invalid will by reference into probate. Whether a will that is invalid for lack the codicil. The circumstances show the testator of signature and attestation may be intended the handwriting to be a codicil and it incorporated by reference into a codicil incorporates the will by reference. Where there is (holographic) written on the same document strong evidence of testamentary intent to republish as the will? an invalid will by a codicil, the court will incorporate the will by reference and republish the will. 4. Acts of Independent Significance If the beneficiary or property designations are identified by acts or events that have a lifetime motive and significance apart from their effect on the will, the gift will be upheld under the doctrine of acts of independent significance; (e.g. the car that I own at my death). Uniform Probate Code (1990) Section 2-512. Events of Independent Significance. o A will may dispose of property by reference to acts and events that have significance apart from their effect upon the dispositions made by the will, whether they occur before or after the execution of the will or before or after the testator's death. The execution or revocation of another individual's will is such an event. Section D. Contracts Relating to Wills A person may enter into a contract to make a will or a contract not to revoke a will. To enforce a contract, the third party beneficiary must sue under the law of contracts and prove a valid contract. If, after a contract becomes binding, a party dies leaving a will not complying with the contract, the will is probated but the contract beneficiary is entitled to a remedy for the broken contract. (constructive trust, specific performance, damages, etc.) 1. Contracts to Make a Will Many states now subject contracts to make a will to a Statute of Frauds provision, thus requiring such contracts to be in writing in order to be enforceable. If the contract beneficiary is not entitled to enforce the contract because of non-compliance with the Statute of Frauds, the beneficiary may be entitled to restitution of the value to the decedent of services rendered (quantum meruit). 2. Contracts Not to Revoke a Will Often arises with joint wills: one will for two people (typically spouses). Mutual wills are separate wills of two or more persons that contain similar or reciprocal (mirror-image) provisions (these are more common than joint wills). These types of wills can be executed pursuant to a contract between the testators not to revoke their wills. Most courts hold that the mere execution of a joint or mutual will does not give rise to a presumption of contract (but it is an argument that often arises). To avoid this problem the attorney should insert a provision in every joint or mutual will, declaring that the will was or was not executed pursuant to a contract. Uniform Probate Code (1990) Section 2-514. Contracts Concerning Succession. o A contract to make a will or devise, or not to revoke a will or devise, or to die intestate, if executed after the effective date of this Article, may be established only by (i) provisions of a will stating material provisions of the contract, (ii) an express reference in a will to a contract and extrinsic evidence proving the terms of the contract, or (iii) a writing signed by the decedent evidencing the contract. The execution of a joint will or mutual wills does not create a presumption of a contract not to revoke the will or wills. Via v. Putnam Edgar and Joann Putnan executed mutual Third party beneficiaries of a mutual will may do wills in which they agreed not to commit any not have a claim to a surviving spouses elective acts that would disrupt the distribution share. Courts will not allow parties to interfere scheme. Edgar Putnam remarried after Joann with a surviving spouses rights under a
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Putnan died. Putnams surviving spouse pretermitted spouse statute unless the parties elected to take her share under a pretermitted specifically waive their right to take an elective spouse statute and Putnams children from his share. One spouse cannot through contract prevent first marriage sought a claim against the another person from taking an elective share under surviving spouses elective share. a state statute. Chapter 5. Construction of Wills Section A. Mistaken or Ambiguous Language in Wills 1. The Traditional Approach: No Extrinsic Evidence, No Reformation The Plain Meaning or No Extrinsic Evidence ruleextrinsic evidence may be admitted to resolve some ambiguities, but the plain meaning of the words of the will cannot be disturbed by evidence that another meaning was intended. The No Reformation ruleReformation is an equitable remedy that, if applied to a will, would correct a mistaken term in the will to reflect what the testator intended the will to say. The justification is that the court is thereby compelled to interpret the words that the testator actually used, not to interpret the words that the testator is purported to have intended to use. Mahoney v. Grainger Sullivan executed a will that disposed her real Extrinsic evidence is not admissible when the and personal property to her heirs at law. beneficiary of a will can be identified on the face Extrinsic evidence revealed that she informed of the will. The words used in the will, heirs at her attorney that she wanted to leave her law living at the time of my decease undoubtedly property to her twenty-five cousins, equally. refer to the testators aunt and not her cousins. The The trial judge ruled that Sullivans only heir testator only heir at law was her aunt. Extrinsic at law was her aunt and not her twenty-five evidence would only be admissible to help to cousins. determine the meaning of testamentary language that is not clear in its application to the facts. Plain Meaning, Ambiguity, and Extrinsic Evidence Patent ambiguitiesAppears on the face of the will. Under traditional law, extrinsic evidence is not allowed to clarify patent ambiguities. Increasingly, however, extrinsic evidence is being allowed. Latent Ambiguitiesmanifests itself only when the terms of the will are applied to the testators property or designated beneficiaries. Two types: o The first type occurs when a will clearly describes a person or thing and two or more persons or things exactly fit that description. o The second type exists when no person or thing exactly fits the description, but two or more persons or things partially fit. 2. Slouching Toward Reformation: Correcting Mistakes Without the Power to Reform Wills There is a trend toward admitting extrinsic evidence not merely to resolve latent and more recently, patent ambiguities, but also to correct mistaken terms to conform the will to the actual intent of the testator. Arnheiter v. Arnheiter Guterl made a disposition of her home. She correctly identified the street, city, and state where it was located as well as her one-half interest in the property. However she did incorrectly identified the street number. Where a description of a thing or person consists of several particulars and all of them do not fit any one person or thing, less essential particulars (house #s) may be rejected provided the remainder of the description clearly fits. However the court does not have power to correct or reform a will. The identification of property in a will does not have to be exact, but only needs to clearly fit the actual property that exists. The disposition will be valid if despite a description that does not fit, the remaining description clearly identifies the property. Estate of Gibbs George and Lena Adele Gibbs executed wills Courts should receive evidence tending to show with an identical provision disposing of that a mistake has been made when details such as property to a Robert J. Krause, now of 4708 the middle initials, street addresses and the like are North 46th Street, Milwaukee, Wisconsin. involved in identification of will bequests and However, they intended to make a gift to a devises. Details of identification, particularly such Robert W. Krause who unbeknownst to the matters as middle initials, street addresses, and the Gibbs, lived at a different address. like are highly susceptible to error and extrinsic evidence is proper to show the testators intent. To give effect to the probable intent of the testator, the court will allow extrinsic evidence when the gift appears to be unclear under the circumstances. 3. Openly Reforming Wills for Mistake Erickson v. Erickson Two days before their wedding, Erickson and Under statutory law, if a testator writes a will and the defendant executed mutual wills. The later marries, the act of marriage revokes the Probate Court admitted the will even though it testators will unless the will includes a provision did not contain a provision about the concerning the contingency of marriage. Extrinsic
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contingency of marriage. However the Probate Court ruled that the will contained a contingency clause because of the fact that the will bequeathed all of his estate to a woman that he did in fact marry two days later, and designated the defendant as his executrix and guardian of his daughters.

