Proceeding Examines Using Attesting Witnesses in Probate Cases

In this probate proceeding examinations of attesting witnesses have been held and on October 6, 1997 the examination of the surviving spouse, the named executrix and proponent of the will, was scheduled as part of the SCPA 1404 examination under a recent amendment which authorizes the examination of the executor and proponent prior to the filing of objections if the will offered for probate contains an in terrorem or no contest clause as this will does.

Present at the time of the examination was a reporter from Newsday who insisted on being present during the examination of the surviving spouse to which the attorneys for the parties objected. The court requested counsel to adjourn the deposition so as to permit Newsday an opportunity to submit its position in writing. Subsequently, counsel for Newsday filed with the court a letter dated October 9, 1997 citing In the Matter of the Estate of Daniel P. O’Connell, 90 Misc.2d 555, 394 N.Y.S.2d 816, which holds that an examination of attesting witnesses to a will is a “sitting” of the court for purposes of section 4 of the Judiciary Law providing that sittings in every court should be public except for specific proceedings. The O’Connell court stated, in part, that such an examination of attesting witnesses is held before this court with all parties attending, with a court stenographer present and subject to all of the applicable rules of evidence. It is thus a sitting of this court which should be open to the public.

On the other hand, it is clear that if examinations under SCPA 1404 are in the nature of depositions, then the cases have consistently denied the press access to such pre-trial proceedings.

The question, therefore, resolves itself as to whether historically and traditionally examinations of attesting witnesses are “sittings” of the court or on the other hand, essentially depositions or examinations before trial. A review historically of the practice and procedure leaves no doubt that the examination of attesting witnesses is in the nature of depositions or examinations before trial and nothing more.

The four volume work of Bradford Butler, who was a prominent scholar in the field of trusts and estates and a court attorney in the Kings County Surrogate’s Court, originally published in 1941, states: “The examination of the subscribing witnesses, whether it be held before or after the filing of objections, is informal and is usually conducted before a court stenographer, in the presence of the representatives of the parties”.

Another and similarly distinguished commentator on surrogate’s practice, Homer I. Harris, in the second edition of his work, New York Estates Practice Guide, at section 177, states: “On the day set for the examination the parties, witnesses and attorneys go before an official stenographer “.

One other purpose served by requiring certain examinations to be held at the courthouse is that the procedure enables the parties to seek an immediate ruling if a dispute should arise.

Since the examination of attesting witnesses historically and traditionally does not involve a “sitting” of the court but essentially a deposition or examination before trial, the O’Connell case must be considered to represent an unusual and isolated approach to examinations of attesting witnesses and will not be followed.

Although no examination under SCPA 1404 should be considered a “sitting” of the court, there is even less reason for such a characterization in the examination of a proponent or executor who, prior to the 1993 amendment to SPCA 1404 could only be examined after the filing of objections under Article 31 of the CPLR which would clearly make it an examination before trial. The purpose of incorporating the examination of the proponent or executor into SCPA 1404 was to permit a potential objectant an expanded discovery without triggering forfeiture under the no-contest clause and corresponds to a similar change in EPTL 3-3.5.

Accordingly, the examination under SCPA 1404 being essentially a deposition or examination before trial, there is no occasion to open the examination to the public without the consent of the parties and permission for the press’s participation in the examinations is denied. In addition, permission was sought to conduct the remaining depositions outside the court, which application is granted.

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