THE ANATOMY OF A WILL: PRACTICAL CONSIDERATIONS IN WILL DRAFTING* Authors: STEVE R. AKERS Bessemer Trust Company, N.A. 300 Crescent Court, Suite 800 Dallas, Texas 75201 BERNARD E. JONES Attorney at Law 3555 Timmons Lane, Suite 1020 Houston, Texas 77027 R. J. WATTS, II Law Office of R. J. Watts, II 9400 N. Central Expressway, Ste. 306 Dallas, Texas 75231-5039 State Bar of Texas ESTATE PLANNING AND PROBATE 101 COURSE June 25, 2012 San Antonio CHAPTER 2.1 * Copyright © 1993 - 2011 * by Steve R. Akers Anatomy of A Will Chapter 2.1 TABLE OF CONTENTS PART 1. NUTSHELL OF SUBSTANTIVE LAW REGARDING VALIDITY OF A WILL................................................................. 1 I. FUNDAMENTAL REQUIREMENTS OF A WILL. 1 A. What Is a "Will"?. 1 1. Generally. 1 2. Origin of the Term "Last Will and Testament".. 1 3. Summary of Basic Requirements. 1 B. Testamentary Intent. 1 1. Generally. 1 2. Instrument Clearly Labeled as a Will.. 2 3. Models or Instruction Letters. 2 4. Extraneous Evidence of Testamentary Intent.. 2 C. Testamentary Capacity - Who Can Make a Will. 2 1. Statutory Provision. 2 2. Judicial Development of the "Sound Mind" Requirement.. 2 a. Five Part Test--Current Rule.. 2 b. Old Four Part Test--No Longer the Law.. 2 c. Lucid Intervals. 3 d. Lay Opinion Testimony Admissible.. 3 e. Prior Adjudication of Insanity--Presumption of Continued Insanity. 3 f. Subsequent Adjudication of Insanity--Not Admissible. 3 g. Comparison of Testamentary Capacity with Contractual Capacity. 4 (1) Contractual Capacity in General.. 4 (2) Testamentary and Contractual Capacity Compared. 4 h. Insane Delusion. 4 (1) General Rule. 4 (2) Examples.. 4 (3) Delusion Must Have no Basis in Fact.. 5 (4) Delusion Must Affect Will Provisions. 5 D. Execution Requirements. 5 1. Summary................................................................ 5 a. Statutory Provision. 5 b. Self-Proved Requirements Need Not Be Satisfied.. 5 c. Substantial Compliance. 5 d. Reading of Will Not Required. 5 2. Signed by Testator. 5 a. Handwriting Not Necessarily Required. 5 b. Initials by Testator. 6 c. Mark by Testator.. 6 d. Signature Written by Another Person.. 6 e. Forged Signature.. 6 f. Mark by Testator Combined with Signature by Another Person. 6 g. Signature in Body of Will.. 6 h. Signing Only Self-Proving Affidavit. 6 3. Attested and Subscribed by Two Credible Witnesses. 6 a. Attestation.. 6 b. Order of Signing. 7 c. Number of Witnesses. 7 (1) Texas Statutory Requirement. 7 (2) Signature by More Than Two Witnesses. 7 d. Credibility of Witnesses; Interested Witnesses. 7 (1) Meaning of "Credible". 7 (2) Executor as Subscribing Witness. 7 (3) Beneficiary as Subscribing Witness. 7 (4) Interested Witness Statute.. 7 (5) Corroboration of Testimony of Interested Witness-Old Law. 8 (6) Corroboration of Testimony of Interested Witness-Current Law.. 8 (7) Proof of Witness's Credibility.. 8 e. Place for Witnesses' Signatures. 9 f. Signing Only Self-Proving Affidavit. 9 4. Witnesses Sign in Presence of Testator. 9 ii Anatomy of A Will Chapter 2.1 5. Requirements of Other States.. 9 6. Interlineations.. 9 a. General Rule.. 9 b. Excessive Revisions May Cause Will to Fail.. 9 c. Interlineations During Execution. 9 d. Holographic Wills.. 10 7. Holographic Will. 10 a. General Requirements - In Testator's Handwriting and Signed by Him.. 10 (1) Statutory Provision. 10 (2) Signature Requirement. 10 (3) "Wholly in Testator's Handwriting" Requirement. 10 (4) Date Not Required. 10 b. Testamentary Intent. 10 c. Self-Proving Affidavit May Be Used. 10 d. Construction Problems. 10 8. Execution Ceremony. 10 II. UPHOLDING VALIDITY OF A WILL IN A WILL CONTEST. ..