evidence is admissible to prove the testators intent when the writer of the will made a mistake as to the testators in drafting the will. There must be clear and convincing evidence that the writers error induced the testator to execute a will that he intended to be valid despite his subsequent marriage. The testator relied on his lawyer and did nothing to change his invalid will.
Uniform Probate Code (2008) Section 2-805. Reformation to Correct Mistakes. o The court may reform the terms of a governing instrument, even if unambiguous, to conform the terms to the transferors intention if it is proved by clear and convincing evidence that the transferors intent and the terms of the governing instrument were affected by a mistake of fact or law, whether in expression or inducement. Fleming v. Morrison Francis M. Butterfield created a will disposing of all of his real and personal property to Mary Fleming. Butterfield told Sidney Goodridge, one of the witnesses to the will, that the will was a fake created solely to induce Fleming to sleep with him. Extrinsic evidence is admissible to contradict the statements in a will that it is a will, that it had been signed by a person named as the testator, and attested and subscribed by persons signing as witnesses. Extrinsic evidence is admissible to prove that one witness was not truly signing as a witness to a will. The testator told a witness that the will was fake and composed for another motive. Because a will in this jurisdiction requires three witnesses and one of them did not truly believe that the testator was signing his will, the will is not valid. Section B. Death of Beneficiary Before Death of Testator 1. Introduction If a devisee does not survive the testator, the devise lapses (fails). In nearly all states, Antilapse statutes have been enacted that, under certain specified circumstances, substitute another beneficiary for the predeceased devisee. Specific or general deviseif a specific or general devise lapses, the devise falls into the residue. Residuary DeviseIf the residuary devise lapses, the heirs of the testator take by intestacy. No residue of a residue rule if one share of a residue lapses, it does not go to the other residuary devisee (however, in most states it has been overruled by statute). Class GiftIf the devise is to a class of persons, and one member of the class predeceases the testator, the surviving members of the class divide the gift. Void DeviseWhere a devisee is already dead at the time the will is executed, or the devisee is a dog or a cat or some other ineligible taker, the devise is void. Estate of Russel Russell executed a will disposing of all her real and personal property to a close friend and her dog. The trial court held that the gift to the dog was precatory in nature and that the testator intended that her close friend care for the dog. The anti-lapse statute applies to void gifts as well as beneficiaries who predecease the testator. Extrinsic evidence is admissible to prove the testators intent if in light of the circumstances surrounding the creation of the will, the language in the will is susceptible to two or more meanings. Extrinsic evidence is not admissible to prove the testators intent because the language of the will does is not reasonably susceptible to one or more meaning. Here the testator left her property to an person and to her dog. The language did not state that the testator was making a gift to a person for the benefit of the dog. The will on its face makes a gift to the dog. 2. Antilapse Statutes An Antilapse statute applies to a lapsed devise only if the devise bears the particular relationship to the testator specified in the statute. Ruotolo v. Tietjen Testator executed a will which contained a Antilapse Statute: When a devisee is child or residuary clause bequeathing one half of the stepchild or grand child or brother or sister of the property to his step daughter Hazel Brennan if testator dies before him and there is no provision in she survived the Testator. However, Brennan the will for such a situation, then the children of died 17 days prior to the testator. such devisee will take the estate so devised or bequeathed. The aims of the statutes are to prevent the unintentional disinheritance. The words if she survives me alone are insufficient to negate the operation of the statute. 3. Class Gifts Dawson v. Yucus T devised her interest in her late husbands Naming an individual beneficiary in a will prevents farm house to two nephews living on her the gift from being a class gift unless the remaining husbands side of the family. One of the provision in the will as applied to the facts show nephews died before T. The trial court held the that the testator intended to make a class gift. The gift was not a class gift and because of the testators gift did not constitute a class gift because
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death, a latent ambiguity was created and the court admitted extrinsic evidence showing evidence of Ts intent. The testimony showed that T wanted the property to go to her husbands side of the house.

