“Undue Influence” and “Fraud” Criteria Explained Re: Objections to Probate of a Will

The Second Department, in affirming Surrogate’s Court’s dismissal of objections to the probate of a will, explained the criteria for a demonstration of “undue influence” and “fraud:”

“An objectant contesting the admission of a propounded instrument to probate based on the alleged exercise of undue influence must show that the influence exercised amounted to a moral coercion, which restrained independent action and destroyed free agency, or which, by importunity which could not be resisted, constrained the testator to do that which was against his free will and desire, but which he was unable to refuse or too weak to resist'” … . “An objectant seeking to establish that a will is the product of fraud has the burden of proving by clear and convincing evidence that the proponent of the will knowingly made false statements to the testator to induce him or her to make a will which disposed of property in a manner different from that in which the testator would otherwise have disposed of the property” … . The petitioners demonstrated their prima facie entitlement to judgment as a matter of law by showing, among other things, that the will had been duly executed, that the decedent possessed testamentary capacity, and that no undue influence or fraud had been exercised upon the decedent … . In opposition, the objectants failed to submit any evidence, beyond conclusory allegations and speculation, that the petitioners actually exercised undue influence over the decedent or that any fraudulent statements were made to the decedent, that the proponents of the made statements they knew to be false, or that any such statements caused the decedent to change his will… . Matter of Mele, 2014 NY Slip Op 00512, 2nd Dept 1-29-14