Designation of Heirs a Modest Proposal to Diminish Will Contests Calvin R
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Spring 2014 Melanie Leslie – Trusts and Estates – Attack Outline 1
Spring 2014 Melanie Leslie – Trusts and Estates – Attack Outline Order of Operations (Will) • Problems with the will itself o Facts showing improper execution (signature, witnesses, statements, affidavits, etc.), other will challenges (Question call here is whether will should be admitted to probate) . Look out for disinherited people who have standing under the intestacy statute!! . Consider mechanisms to avoid will challenges (no contest, etc.) o Will challenges (AFTER you deal with problems in execution) . Capacity/undue influence/fraud o Attempts to reference external/unexecuted documents . Incorporation by reference . Facts of independent significance • Spot: Property/devise identified by a generic name – “all real property,” “all my stocks,” etc. • Problems with specific devises in the will o Ademption (no longer in estate) . Spot: Words of survivorship . Identity theory vs. UPC o Abatement (estate has insufficient assets) . Residuary general specific . Spot: Language opting out of the common law rule o Lapse . First! Is the devisee protected by the anti-lapse statute!?! . Opted out? Spot: Words of survivorship, etc. UPC vs. CL . If devise lapses (or doesn’t), careful about who it goes to • If saved, only one state goes to people in will of devisee, all others go to descendants • Careful if it is a class gift! Does not go to residuary unless whole class lapses • Other issues o Revocation – Express or implied? o Taxes – CL is pro rata, look for opt out, especially for big ticket things o Executor – Careful! Look out for undue -
Lost Wills: the Wisconsin Law, 60 Marq
Marquette Law Review Volume 60 Article 3 Issue 2 Winter 1977 Lost Wills: The iW sconsin Law Robert C. Burrell Jack A. Porter Follow this and additional works at: http://scholarship.law.marquette.edu/mulr Part of the Law Commons Repository Citation Robert C. Burrell and Jack A. Porter, Lost Wills: The Wisconsin Law, 60 Marq. L. Rev. 351 (1977). Available at: http://scholarship.law.marquette.edu/mulr/vol60/iss2/3 This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the Journals at Marquette Law Scholarly Commons. It has been accepted for inclusion in Marquette Law Review by an authorized administrator of Marquette Law Scholarly Commons. For more information, please contact [email protected]. LOST WILLS: THE WISCONSIN LAW ROBERT C. BURRELL* and JACK A. PORTER** I. INTRODUCTION The law of Wisconsin is well settled that once a will has been validly executed and has not been revoked, it may be admitted to probate even though the original copy of the will cannot be located at the death of the testator.1 Wisconsin Statutes section 856.17 provides as follows: Lost will, how proved. Whenever any will is lost, de- stroyed by accident or destroyed without the testator's con- sent the probate court has power to take proof of the execu- tion and validity of the will and to establish the same. The petition for the probate of the will shall set forth the provi- 2 sions thereof. Therefore, where the testator had a will which was valid at the time of execution but which cannot be located upon the death of the testator, the statute, in effect, prescribes the procedure for establishing that the will has not been subsequently re- voked by the testator. -
The Will Contest
SMU Law Review Volume 17 Issue 3 Article 3 1963 The Will Contest Leon Jaworski Follow this and additional works at: https://scholar.smu.edu/smulr Recommended Citation Leon Jaworski, The Will Contest, 17 SW L.J. 371 (1963) https://scholar.smu.edu/smulr/vol17/iss3/3 This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the Law Journals at SMU Scholar. It has been accepted for inclusion in SMU Law Review by an authorized administrator of SMU Scholar. For more information, please visit http://digitalrepository.smu.edu. THE WILL CONTEST* Leon Jaworski** I. IN GENERAL T HAS been said, and I think accurately, that a will is more apt to be the subject of litigation than any other legal instrument. Usually, it is the most important document executed in a person's lifetime. This immediately suggests that a will representing the true wishes of a testator of sound mind should be so prepared and executed as to be invulnerable, if possible, to an improper attack. It will aid me in the treatment of my subject to refer to wills with which I have been associated. Inasmuch as I have represented the proponent in some cases and the contestant in others, it should not be difficult to present my views without prejudice or favor, and this will be my effort. In any event, I trust that you will forgive me for allusions to personal experiences. In writing a will, a fundamental truth to be borne in mind is that the average jury, upon reviewing a will, is often tempted to rewrite it in accordance with their idea of what is fair and right, rather than testing its validity according to the instructions of the court. -
Aberdeen Student Law Review