even though the testator wrote that she desired that her farm lands go to back to her husbands side of the house, she then specified two individuals from her husbands side and gave each of them specified gifts. The testator only mentioned two members from a class.
Section C. Changes in Property After the Execution of Will 1. Ademption by Extinction Applies to specific devises of real and personal property. Identity Theoryif a specifically devised item is not in the testators estate, the gift is extinguished (subject to limited exceptions). Intent TheoryIf the specifically devised item is not in the testators estate, the beneficiary may nonethe less be entitled to the replacement for, or cash value of, the original item, depending of whether the beneficiary can show that this is what the testator would have intended. In re Estate of Anton Nancy as a durable power of attorney sold in If Mary was aware of the transaction, was aware of 2003 a duplex (which had been specifically the impact the transaction had on her estate plan, devised in a 1981 will) to provide nursing and did not change her will, ademption would home care for her mother. Mother had no occur under the identity theory. The question is knowledge of the sale. What result should whether the testator had the opportunity to change occur when the principal is competent but the her will once she knew that the devise was no attorney in fact sells a specific devise w/o longer part of her estate. Here, Mary had no knowledge of the testator? opportunity. In cases where specific devises are removed from the estate as a result of an involuntary act, the devisee is entitled only to the proceeds which have not been expended on the support of the testator. 2. Stock Splits and the Problem of Increase 3. Satisfaction of General Pecuniary Bequests 4. Exoneration of Liens 5. Abatement Chapter 6. Nonprobate transfers and Planning for Incapacity Section A. An Introduction to Will Substitutes Life insurance Pension Accounts Bank, Brokerage, and Mutual Fund Accounts The Revocable Inter Vivos Trust Imperfect Will substitutesJoint tenancy Section B. Will Substitutes and the Wills Act 1. Revocable Trusts Farkas v. Williams The deceased purchased stock and held it in the form of a trust for a beneficiary, who was entitled to the stock in the event of his death. He executed trust declarations at the time of the purchase of each stock. After he died, the circuit court held that the declarations were invalid testamentary dispositions. An intervivos trust where the settlor does not retain all of the powers of normal ownership of stock and where the settlor has a fiduciary duty to the beneficiary as the trustee of the trust is valid and not a failed testamentary disposition where the beneficiary takes the trust property upon the settlors death, and the trust is executed in a formal manner. A document is a valid intervivos trust where the settlor relinquishes some of the powers that are incident to stock ownership and the beneficiary has a claim against the settlor as a trustee if he does not fulfill his duties to the beneficiary in regards to the trust property, and the trust is formal. Linthicum v. Rudi D made Ps beneficiaries of a revocable trust Beneficiaries of a revocable inter vivos trust have upon Ds death. D later changed the at most, only a contingent interest that has not yet beneficiary and removed Ps. vested. Because of this, they have no standing to challenge the trust during the settlors lifetime.
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2. Payable on Death Contracts and Other Nonprobate Transfers In re Estate of Atkinson Decedent during his lifetime made deposits in The certificates of deposit are an ineffectual a bank. The certificates read, Walter S. attempt at a testamentary disposition of the Atkinson, P.O.D. Mrs. Patricia Burgeois. Are deposits involved. There was no present interest of the certificates of deposit considered as part of any kind created in the decedents daughters by the the estate for computing spousal forced share? language used in the certificates. Estate of Hillowitz Abraham Hillowitz was the partner in an investment club. He executed a partnership interest with the club and named his wife the beneficiary of the interest at his death. A partnership agreement that provides for a payment of the partners interest to a beneficiary upon his death is valid even though it does not comply with the statue of wills. Partnerships are third party beneficiary contracts. They are similar to other instruments that are contractual in nature but need not conform to the statute of wills to dispose of gifts at death. Examples of such agreements include (1) a contract to make a will, (2) an inter vivos trust in which the settler reserves a life estate, and (3) an in insurance policy. Section C. Will Substitutes and the Subsidiary Law of Wills 1. Introduction 2. Revocable Trusts In re Estate and Trust of Pilafas
State Street Bank and Trust Co. v. Reiser
Pilafas executed a will and trust that were not found among his personal effects at his death. The trial court held that Pilafas had revoked his will and trust. A will is presumably revoked if it was in the testators possession, but not found among his personal effects at his death. If a settlor reserves the power to revoke a trust in a particular manner and under certain circumstances, he may only revoke the trust in the stated manner and under the same circumstances as stated in the trust. The settlor reserved the right to revoke the trust by delivering a written revocation to the trustee so he could only revoke the trust in that manner. Though there may be a trend in the law to apply the law of wills to revocable trusts, those cases involved trusts that operate only after the settlors death. Dunnebrier created an intervivos trust and Creditors may reach a deceased debtors trust reserved the power to amend or revoke the income if he created a trust during his lifetime and trust, and the right during his lifetime to direct reserved the right to amend and revoke, or to direct the disposition of principal and income. disposition of principal and income. The creditors Dunnebrier subsequently applied for and may recover an amount that is not satisfied by the received a loan from State Street Bank for estate, and not greater than that which the settlor $75,000. At Dunnebriers death, the loan had could have used for his own benefit during his not been paid and State Street Bank sought to lifetime. It violates public policy for an individual reach the assets of the trust. to have an estate to live on but not an estate to pay his debts with. Douglas Cook named the appellant, Doris Cook, the beneficiary of his life insurance policy. When he divorced, he executed a will leaving his insurance policy benefits to his new wife. However Cook failed to notify the insurance holder that he wanted to change the beneficiary of his policy. Beneficiaries of a life insurance policy may not be changed by a will if the policy contract provides a specific method for changing beneficiaries. A testator must comply with the rules of the insurance policy to effect a change of beneficiary. Strict compliance with insurance policy requirements is necessary to change a beneficiary under the policy. The insurer, the insured, and beneficiary should be able to rely on the certainty that policy provisions relating to the naming and changing of beneficiaries will control.
3. Life Insurance Cook v. Equitable Life Assurance Society
4. Pension and Retirement Accounts ERISA Egelhoff v. Egelhoff Egelhoff named the petitioner, his wife, beneficiary of his life insurance policy and pension plan that he received while working at Boeing. Both the life insurance policy and the pension plan were governed by the federal Employment Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA). Later the couple divorced and Egelhoffs children from a prior marriage claimed that a state law revoked the petitioners interest to the insurance policy and pension plan. ERISA shall supersede any and all State laws insofar as they may now or hereafter relate to any employee benefit plan covered by ERISA. A state law relates to an ERISA plan if it has a connection with or reference to such a plan. The federal Employee Retirement Income Security act preempts a state statute that revokes the payment of a non-probate asset to a former spouse because the statute interferes with the statutes goal to administer a nationally uniform plan. The ERISA statute
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commands that a plan shall, specify the basis on which payments are made to and from the plan. If administrators are forced to act in accordance with the state statute, they will have to comply with the varying statutes of all 50 states and wait on litigation before processing a payment. This delay conflicts with the legislatures goal of minimizing the administrative and financi al burdens placed on beneficiaries. Federal common law may allow slayer and divorce statutes. 5. Multiple-Party Bank and Brokerage Accounts Varela v. Bernachea D adds P to CMA account with right of When a joint bank account is established with the survivorship. D suffers heart attack and funds of one person, a gift of the funds is daughter bar P from hospital and apartment. promised. This presumption may be rebutted only P withdraws 280,000 from account, D by clear and convincing evidence to the contrary. demands a return. Section D. Pour-Over Wills and Revocable Trusts in Modern Estate Planning 1. Introduction 2. Norman Dacey and Avoiding Probate 3. Consequences During Life of Settlor 4. Consequences at Death of Settlor: Avoidance of Probate 5. Pour-Over Wills Clymer v. Mayo Whether unfunded trusts that are intended to be funded by a pour-over will are valid? Whether a statute that revokes a former spouses gift and powers under a will can also be applied to that former spouses interests under a trust if the will and trust are a part of one testamentary scheme? Under statutory law, unfunded trusts that are intended to be funded by a pour-over will are valid if the trust agreement is executed before the testators death. If a spouse remarries, any interests a former spouse may have under a will are revoked. This will statute revoking interests of a former spouse applies to a revocable pour-over trust where considering the time and manner in which the trust was created and funded, the decedents will and trust were integrally related components of one testamentary scheme.
Section E. Joint Tenancies in Realty Section F. Planning for Incapacity 1. The Durable Power of Attorney In re Estate of Kurrelmeyer T made wife durable power of attorney. Wife created a trust.
It is not a per se public policy violation for attorney-in-fact of a durable power of attorney to create a trust and name herself as trustee but self gifting is a breach of fiduciary duty of LOYALTY; Result will turn on if there are benefits to the trust other than self-gifting. The majority view is that an agent acting under a power of attorney cannot make amend or revoke the principals will, but the agent may create, modify, or revoke a trust if the power to do so is expressly granted in the POA instrument. 2. Directives Regarding Health Care and Disposition of the Body a. Advance Directives: Living Wills, Health Care Proxies, and Hybrids Bush v. Schiavo Theresa Schiavo lived in a vegetative state for over ten years due to a cardiac arrest. After about eight years, her husband, the respondent, Michael Schiavo, petitioned the guardianship court to authorize the termination of the life-prolonging procedures. The court granted his request and the nutrition and hydration tube that had been prolonging Shivas life was removed. Six days later, the Florida legislature enacted a statute enabling the Governor to issue a one-time stay to prevent the withholding of nutrition and hydration from a patient if the patient had no advance directive, the court the patient to be in a persistent vegetative state, the patient has had nutrition and hydration withheld, and a member of that patients family has challenged the withholding of nutrition and hydration. When a final judgment is issued in a court of law, and all post-judgment procedures are followed, the Legislature does not have the authority to pass a law that allows the executive branch to interfere with a final judicial determination in a case. Furthermore, a statute may not delegate legislative power to
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the Governor. b. Disposition of the Body
Chapter 7. Restrictions on the Poser of Disposition: Protection of the Spouse and Children Section A. Rights of the Surviving Spouse 1. Introduction to Marital Property Systems 2. Rights of Surviving Spouse to Support a. Social Security b. Employee Pension Plans c. Homestead d. Personal Property Set-Aside e. Family Allowance f. Dower and Curtesy 3. Rights of Surviving Spouse to a Share of Decedents Property a. The Elective Share and Its Rationale b. Same-Sex Marriage and Domestic Partners c. Incompetent Surviving Spouse In re Estate of Cross Cross, the surviving spouse of Carroll R. Cross, lived in a nursing home paid by Medicaid. Cross suffered from Alzheimers disease. Because of her lack of mental competency, she could not elect to take her intestate share against her late husbands will. As a result of the election, she would receive $25,000 and half of his net estate which was $9,000. A statue allowed Courts to elect for a surviving spouse to take if the surviving spouse was disabled. The Court made the election and Crosss son appealed.
Taking against the will is necessary for a surviving spouse under a statute that provides for a court to make an election on behalf of the surviving spouse to take against the will if it finds, after taking into consideration the other available resources and the age, probably life expectancy, physical and mental condition, and present and reasonably anticipated future needs of the disabled surviving spouse, that the election to take under the will is necessary to provide adequate support for the surviving spouse during his life expectancy. The trial judge acted in the best interests of the surviving spouse. Even though Medicaid paid for her nursing care, she was required to make herself available to all income to remain eligible for Medicaid.
d. Property Subject to Elective Share (1) Judicial responses Sullivan v. Burkin
A trust with a remainder interest is not an invalid testamentary disposition just because the settlor during his lifetime, retained broad power to modify or revoke the trust, receive income, and invade the principal. The fact that the settlor is also the trustee does not invalidate the trust. A surviving spouse has no right to an intervivos trust even if it is established to defeat the wifes election. A husb and has the right to sell any property during her life without the knowledge of his wife. NEW RULE FOR CASES AFTER SULLIVAN: Assets of and inter vivos trust created during the marriage by a deceased spouse over which he or she alone had a general power of appointment, exercisable by deed or will are now part of the spousal election
Sullivan executed a will and created an intervivos trust of all of his real property. He specifically failed to make a provision to the appellant, his wife Mary Sullivan, or his grandson, Mark Sullivan in the trust or the will. The appellant sought a determination that the trust property be included as a part of his estate.
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statute. Bongaards v. Millen
Jean Bongaards mother created a trust and made her the life tenant. When Bongaards died, her husband petitioned the court that the trust property be included in his wifes estate.
A surviving spouse may not invade a deceaseds spouses trust and take their elective share if the trust was created by a third party. A third party has no obligation to support someone elses property. Property owned by a third party has never been a part of someone elses spouses elective share estate.
(2) Statutory schemes (3) The Uniform Probate Code e. Must the Surviving Spouse Accept a Life Estate? f. Waiver Reece v. Elliott P argues that she did not enter into the prenup with full knowledge of the value of the deceaseds assets, because there was no value disclosed regarding stock. Where the proponent of the pre-nup makes a fair disclosure, even if its not 100% exhaustive, and the spouse had the opportunity to ask questions and discover the extent of the others holdings but failed to do so due to lack of interest, then the agreement has been held valid.
4. Rights of Surviving Spouse in Community Property a. Basic Information b. Putting the Survivor to an Election 5. Migrating Couples and Multistate Property Holdings a. Moving from a Separate Property State to a Community Property State b. Moving from a Community Property State to a Separate Property State 6. Spouse omitted from Premarital Will In re Estate of Prestie Under NV law, an amendment to a living trust which provides for a spouse is not sufficient to rebut the presumption of revocation of a pre-marital will after marriage. Only 3 ways to rebut presumption: (1) a provision in the WILL providing for the spouse, (2) a provision in the will expressing intent not to provide for spouse, or (3) a marriage contract. Section B. Rights of Descendants Omitted from the Will 1. Protection from intentional Omission a. The Domestic Approach b. A Look Abroad: Family Maintenance Statutes Lambeff v. Farmers CoGeorge Lambeff executed a will that did not operative Executives and include a provision for the plaintiff, his Trustees Ltd. daughter from a previous marriage. The plaintiff seeks a provision from Lambeffs estate under a statute that distributes a deceaseds estate to certain family members who were financially supported by their relative in his or her will or through intestacy. 2. Protection from Unintentional Omission Gray v. Gray Pre-marital will leaves all the estate to the wife, but it is revoked by the subsequent divorce. Omitted son seeks a share of fathers
Because the evidence showed that the deceased did not provide for his daughter for half of her childhood, the court believed that she was entitled to support, even though she did not necessarily need the support. It is enough that her life would have been better and a father is responsible for helping his child to succeed in life.
Court sticks to the statute and holds that son is not entitled to receive an intestate share under the statute b/c the will devised substantially all of
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estate under an Alabama Statute that gives omitted children the equivalent of an intestate share unless, (1) the omission was intentional, (2) when the will was devised the T had one or more children and devised substantially all his estate to the other parent; or (3) the testator provided for the child by transfer outside the will and intent that this transfer be in lie of the will is proven

