Cast:
Deced
- testate will disposes
- intestate - heirs (intestate succesors): decedent intent irrel
- issue: descendants (ancestors parents)
- codicil - amend revoke will (part / whole)
- spouse: surviving / legal marriage / reg dom p’ner
- CP / SP
Intestacy: intent irrel, heirs must survive (unless representation)
- Simultaneous death:
- CL: preponderance servived
- uniform simul death act: as if each pre-deceased
MOD: clear / convincing
- 120hrs survival (only for intestacy)
Spouse: legally married / reg dom p’ner
- CP all to spouse; QCP too
Spouse +
- Zero: takes all
- One: takes half
- One + n: takes a third
Escheat: 0 spouse / heirs
Issue: da kids
- adopt severs w/ bio
- step par !severs
- posthumous kids: w/in 300 days rebuttable presump h’s
CA issue sh
- per capita: equal degree equal sh
- w/representation
Disinherit: treat as predeceased
Execution: VALID IF
1 Signed writing: sign where ever, as long as intent (CA)
2 Witnesses 2
3 Testamentary intent
Capacity: A 18 yo B of sound mind
Witness - sign intent
- in the presence of suff / acknowledge
Presence:
- TRAD: observe the signing
- MOD: aware performed
- CA conscious presence
Testamentary intent: present at sig time
- CL: failed for imperfect compliance
- MOD: subst compliance OK, clear & convincing evid of intent
Holographic will: A handwriting B intent (bequeath inherit) C signed
Will substitutes - JT, rev trust, pour over t, pay on death, deed
Revocation
- ambulatory, later wills control
Subseq instr: expressly revoked, inconsistency overrules, oral insuff
Phys act: destroy + intent to revoke
Lost will: rebut presume destroyed
- dup orig’s probate, copies no
Operation of law
- divorce: strike bae
Codicil: revoked w/underlying will
- rev cod / doesn’t revoke will
- no automatic revival of revoked will
UNLESS: DRR - dependent relative revocation
- mistake of law: 2d will invalid (thought valid)
- mistake of fact: thought my friend predec (livin)
Will interp: plain meaning - extrinsic evid not admissible
- incorporation by reference
Valid if 1 doc exists (unless just pers prop) 2 intent 3 described with enough to ID (list in my drawer)
Acts of independent significance
- my stepdaughter (still married)
Lapse: CL divisee predeceases, remainder to resid
Anti-lapse IF 1 blood relation 2 survival (repr)
Class gifts: No antilapse Except
Spec G: partic property
General G: cash amount
Demonst: Gen from source
Resid: remainder / rest to
Ademption
- by satisfaction: spec / demonstrative - inter vivos
- by extinction: CL CA intent: to dispose, intend ademption?
- intent to adeem: recipient acknowledges satisfaction
Ambiguities
- latent: my brother 2 bros
- patent: CL adeem CA extrinsic figure out
Mistakes: CA no effort, no extrinsic
Limits on the power to transfer
- spouses: support, elective share (CL states), CP / QCP
- CP community sh
Omitted partner: CP 1st, intestate SP/2
- automatic to spouse sh via CP framework, will disposes balance
Issue
- advancement; satistfies intestate sh
- Burden to show NOT satisfaction CL
- must show Advanced / writing in will
Hotchpot
- addback Advances / divid by heirs / subtract adv from portion
Omitted children:
- on purpose, must be clear intent
- intestate sh if forgotten
Slayer statute: can’t benefit for killing (treat as predeceased)
- no antilapse
- not MS or Self Def (lol)
Disclaim gifts: in writing, signed, filed w/ court
- 9 months: id dec interest, % etc
Elder abuse: no take fin abuse
Will Contests
Standing: interested party
Validity / Capacity
- 18+, of sound mind, general testamentary capacity
- @ time of execution
Do you know what you’re doing? Why? Plan?
Nature & character of prop?
Objects of natural bounty
Insane delusions - general capacity not mut excl: rational pers !think
- unless butfor ID => no gift
Undue Influence: coercion / 3pty
- susceptibility, motive, opportunity, causation
- benefic treated as predeceased / intestate
- confid rel: presume undue influence, clear convincing
Drafter rule [CA] - fail unless family
Fraud: unlawful, misrep, intent to deceive, purpose to influence
- inducement: cause other will (b/s promises)
- execution: char contest
Remedy: constructive trust
Probate: will / intest, non other methods (trust deed jt etc)
JX: deced’s domicile / anciliary / prior
Orderly administration - quiet title - protect testator - efficient contest method
1 ID prop
2 rmle / valid / rene
ELSE intestacy
- Challenges w/in 120 days
- nonclaim dead claimant
Abatement: not enough cheddar
- reduce
First
Lowest Priority
- intestate
- resid taker
- gen to nonrels
- spec to nonrels
- spec rels
- gen rels
Forfeiture: contest in lose CA: strict construction only w/out probable cause
Pers rep- admin / executor
- inventory, locat bene’s / creditors
- creditors paid first
Fiduciary: loyalty & care
- no self dealing
- estate pays