Aberdeen Student Law Review With thanks to our sponsors Stronachs LLP July 2011 Volume 2 www.abdn.ac.uk/law/aslr THE EDITORIAL BOARD 2010 - 2011 Managing Editor Leanne Bain Editors Alice Cannon Ross Douglas Emma Fraser Stuart Lee Bruce Mangeon Fairweather Charlotte Taylor Ryan T. Whelan Jennifer White FOREWORD BY THE HON . LORD WOOLMAN SENATOR OF THE COLLEGE OF JUSTICE Has the ASLR already reached its second volume? I am delighted that the brio of those involved in launching the project has been sustained. That is evident from the table of contents for the new volume. The topics range across legal history, oil and gas law and the law of evidence. In my view, volume two confirms that the ASLR is continuing to make a significant contribution to legal learning in Scotland. Stephen Woolman July 2011 INTRODUCTION TO VOLUME TWO In 1987 Professor Erwin N Griswold, former Dean of Harvard Law School, gave an insight into the history of the Harvard Law Review, the oldest student-led law review in the world. He acknowledged: Some people are concerned that a major legal periodical in the United States is edited and managed by students. It is an unusual situation, but it started that way, and it developed mightily from its own strength.1 I firmly believe in the strength of the student law review, and it is this belief that has shaped the endeavours of the editorial team during the past year The second year of a professional publication can be as difficult as the first, and this year has certainly not been without challenge. -
Caregiving and the Case for Testamentary Freedom
Caregiving and the Case for Testamentary Freedom Joshua C. Tate* Almost all U.S. states allow individuals to disinherit their descendants for any reason or no reason, but most of the world’s legal systems currently do not. This Article contends that broad freedom of testation under state law is defensible because it allows elderly people to reward family members who are caregivers. The Article explores the common-law origins of freedom of testation, which developed in the shadow of the medieval rule of primogeniture, a doctrine of no contemporary relevance. The growing problem of eldercare, however, offers a justification for the twenty-first century. Increases in life expectancy have led to a sharp rise in the number of older individuals who require long-term care, and some children and grandchildren are bearing more of the caregiving burden * Assistant Professor of Law, Southern Methodist University. I would like to thank Gregory Alexander, Mark Ascher, Stuart Banner, Joseph Biancalana, Ira Bloom, Ralph Brashier, Alexandra Braun, Meta Brown, Hamilton Bryson, Naomi Cahn, June Carbone, Regis Campfield, Ronald Chester, Barry Cushman, Alyssa DiRusso, John Eason, Robert Ellickson, Mary Louise Fellows, Mark Fenster, Thomas Gallanis, Susan Gary, Joshua Getzler, Edward Halbach, Hendrik Hartog, Jill Hasday, Lisa Hasday, Richard Helmholz, Adam Hirsch, Clare Huntington, Daniel Klerman, Nina Kohn, Andrew Kull, John Langbein, Henry Lischer, John Lowe, Maurizio Lupoi, Grayson McCouch, William McGovern, Mavis Maclean, Ray Madoff, Paula Monopoli, Melissa -
Wills--Deceased Residuary Legatee's Share Held Not to Pass by Way Of
St. John's Law Review Volume 38 Number 1 Volume 38, December 1963, Number Article 11 1 Wills--Deceased Residuary Legatee's Share Held Not to Pass by Way of Intestacy Where It Is Clearly Manifested That Surviving Residuary Legatees Should Share in the Residuum (In re Dammann's Estate, 12 N.Y.2d 500 (1963)) St. John's Law Review Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarship.law.stjohns.edu/lawreview This Recent Development in New York Law is brought to you for free and open access by the Journals at St. John's Law Scholarship Repository. It has been accepted for inclusion in St. John's Law Review by an authorized editor of St. John's Law Scholarship Repository. For more information, please contact [email protected]. ST. JOHN'S LAW REVIEW [ VOL. 38 argument against such an extension was rejected. 52 Likewise, the presence of a compensation fund for prisoners was held not necessarily to preclude prisoner suits under the FTCA.53 The Court found the compensation scheme to be non-comprehensive.5 4 The government's contention that variations in state laws might hamper uniform administration of federal prisons, as it was feared they would with the military, was rejected. Admitting that prisoner recoveries might be prejudiced to some extent by variations in state law, the Court regarded no recovery at all as a more serious prejudice to the prisoner's rights.55 In this connection, it is interesting to consider the desirability of spreading tort liability in the governmental area.5" The impact of the principal case is, in some respects, clear. -
When Probate Goes Wrong