decedents estate to the mother. The court does a completely mechanical analysis- when the will was executed, the testator had one or more children, and the majority of the estate is left to the childs other parent.
Kidwell v. Rhew
Decedent established a revocable inter vivos trust naming Rhew as successor upon her death. Decedent subsequently died intestate and Kidwell argued that the Arkansas pretermitted heir statute should apply to the trust so that she could collect an intestate share of the estate.
Court holds that Kidwell has no claim because the pretermitted heir statute speaks only in terms of wills and not trusts.
Chapter 8. Trusts: Introduction and Creation Section A. Introduction 1. Background 2. The Parties to a Trust a. The Settlor b. The Trustee c. The Beneficiaries 3. Commercial Uses of the Trust Section B. Creation of a Trust 1. Intent to Create a Trust Lux v. Lux
Jimenez v. Lee
Lux died testate devising the residue of her estate to her grandchildren. In the residuary clause of the will, the testator stated that her estate shall be maintained for the benefit of said grandchildren and shall not be sold until the youngest of said grandchildren has reached twenty-one years of age. The Court determined whether the language in the will created a testamentary trust. A testamentary trust does not have to be created using the words trust or trustee. A testamentary trust exists where the testator intends to create a trust based upon the language used in disposing the gift, the nature of the gift, and the characteristics of the beneficiaries. The testator created a trust based upon the language of the residuary clause using the phrases, shall be maintained and shall not be sold when viewed with the overall clause. Both of the phrases strongly indicate the testators intent that the property be retained and managed for a lengthy amount of time for the benefit of her sons children. The nature of the gift, the remainder of the testators estate, was quite large. It appears that the testator wanted the property to be held and managed by another adult until the children became fully grown and able to handle the property themselves. The plaintiff, Betsy Lee, claims an interest to money that was given to the defendant, her father for her educational needs. Whether a trust exists where the specific term in trust is not used to transfer the property? A trust exists here even though the specific term in trust was not used to transfer the property. It is sufficient that the defendant testified that he received property for the benefit of his own children and he admitted in a letter that he wrote to the owner that he held property in trust for his children. Even though the defendant purchased bank stock as the custodian for the plaintiff under the Uniform Gift to Minors Act, it was ineffectual to increase the defendants powers over the trust property from that of a trustee to a custodian.
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The Hebrew University Association v. Nye (1961) Yahuda announced a gift of her library from herself to the plaintiff at a luncheon in Israel, in her honor. Several notables, the plaintiff, and the president of Israel attended the luncheon. The next day, Yahuda signed a newspaper release that indicated she had given the library to the plaintiff. Later she refused several offers for the library explaining that it did not belong to her, only to the plaintiff. Yahuda began arranging and cataloging the material in the library for shipment to Israel. Whether a valid inter vivos gift exists where the donor places the means of obtaining possession of the contemplated gift in the donees hands, and orally announces a gift to the donor, even though the gift itself has not been physically transferred?

