The Facts: The Respondent found among the decedent’s effects a purported will signed by the decedent but with the signatures of the witnesses torn off and missing. The respondent claims that the attorney whose name appears on the back of the will does not remember the alleged will or attending…
Articles Posted in Westchester County
Jurisdiction Issue Decided
A testator was born and raised in Brooklyn, New York but after he got married, he lived with his wife in Florida. Later, the testator and his wife resided in Phoenix, Arizona. While they resided in Phoenix, Arizona, the testator’s wife died. It was around April 2004 that he executor…
Court Discusses Pour-Over Wills
On 24 January 2006, a resident of Nassau County died. Prior to his death, on 24 October 2003, he had created a Revocable Trust. At that time, he also executed his will, the instrument that is offered for probate. Both instruments were drafted by the decedent’s long-time attorney who also…
Court Decides Question of Domicile of Testator
A woman who lived for thirty years with her niece in New York executed a will sometime on February 5, 1955. In will, she distributed her estate to her son who was a resident of Wayne County and her niece who was a resident of New York County. The woman…
Family Member Seeks to Invalidate Trust
In situations of estate probate, there are often times when a person is appointed by the court to review the circumstances surrounding a will and to determine if the law has been followed in the distribution of the assets set forth in the document. This person is called the guardian…
Family Questions Mental Capacity of Decedent
On this contested probate proceeding, the guardian for the infant beneficiaries seeks for authorization to retain a medical expert to be paid from the assets’ proceeds. It was initiated when a man died at the age of 88 and he was survived with seven children and two grandchildren. Afterwards, a…
Court Determines if Loan is in Default
The plaintiff and appellant of this case is Gray Wolf Corporation. Gray Wolf Corporation is being represented by Warren B. Rosenbaum from Woods, Oviatt and Gilman, LLP. The defendant and respondent et al of the case is Gleason Estates Associates, LP. Gleason Estates Associates LP is being represented by Gregory…
Court Decides Jurisdiction between French and American Wills
A son from California filed for an order dismissing the pending proceeding to probate his mother’s New York Will that raises an interesting question of jurisdiction. The son argues the jurisdiction of the court to prove the validity of the Will of a non-residence which requests New York to prove…
Petitioner Files Will Contest Due to Competency of Testator
Relative to the petition for probate, the guardian ad litem for the decedent crafted and negotiated the stipulation of settlement of estate was filed before the court for review. The factual circumstances of the case rooted from the time the decedent, a resident of New Hyde Park, Nassau County died…
Court Decides if an Executor has the Right to Request a Discovery Proceeding Regarding Property
The issues being raised in this estate case have two aspects. One issue talks about the objection of probate on the last will and testament of the deceased. Another issue raised on the case was whether the main executor of the will had the right to request for discovery proceeding…