Wills Flashcards
Topics? (4)
(Intestate Succession)
- CP & QCP
- SP
- Distribution Scheme
- Misc. Rules
Structure?
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(Intestate Succession: CP & QCP)
- Surviving Spouse = 100% of Decedent’s 1/2 Share of CP
- Quasi-Community Property (QCP) = Same Treatment as CP
Structure?
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(Intestate Succession: SP)
- Surviving Spouse or Domestic Partner
- No Issue, Parents, Sibling or Issue of Deceased Sibling = 100 % to Surviving Spouse
- Issue = Descendants
- No Issue But Parent(s) or Issue of Parents = 1/2 to Surviving Spouse
- One Issue or Issue of Predeceased Child = 1/2 to Surviving Spouse
- More Than One Issue or Issue of Predeceased Children = 1/3 to Surviving Spouse
- No Issue, Parents, Sibling or Issue of Deceased Sibling = 100 % to Surviving Spouse
- No Surviving Spouse or Domestic Partner
- To Issue (Any Generation)
- No Issue? To Parents
- No Issue or Parents Survive? To Issue of Parents
- No Issue, Parent or Issue of Parent? To Grandparents or Their Issue
- No Issue, Parent, Issue of Parent, Grandparent or Issue of Grandparent? To Issue of a Predeceased Spouse or Domestic Partner
- None of the Above Survive? Next of Kin
- No Next of Kin? To Parents of a Predeceased Spouse or Their Issue
- If None of These? Escheats to the State of CA
Structure?
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(Intestate Succession: Distribution Scheme)
- All Takers Equally Closely Related to Decedent = Per Capita
- Takers Not Equally Closely Related To Decedent
- Per Capita with Right of Representation (aka Modern Per Stirpes) = 1st Level of Issue w/ Living Persons
- Default Rule
- Traditional/Classic Per Stirpes = 1st Level of Issue
- Per Capita with Right of Representation (aka Modern Per Stirpes) = 1st Level of Issue w/ Living Persons
Structure?
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(Intestate Succession: Miscellaneous Rules)
- Survival Rule
- Burden of Proof = Clear & Convincing Evidence of Survival
- Exception: Property Escheats to State = Survival Rule Not Applicable
- Effect of Adoption
- Adoptive Parents & Relatives = Inherit
- Natural Parents = No Inheritance
- Exceptions to Severance = Step-Parent Adoption (by Spouse/Domestic Partner of Either Natural Parent)
- During Life of Both Natural Parents, OR
- Adopted After Death of Either Natural Parent
- Exceptions to Severance = Step-Parent Adoption (by Spouse/Domestic Partner of Either Natural Parent)
- Equitable Adoption = Unadapted Stepchildren & Foster Children
- Relationship Began During Child’s Minority
- Relationship Continued Throughout Both Parties’ Lifetimes
- Clear & Convincing Evidence of Adoption But For Legal Barrier
- Non-Marital Children
- Equal Protection Violation
- Mother = Always
- Father = Yes if Parent-Child Relationship Existed
- Child Born During Actual or Attempted Marriage
- Parents Married or Attempted to Marry
- Before Child’s Birth & Birth Within 300 Days
- After Child’s Birth
- Father Named on Birth Certificate
- Father Makes Voluntary Promise to Pay Child Support, OR
- Father Ordered to Pay Child Support By Court
- Holding Child Out As His Own
- Non-Birthing Domestic Partner
- Child Born During Actual or Attempted Domestic Partnership
- Formed or Attempted to Form Domestic Partnership
- Before Child’s Birth & Birth Within 300 Days
- After Child’s Birth
- Non-Birthing Domestic Partner Named on Birth Certificate
- Non-Birthing Domestic Partner Makes Voluntary Promise to Pay Child Support, OR
- Non-Birthing Domestic Partner Ordered to Pay Child Support By Court
- Holding Child Out As Her Own
- Half-Bloods
- Definition
- Rule
- Posthumous Heirs
- Posthumous Relatives
- Posthumous Children
- Posthumously Conceived Children
- Treated As Born During Decedent’s Lifetime
- Use Authorized In Writing
- Signed & Dated
- Designates Person in Control
- Written Notice Within 4 Months
- Conceived & In Utero Within 2 Years of Death Certificate
- Burden of Proof = Clear & Convincing Evidence
Topics? (4)
(Requirements & Components of Wills)
- Execution of Wills
- Components of the Will
- Conditional Wills
- Execution of Holographic Wills
Structure?