An oral declaration of a trust exists where the donor manifests an intention to impose upon herself enforceable duties of a trust nature. It is not enough that a donor express intent to be a donor. The donor did not create a trust by announcing a gift to the plaintiff. The declaration did not show that she intended to act as a trustee. An oral declaration of trust does not exist if the donor does not manifest intent to impose upon himself enforceable duties of a trust nature, but only shows intent to be a donor. A gift was constructively delivered because the donor placed a memorandum of the list of the contents of the library and all important books, documents and incunabula and orally declared a gift to the donee at the luncheon. Even though the gift was not formal, the circumstances in which the gift was made serve the purpose of formal gift requirements.
The Hebrew University Association v. Nye (1966)
2. Necessity of Trust Property Unthank v. Rippstein C.P. Craft handwrote a promise to make monthly payments to the appellee, Iva Rippstein, for the next five years if he lived that long. Later, Craft added an amendment to the letter stating that he was binding his estate to the monthly payments and struck out the phrase, provided that I live that long.
Brainard v. Commissioner
Brainard orally declared a gift in trust to his mother, wife, and two children. The property from the trust was to be funded from the future profit of a stock trade. The Supreme Court of Texas determined whether the trust existed in the year of the declaration, or the year the profit was made.
Speelman v. Pascal
Gabriel Pascal wrote, signed, and delivered a document to the plaintiff, Miss Kingman, promising to pay her a certain percentage of profits from the stage production and movie based on the Pygmalion Musical stage. The stage production did not appear until after Pascals death.
A donor does not create a trust by promising to make monthly payments in the future. Craft wrote that he bound his estate to a promise to make monthly payments and excluded the clause stating provided I live that long. However this language does not suggest that the donor intended to be a trustee over the payments. His intent was to bind his estate to such payments but not to create a trust. To prove a trust, the facts must show that the donor intended to act as a trustee or have the property managed by a trustee, not just a sincere desire to make a gift. Where there is no trust res at the time of the declaration of a trust, a trust does not exist until the time that the settlor manifests anew his intent to create a trust when the res comes into being. The 1927 declaration did not crate a valid trust over the future 1928 profits. The settlor must report the profits on his 1928 income tax return because the profits accrued to Brainard before he transferred the trust. A trust did not arise until 1928 when the settlor manifested anew his intent to create a trust when he documented in his books that the profit from the stock trade in 1928. The subject of a valid gift does not have to be in present physical existence and in the possession of the donor but a document purporting to make such a transfer must express intent to make an irrevocable present transfer. The gift to the plaintiff is valid because the letter shows intent to make an irrevocable present transfer. The donor did not need to make any further steps to make the gift effective.
3. Necessity of Trust Beneficiaries Clark v. Campbell A settlor created a trust of personal property for the benefit of his friends. The settlor directed the trustee to select those friends whom he or she should be aware of by reason of his familiarity with the trustee. Whether a
The document does not create a private trust because it does not clearly identify the identity of the testators friends. The settlor states that the trustee will know which persons are the settlors friends; however this is not a sufficient description
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document creates a private trust if the only beneficiaries identified are the settlors friends?