1111 SUPERIOR AVENUE SUITE 1000 CLEVELAND, OHIO 44114 216.696.4200 www.ssrl.com When Probate Goes Wrong David M. Lenz December 2009 The Probate Court oversees administration of decedents’ estates, but occasionally disputes arise that the parties cannot resolve without direct Court intervention: Is the Will valid? Are there assets missing? Has the Executor violated his duties? These disputes are litigated in the Probate Court, which has specific jurisdiction to handle probate-oriented disputes. Below are some answers to common questions about what to do when probate goes wrong: • How can I contest a Will? A will contest is a specific type of lawsuit—an action requesting the Probate Court to declare that a Will is invalid. It must be filed within three months after the Executor certifies to the Court that she has notified the beneficiaries and heirs that the Will was admitted to probate. • Why would a Court declare that a Will is invalid? Usually for one of three reasons: (1) It was not signed with the formalities required by law (e.g., the Will was not witnessed by two adults); (2) The decedent was unduly influenced in creating the Will; and/or (3) The decedent did not have the mental capacity to execute a Will. • How can we resolve a disagreement about what a Will means? If family members agree a Will is valid but disagree over how the Will should be interpreted, the executor or a beneficiary can file a “declaratory judgment” action to have the Court decide how to interpret the Will. • What can an Executor do if she thinks someone is improperly holding estate assets? She can file a “concealment of assets” action against the party and require that person to testify concerning possession or transfer of estate property. -
The Personal Representative's Power to Sell Realty in Virginia
William & Mary Law Review Volume 15 (1973-1974) Issue 4 Article 8 May 1974 The Personal Representative's Power to Sell Realty in Virginia Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarship.law.wm.edu/wmlr Part of the Estates and Trusts Commons Repository Citation The Personal Representative's Power to Sell Realty in Virginia, 15 Wm. & Mary L. Rev. 949 (1974), https://scholarship.law.wm.edu/wmlr/vol15/iss4/8 Copyright c 1974 by the authors. This article is brought to you by the William & Mary Law School Scholarship Repository. https://scholarship.law.wm.edu/wmlr COMMENT THE PERSONAL REPRESENTATIVE'S POWER TO SELL REALTY IN VIRGINIA At common law, tide to personal property passed to an executor or administrator upon the death of the owner, while tide to realty vested immediately in the decedent's heirs or devisees.' During the period of administration, the personal representative's control over personalty was, and under present law remains, analogous to that of a trustee, there being few restrictions upon the power to dispose of the property for the benefit of the estate. With respect to realty, however, a personal representative at common law had neither tide nor power to sell. Two general exceptions to the common law rules have evolved to expand the personal representative's power ovex realty. First, realty may be subjected by statute to the payment of debts of the estate when the personalty is insufficient for that purpose. Second, and more sig- nificantly, an executor may sell realty when vested with such power by the will.3 This Comment will examine the development and present status in Virginia of these exceptions to the general rule against sale 'of realty by a personal representative and will suggest statutory reforms designed to bring Virginia law more in line with that in other jurisdic- tions in reflecting modem conditions. -
To Contest Or Not: Drafting and Litigating No-Contest Clauses by Elizabeth T
Reproduced by permission. ©2017 Colorado Bar Association 46 The Colorado Lawyer 39 (Jan. 2017). All rights reserved. TRUST AND ESTATE LAW To Contest or Not: Drafting and Litigating No-Contest Clauses by Elizabeth T. Meck and Morgan M. Wiener This article discusses current law on no-contest clauses. It includes suggestions for attorneys who draft and litigate no-contest clauses and considers the risks of litigation involving these provisions. roperty owners are generally free to dispose of their property whether the contesting party’s actions constitute an attack on the at death outright or in trust, in whole or in part, as they see dispositive instrument or provision. fit. This alienability is subject to statutory rights afforded to Given the rising amount of trust and estate litigation and the fre- P 11 surviving spouses, claims of creditors (including taxing authorities quency of post-mortem changes to estate plans, estate planning and dependents), and prohibitions of public policy that have been clients are increasingly interested in including these clauses to en - recognized in equity.1 sure that their estate plans will remain unchanged after their death. Fundamental to the freedom to dispose of one’s property at death The no-contest clause has become one of the most effective tools is the right to impose conditions on such transfers that restrict or an estate planning attorney can incorporate into dispositive instru- limit the timing, nature, or extent of the recipient’s ownership of the ments such as wills and trusts to prevent challenges to the plan.12 property.2 The in terrorem or “no-contest clause” has long been rec- Therefore, estate planning attorneys should draft clauses precisely, ognized as a condition intended to ensure that the settlor’s or tes- to ensure that enforcement is consistent with the client’s goals and tator’s wishes are honored by thwarting the likelihood of an attack ex pectations. -
