You are here: / / Proof Insufficient to Demonstrate Will Drafted and Signed a Few Days Before...

Proof Insufficient to Demonstrate Will Drafted and Signed a Few Days Before Death Reflected Decedent’s Intentions

The Third Department affirmed Surrogate’s Court’s denial of the admission of a will to probate.  The will was drafted and signed a few days before decedent’s death and changed the disposition of property.  The court described the proof necessary to authenticate a will and determined the proof was insufficient to link the most recent will to decedent’s intentions:

“In order for a will to be duly executed and attested in New York, the testator must sign the document at the end; the testator must sign or acknowledge the signature in the presence of the attesting witnesses; the testator must declare to each of the attesting witnesses that the instrument is his or her will; and there must be two attesting witnesses who shall, within 30 days, attest the testator’s signature and, at the request of the testator, sign their names and affix their residence addresses” (…see EPTL 3-2.1). Before admitting a will to probate, Surrogate’s Court must be satisfied that the will has been validly executed (see SCPA 1408 [1]…), “that the mind of the testator accompanied the act, and that the instrument executed speaks his [or her] language and really expresses his [or her] will” … . The proponent of a will bears the burden of proving its validity by a preponderance of the evidence … . * * *

In light of the uncertainty surrounding the drafting and execution of this will, we decline to disturb the decree of Surrogate’s Court denying admission of the will to probate … . Matter of Walker, 2015 NY Slip Op 00271, 3rd Dept 1-8-15

 

You might also like
Exceptions to “Exhaustion of Administrative Remedies” Requirement Not Applicable—“Futility” and “Irreparable Harm” Not Demonstrated
PRISON INMATE’S COMPLAINT ALLEGING DENIAL OF ACCESS TO THE COURTS IN VIOLATION OF 42 USC 1983 DISMISSED FOR FAILURE TO STATE A CAUSE OF ACTION; PLAINTIFF ALLEGED THE FAILURE TO PRESERVE CERTAIN VIDEO RECORDINGS BUT DID NOT ALLEGE HOW SAID FAILURE HINDERED HIS ACCESS TO THE COURTS (THIRD DEPT).
Purchaser of a Firearm is an Accomplice of the Seller for Corroboration Purposes
Amendment of Summons and Complaint to Fix Misnamed Party Allowed
COUNTY COURT SHOULD NOT HAVE ACCORDED ANY WEIGHT TO AN OFF-THE-RECORD “CONDITION” THAT THE PEOPLE WOULD WITHDRAW THEIR CONSENT TO THE PLEA OFFER IF YOUTHFUL OFFENDER STATUS WERE GRANTED; ALTHOUGH THE PEOPLE CAN BARGAIN FOR SUCH A CONDITION, THERE WAS NOTHING ON THE RECORD ABOUT IT; SENTENCE VACATED AND MATTER REMITTED FOR CONSIDERATION OF THE FACTORS FOR A YOUTHFUL OFFENDER ADJUDICATION (THIRD DEPT).
People Failed to Prove Seizure of Cocaine at Police Station Was Not the Fruit of the Illegal Arrest—Attenuation Not Demonstrated
Appellate Court Defers to Agency Interpretation of a Statute When Specialized Knowledge Required
DEFENDANT WAS NOT PROPERLY NOTIFIED OF THE ALLEGED VIOLATIONS OF PROBATION AND THE FINDING THAT DEFENDANT VIOLATED A CONDITION WAS NOT SUPPORTED BY A PREPONDERANCE OF THE EVIDENCE (THIRD DEPT).

Categories

Sign Up for the Mailing List to Be Notified When the Site Is Updated.

  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Copyright © 2025 New York Appellate Digest, Inc.
Site by CurlyHost | Privacy Policy

Deed Was Not a “Deed in Lieu of Foreclosure;” Deed Therefore Did... First Degree Burglary Conviction Upheld Even though the Residential Portion...