of a class of persons. The term friends is broad and can include persons related by kinship or marriage or strangers in blood. The document fails as a private trust because the description of the beneficiaries gives the trustee wide discretion in choosing the beneficiaries. A valid honorary trust may exist where the donor gives another a dog for the purpose of caring for the dog. A bequest does not violate the rule against perpetuities where the donor sets a portion of a limited amount of money to be used every day that amounts to a time that does not exceed the limit under the rule. A gift of a dog is a proper honorary trust because the donor expressed a desire that the beneficiary care for the dog and the beneficiary is willing to carry out the testators wishes.
In re Searights Estate
In his will, George P. Searight left his dog Trixie to Florence Hand of Wooster, Ohio. Searight directed his executor to place $1,000 in a savings and loan association for Hand to use 75 cents per day for the care of Trixie. The court determines the validity of the gift of the dog and the effect of the rule against perpetuities on the gift.
4. Necessity of a Written Insrument a. Oral Trusts for Disposition at Death In re Estate of Fournier T asked some friends to hold some money for him, they agreed and he delivered two boxes of $200K each. He asked them to keep it secret then deliver to his sister Faustina, but still told the other sister. T dies and Faustina petitioned the court saying T made an oral trust Ct denied and she appeals Olliffe v. Wells Ellen Donovan created a will leaving her residuary estate to the defendant, Rev. Eleazer M.P. Wells to distribute for a charitable purpose that she expressed to him before and after the execution of her will.
Need not be in writing, but must have clear and convincing evidence. Ct. held that there was clear and convincing evidence although there was evidence otherwise also.
A trust that is not sufficiently declared on its face to be a trust cannot be used to defeat the rights of heirs at law by extrinsic evidence of a trust. Extrinsic evidence may not be admitted to show that the testator intended to create a trust because it would defeat the rights of the heirs at law. The document must have been expressed in the form that the law makes essential to every testamentary disposition in order to defeat the rights of the heirs at law. The defendant holds the property in a resulting trust for the testators heirs at law.
b. Oral Inter Vivos Trusts of Land Chapter 9. Rights to Distributions from the Trust Fund Section A. Rights of the Beneficiary to Distributions Marsman v. Nasca Sara Wirt Marsman created a testamentary trust that provided that the trustee make payments from the residue of her estate for the maintenance, comfort and support of the plaintiff, T.Fred Marsman. For several years while Marsman struggled financially, the trustee only made a payment of $300 from the trust that was valued at $65,000.
A trustee that holds discretionary power to pay principal for the comfortable support and maintenance of a beneficiary, has a duty to inquire into the financial resources of that beneficiary to ascertain his needs. A trustee that is given discretionary power to pay the principal for the beneficiarys support and maintenance must inquire into the financial resources of the beneficiary.
Section B. rights of the Beneficiarys Creditors 1. Discretionary Trusts 2. Spendthrift Trusts Scheffel v. Krueger
The prevailing plaintiff in a civil sexual assault suit sought to attach the defendants interest in
A statute that bars creditors from claiming an interest to a beneficiarys trust does not make an
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a support trust to satisfy his judgment of $551,286.25. Shelley v. Shelley A former spouse and a son of a beneficiary of a trust sought to attach his interest in the trust to satisfy his alimony and child support obligations.

