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Summary Judgment Admitting Will to Probate Appropriate Where Objections to the Will (“Testamentary Capacity” and “Undue Influence”) Not Supported

The Third Department determined summary judgment admitting the will to probate was appropriately granted where the “testamentary capacity” and “undue influence” objections were not supported by evidence:

“Whether to dismiss a party’s objections and admit the challenged will to probate is a matter committed to the sound discretion of Surrogate’s Court and, absent an abuse of that discretion, the court’s decision will not be disturbed” … . While rare, summary judgment in a contested probate proceeding is appropriate where a petitioner establishes a prima facie case for probate and the objectant does not raise any factual issues regarding testamentary capacity, execution of the will, undue influence or fraud … . Upon our review of the record, we find that respondent has raised no such issues and we, therefore, conclude that Surrogate’s Court properly awarded summary judgment to petitioner.

As to testamentary capacity, petitioner bore the initial burden of establishing that decedent understood the nature and consequences of making the will, the nature and extent of her property, and the natural objects of her bounty … . Notably, it was only necessary to demonstrate that decedent had “a general, rather than a precise, knowledge of the assets in . . . her estate” … .  * * *

…[T]he fact that a decedent was subject to undue influence is established when he or she “‘was actually constrained to act against [his or her] own free will and desire by identifying the motive, opportunity and acts allegedly constituting the influence, as well as when and where such acts occurred'” … . Here, notwithstanding the confidential relationship between decedent and petitioner …, the record is bereft of any direct or circumstantial evidence indicating that petitioner exercised undue influence over decedent … . “On the contrary, [the evidence] indicate[s] that the will was the product of the free and unfettered act of [decedent]” … . Matter of Vosilla, 2014 NY Slip Op 07417, 3rd Dept 10-30-14

 

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