Coming to Terms with the Uniform Probate Code's Reformation of Wills
University of Colorado Law School Colorado Law Scholarly Commons Articles Colorado Law Faculty Scholarship 2012 Coming to Terms with the Uniform Probate Code's Reformation of Wills Wayne M. Gazur University of Colorado Law School Follow this and additional works at: https://scholar.law.colorado.edu/articles Part of the Estates and Trusts Commons, and the Evidence Commons Citation Information Wayne M. Gazur, Coming to Terms with the Uniform Probate Code's Reformation of Wills, 64 S.C. L. REV 403 (2012), available at https://scholar.law.colorado.edu/articles/740. Copyright Statement Copyright protected. Use of materials from this collection beyond the exceptions provided for in the Fair Use and Educational Use clauses of the U.S. Copyright Law may violate federal law. Permission to publish or reproduce is required. This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the Colorado Law Faculty Scholarship at Colorado Law Scholarly Commons. It has been accepted for inclusion in Articles by an authorized administrator of Colorado Law Scholarly Commons. For more information, please contact [email protected]. +(,121/,1( Citation: 64 S. C. L. Rev. 403 2012-2013 Provided by: William A. Wise Law Library Content downloaded/printed from HeinOnline Tue Feb 28 11:04:51 2017 -- Your use of this HeinOnline PDF indicates your acceptance of HeinOnline's Terms and Conditions of the license agreement available at http://heinonline.org/HOL/License -- The search text of this PDF is generated from uncorrected OCR text. -- To obtain permission to use this article beyond the scope of your HeinOnline license, please use: Copyright Information COMING TO TERMS WITH THE UNIFORM PROBATE CODE'S REFORMATION OF WILLS Wayne M. -
Instructions for Small Estate Affidavit
INSTRUCTIONS FOR SMALL ESTATE AFFIDAVIT TALK TO A LAWYER IF YOU DO NOT UNDERSTAND YOUR DUTIES OR ANY PART OF THESE INSTRUCTIONS! If you make a mistake, you may have to personally pay the cost of the mistakes and loss to the estate. The Affidavit will be filed with the court and has legal consequences. These instructions are not a complete statement of the law. You are responsible for following all Oregon laws, even those not explained here. Contact the Oregon State Bar Lawyer Referral Service if you need help finding a lawyer or have questions about the Bar’s Modest Means Program. Oregon State Bar Lawyer Referral Service - www.oregonstatebar.org Phone: 503.684.3763 or toll-free in Oregon at 800.452.7636 BEFORE YOU START Make sure there are no other probate cases filed on this estate. Go to www.courts.oregon.gov to search online case records or call your local court for help searching. DO NOT SIGN THE AFFIDAVIT YET! Your signature must be notarized by a court clerk or notary public. You will need photo identification. Sign the Affidavit in the presence of the notary or clerk. Parties o You are the Affiant (the person completing the Affidavit). Affiants have specific legal duties under ORS 114.505 to 114.560. The person who died is the Decedent o You will need the death certificate and the will (if any) o You need a certified copy of the death certificate. You can get the death certificate from the funeral home or the Office of Vital Statistics. -
Text and Time: a Theory of Testamentary Obsolescence
View metadata, citation and similar papers at core.ac.uk brought to you by CORE provided by Washington University St. Louis: Open Scholarship Washington University Law Review Volume 86 Issue 3 2009 Text and Time: A Theory of Testamentary Obsolescence Adam J. Hirsch Florida State University Follow this and additional works at: https://openscholarship.wustl.edu/law_lawreview Part of the Estates and Trusts Commons Recommended Citation Adam J. Hirsch, Text and Time: A Theory of Testamentary Obsolescence, 86 WASH. U. L. REV. 609 (2009). Available at: https://openscholarship.wustl.edu/law_lawreview/vol86/iss3/2 This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the Law School at Washington University Open Scholarship. It has been accepted for inclusion in Washington University Law Review by an authorized administrator of Washington University Open Scholarship. For more information, please contact [email protected]. TEXT AND TIME: A THEORY OF TESTAMENTARY OBSOLESCENCE ADAM J. HIRSCH∗ Events may occur after a will is executed that ordinarily give rise to changes of intent regarding the estate plan—yet the testator may take no action to revoke or amend the original will. Should such a will be given literal effect? When, if ever, should lawmakers intervene to update a will on the testator's behalf? This is the problem of testamentary obsolescence. It reflects a fundamental, structural problem in law that can also crop up with regard to constitutions, statutes, and other performative texts, any one of which may become timeworn. This Article develops a theoretical framework for determining when lawmakers should—and should not—step in to revise wills that testators have left unaltered and endeavors to locate this framework in the context of other forms of textual obsolescence.