exception for tort creditors. Where the legislature has made specific exemptions, the law must presume that no other exceptions were intended. A spendthrift provision does not bar the claims of a beneficiarys children and former spouse for child support and alimony in regards to the income of a trust. However such claims are barred in regards to discretionary payments from the trust corpus. Trusts may not be created to allow a beneficiary to enjoy benefits and place the responsibility of caring for his child and former spouse on the community.
3. Self-Settled Asset Protection Trusts Federal Trade Commission The defendants, Denyse and Michael v. Affordable Media, LLC Anderson, were the trustees of an asset protection trust in the Cook Islands. The United States District Court issued a temporary restraining order to have the funds transferred to the United States for the purpose of a trial where the defendants were charged with fraud.
In re Lawrence
Stephan Jay Lawrence created and funded an offshore asset protection trust in Mauritius with $7 million dollars. After Lawrence lost a securities law arbitration proceeding, he was punished with a $20.4 million judgment against him. Lawrence filed for bankruptcy and the court ordered him to turn over the bankruptcy trustee assets held in the offshore trust.
A party petitioning for an adjudication that another party is in civil contempt does not have the burden of showing that the other party has the capacity to comply with the courts order, but the party asserting the impossibility defense must show categorically and in detail why he is unable to comply. There is a high burden on the defendant to prove impossibility as a defense to a contempt charge. The defendants were protectors of the trust and could have forced the trustees to turn over the proceeds. Impossibility is not a defense in contempt proceedings where the person charged with contempt is responsible for the inability to comply. Lawrence is responsible for his inability to comply because even though he was removed as a beneficiary as a result of his bankruptcy filing, he still retained the authority to appoint trustees who could have exercised the authority to reinstate Lawrence as a beneficiary.
Section C. Modification and Termination of Trusts 1. Introduction 2. Deviation and Changed Circumstances In re Trust of Stuchell The petitioner, one of the surviving life-income beneficiaries of a trust, sought to modify the trust in regards to another one of the beneficiaries who was mentally handicapped.
A court will not permit or direct the trustee to deviate from the terms of the trust merely because such deviation would be more advantageous to the beneficiaries than a compliance with such direction.
In re Riddell
Action to modify a trust and create a special needs trust on behalf of a trust beneficiary who suffers from bipolar and schizophrenic disorder. The daughter is the grandchild of the settlor, and lives in a hospital and not expected to live independently. By the trusts terms, the daughter will receive over one million dollars once her parents die. Petitioners argument is that a special needs trust is necessary because, upon death of the parents, the money will be seized by the state to pay for the bills, or, it will be lost by mismanagement because the daughter is handicapped.
The court may modify a trust if there are circumstances not anticipated by the settlor, and, the modification and deviation will further the purposes of the trust. The special needs trust is allowed under federal law, and, it is a third party special needs trust whereby the amount owed to the state must be determined. Congress specifically passed a law permitting the creation of special needs trusts for disabled persons to continue to receive governmental assistance for their medical care. Since congress is clearly encouraging this, the trial court should not have been concerned with this. When determining whether a trust should be
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modified to create a special needs trust, the proper focus should be on the settlors intent, the changed circumstances and what is equitable for these beneficiaries.
3. Clafin and Material Purpose In re Estate of Brown Andrew J. Brown created a trust to pay for the education of his nephews children and thereafter, to support the lifestyle of his nephew and his wife so that they could live a life in the style and manner as they wish for the remainder of their lives.
An active trust may not be terminated, even with the consent of all the beneficiaries, if a material purpose of the settlor remains to be accomplished. The material purpose of a trust that provides for the education of a beneficiarys children ,and then for the beneficiary and his wife to live in a lifestyle to which they were accustomed, is not satisfied after the beneficiarys childs education is complete. The settlor did not merely name successive beneficiaries, but expressed intent to provide for the lifelong income of the beneficiaries. Therefore this the second purpose is material
4. Trustee Removal Davis v. U.S. Bank National Association Trust set up grandfather for the benefit of his grandson and great-grandchildren. Grandfather and US National Bank Association are named as co-trustees. Grandfather dies. In 2006, grandson seeks to remove USBNA as trustee in favor of US Trust Company. Missouri had adopted the UTC which provides for the removal of a trustee without showing any wrongdoing on the part of trustee so long as several factors are present. The removal was indeed requested by all qualified beneficiaries (remote remainder beneficiaries were not required to be joined), that removing the trustee best served the interest of the beneficiaries because they live much closer to US and US has a complete understanding of beneficiaries unique financial position, that the removal best serves the trust because it will save close to $11,000 in annual fees, and that UTC was clearly a suitable and willing replacement trustee. Furthermore, replacing the trustee offended no material provision of the trust.
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Michael Mroczka

