Wills Flashcards
What are the legal requirements for the execution of a formal will? (3)
Writing, Signature, Attestation
What are the requirements for a valid will?
Legal capacity, mental capacity, testamentary intent, statutory compliance
What is legal capacity?
Age of majority (most states is 18, some are younger, and some states allow individuals below age of majority to create a will if they are legally married)
What is mental capacity?
Sound mind - T must have had testamentary capacity at the time of signing the will
What are the requirements for a testator to have sound mind?
1) understand the nature and extent of their property
2) understand the natural objects of their bounty (children)
3) understand the disposition they are making of their property
4) be able to relate all these elements to each other and make a reasoned judgment in regard to property disposition
Describe the temporal nature of mental capacity.
T must have mental capacity at the time they execute the will. Even lacking capacity the moment before or after does not prevent a court from finding existence of mental capacity (but may open up for challenges).
Can a person who is adjudicated incompetent ever have mental capacity?
Maybe. A testator who is AI is presumed to lack mental capacity, but this is a rebuttable presumption if evidence shows T was in a lucid interval at the time of execution.
Can an audio or video recording serve as the writing requirement for an attested will?
No - while the writing requirement is broad, it still requires some sort of visual text.
What constitutes a signature for the purposes of an attested will?
Broad - can encompass any symbol T uses with intent to authenticate the will
1) T must intend the mark to function as their signature and
2) T must either make the mark or direct someone in their presence to make it
What are the requirements for a proxy signature on an attested will to be valid?
1) Proxy must sign in T’s presence
2) Proxy must sign at T’s direction
How many witnesses are required for an attested will?
2
What does the UPC allow instead of 2 witnesses to satisfy the attestation requirement?
T may acknowledge the will in front of a notary
For states that require publication, what does that entail?
Witnesses must know they are witnessing a will. T must tell the witnesses that this is their will or something to that effect.
What is the continuous transaction approach to witness signatures?
As long as T signs and the witnesses attest at approx. the same time as part of a continuous transaction, it is effective.
What is the UPC approach to the timing of witness attestation?
Attestation must occur within a reasonable time after:
1) the witness observed T sign the will
2) T acknowledged their signature on the will or
3) T acknowledged the will
What is the conscious presence approach to witness attestation?
T must be able to sense the presence of the witnesses signing (requires physical presence)
What is the line of sight approach to witness attestation?
T must have been able to actually see the witness signing (requires physical presence)
What is an interested witness?
Witness who will benefit if T’s will is valid
What are some ramifications if one of the witnesses to a will is an interested witness?
1) Purging statute - witness gift is void (so they can therefore testify about will)
2) No effect (UPC approach) - beneficiary will take property exactly as T specified in the will
3) Entire will is void (original common law approach)
What is an attestation clause?
Provision of the will that recites that T duly executed the will - found after T’s signature
What is a self proving affadavit?
A notarized statement by T and the witnesses affirming under oath that all the requirements of a valid will have been satisfied.
What does a self proving affidavit do/allow?
1) Substitutes for witness testimony in court when T’s will is probated
2) Raises the presumption that all matters stated within the will are true
May heirs to an estate contest a will with a self proving affidavit?
Yes
Does a self proving affidavit prevent T from amending or revoking a will?
No
What is a holographic will?
A will prepared in T’s own handwriting
What is the first generation statute requirement for a holographic will?
T must handwrite the entire will, including operative provisions (OK)
What is the second generation statute requirement for a holographic will?
The signature and material provisions of the will must be in T’s handwriting to be valid
Ex: I leave my house to my spouse - material provision
What is the third generation statute requirement for a holographic will?
Signature and material portions of the will must be in T’s handwriting to be valid (UPC)
- Material portion = words that identify the property and recipient
Ex: Gifting words (I devise, etc.) do not need to be in T’s handwriting
Can a typed or computer printed will be considered holographic?
No
What is a nuncupative will?
An oral or spoken will
Can a will be valid without witnesses if it is notarized?
In some states and under the UPC, yes.
What is a devise?
A gift of real property
What is a bequest?
A gift of personal property
What is a specific gift?
An identifiable gift with sufficient detail so it is clear which exact asset the beneficiary is entitled to receive.
What is a specific gift of a general nature?
A specific gift described in broad terms so the property to which it refers cannot be ascertained until T dies
Ex: “I leave my computer to ___”
What is a general gift?
Gift of property payable from any asset in T’s estate
Ex: $10,000 to my daughter
What is a legacy?
A gift of money
What is a demonstrative gift?
A gift that refers to a sum of money from a specific account.
What is a residuary gift?
Property remaining in the estate after all specific, general, and demonstrative gifts are satsfied.
What is a private gift?
A gift to an individual for that person’s enjoyment
What is a charitable gift?
A gift that benefits society
What is ademption by extinction?
The failure of a specific gift because the property is not in T’s estate when T dies
What are the two types of ademption by extinction rules?
1) Identity
2) Intent
What is identity theory in ademption?
If the exact items T attempted to give away in the will is not in T’s estate, the gift adeems and the beneficiary receives nothing.
What is the intent theory of ademption?
Tracing of the gift is allowed and the beneficiary may be permitted to receive the value of the missing property
What is ademption by satisfaction?
The failure of a testamentary gift because T has already transferred the property to the beneficiary between the time of will execution and the time of death
What is the doctrine of esjudem generis?
The character of the testamentary gift and the inter vivos gift must be the same before satisfaction took place
Is the change of value of gifted property considered when distributing T’s property?
No
For a gift of corporate securities, does a change in form prevent a beneficiary from taking the securities?
Typically, no.
For a gift of corporate securities, does a change in substance prevent a beneficiary from taking the securities?
Typically, yes.
Are cash dividends a change in form or change in substance?
Substance
Are stock dividends and stock splits a change in form or substance?
Form
Is a merger a change in form or substance?
Form
Is a dividend reinvestment a change in form or substance?
Typically substance, but can be form under UPC.
What is exoneration?
When property is devised free of debts (an implied gift of sufficient money to pay off the debt)
Is exoneration presumed under modern statutes and the UPC?
No - exoneration occurs only if there is express language requiring it in the will.
What is abatement?
The taking from a gift to pay the debts of the estate or a higher priority gift
What is the abatement order for taking from gifts?
1) Intestate succession (if T died partially intestate)
2) Residuary gifts
3) General gifts
4) Demonstrative gifts
5) Specific gifts