Wills, Estates, and Trusts Outline

Wills, Estates, and Trusts Outline

Wills, Estates, and Trusts Outline

Wills, Estates, and Trusts Outline

Wills, Estates, and Trusts Outline

Wills, Estates, and Trusts Outline

Wills, Estates, and Trusts Outline

Wills, Estates, and Trusts Outline

Wills, Estates, and Trusts Outline

Wills, Estates, and Trusts Outline

Wills, Estates, and Trusts Outline

Wills, Estates, and Trusts Outline

Wills, Estates, and Trusts Outline

Wills, Estates, and Trusts Outline

Wills, Estates, and Trusts Outline

Wills, Estates, and Trusts Outline

Wills, Estates, and Trusts Outline

Wills, Estates, and Trusts Outline

Wills, Estates, and Trusts Outline

Wills, Estates, and Trusts Outline

Wills, Estates, and Trusts Outline

Wills, Estates, and Trusts Outline

Wills, Estates, and Trusts Outline

Wills, Estates, and Trusts Outline

Wills, Estates, and Trusts Outline

Wills, Estates, and Trusts Outline

State Street Bank and Trust Co. v. Reiser

3. Life Insurance Cook v. Equitable Life Assurance Society

Wills, Estates, and Trusts Outline

Wills, Estates, and Trusts Outline

d. Property Subject to Elective Share (1) Judicial responses Sullivan v. Burkin

Wills, Estates, and Trusts Outline

Wills, Estates, and Trusts Outline

Wills, Estates, and Trusts Outline

The Hebrew University Association v. Nye (1966)

Wills, Estates, and Trusts Outline

Wills, Estates, and Trusts Outline

Wills, Estates, and Trusts Outline

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