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(Requirements & Components of Wills: Execution of Wills)
- Capacity
- Requirements for Capacity
- Age = 18 Years
- Know Nature & Situation of Property
- Understand Her Relations to Spouse or Domestic Partner, Issue, Parents & Others Whose Interests are Affected by the Will
- Understand Nature of the Testamentary Act
- Challenges Relating to Capacity
- Insane Delusion
- Fraud
- Undue Influence
- Consequence of No Capacity = Entire Will Invalid
- Prior Valid Will
- Requirements for Capacity
- Present Testamentary Intent
- Test
- Formalities of Execution for Attested or Formal Wills
- Writing Required
- Signature Required
- Signed By One of the Following
- By Testator
- By Another, OR
- In Testator’s Presence
- At Testator’s Direction
- By Conservator Pursuant to Court Order Giving the Conservator Will-Making Power
- No Subscription Requirement (aka May Sign Anywhere on Document)
- Intent Dispositive
- Signed By One of the Following
- Simultaneous Presence of Two Witnesses
- Presence?
- Visual Presence (aka Line of Sight), OR
- Conscious Presence
- Clear & Convincing Evidence Standard in CA = Testators Dying On or After January 1, 2009
- Interested Witness
- Exceptions
- Two Other Disinterested Witnesses, OR
- Fiduciary Capacity
- Effect if Presumption Rebutted = Will is Valid & Beneficiary Takes Entire Gift
- Effect if Presumption Not Rebutted = Will is Valid & Beneficiary Is Purged Down To Intestate Share
- Exceptions
- Presence?
- Signed By Witnesses Within Testator’s Lifetime
- Intent Dispositive
- CA Standards
- Witnesses Do Not Have to Sign in Each Other’s Presence
- Witnesses Do Not Have to Sign in Testator’s Presence
- No Subscription Requirement (aka May Sign Anywhere on Document)
- Clear & Convincing Evidence Standard in CA = Testators Dying On or After January 1, 2009
- Witnesses Understand the Significance of the Testator’s Act
- No Publication Requirement
- Clear & Convincing Evidence Standard in CA = Testators Dying On or After January 1, 2009
- CA’s Substantial Compliance Standard = Testators Dying Before January 1, 2009
Structure?
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(Requirements & Components of Wills: Components of the Will)
- Integration
- Elements
- Intent by Testator
- Physical Connection, OR
- Logical Connection
- Actually Present at Time of Execution
- Intent by Testator
- Elements
- Incorporation by Reference
- Document or Other Writing
- Documents in Existence at Time of Execution
- Documents Clearly Identifiable
- Intent by Testator
- Presumed by Court if Other Elements Satisfied
- Facts of Independent Significance
- Non-Testamentary in Nature
- Past or Future Act
- Test = Does the Act Have Sufficient Significance Apart From Its Effect on the
Will?- If Yes
- Non-Testamentary in Nature
- Writing Disposing of Limited Tangible Personal Property = CA Probate Code § 6132
- Scope = Decedents Dying On or After January 1, 2007
- Elements
- Writing Must Be
- Referred to in Unrevoked Will
- Dated
- Signed or Handwritten by Testator
- Writing Must Describe Items & Beneficiaries with Reasonable Certainty
- Writing May Be Executed Before or After Will
- Writing Disposes of Limited Tangible Personal Property = No More Than $25K in the Aggregate & No Single Item Over $5K
- No Cash
- No Trade or Business Property
- Limitation on Value
- $5,000 per Item
- $25,000 in Aggregate
- Writing Must Be
- Last in Time Prevails
- Codicil
- Republication of Will
- Republication Issues?
- Pour-Over Wills
- Incorporation by Reference
- Pretermission
- Republication Issues?
- Effect of Revocation
- Revocation of Codicil = Rebuttable Presumption that Only Codicil Revoked
- Revocation of Will = Rebuttable Presumption Will & All Codicils Revoked
- Holographic Codicil to Attested Wills OK
- Republication of Will
- Pour-Over Wills
- Validated By
- Incorporation By Reference
- Trust Instrument in Writing
- Trust Instrument in Existence at Time of Will Execution
- Trust Instrument Clearly Identifiable
- Intent by Testator
- Facts of Independent Significance
- Uniform Testamentary Additions to Trusts Act (UTATA), OR
- CA Probate Code § 6132
- Incorporation By Reference
- Validated By
Structure?
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(Requirements & Components of Wills: Conditional Wills)
- Probated Only If Condition Satisfied
- Form
- Formal Wills, OR
- Holographic Wills
Structure?
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(Requirements & Components of Wills: Execution of Holographic Wills)
- Formalities
- Writing Required
- Material Terms Handwritten by Testator
- Material Terms
- Gifts Made
- Names of Beneficiaries
- Material Terms
- Signed by Testator
- Intent Dispositive
- No Subscription Requirement (aka May Sign Anywhere on Document)
- Testamentary Intent
- Extrinsic Evidence Admissible
- Series of Letters = Can Demonstrate Intent under Integration
- Commercially Printed Form
- Date Not Required
- Undated Holographic Will Treated As Earlier Than Inconsistent Attested Wills
or Dated Holographs- Burden of Proof on Proponent
- Two Inconsistent Undated Holographic Wills
- Capacity
- Undated Holographic Will Treated As Earlier Than Inconsistent Attested Wills
Topics? (4)
(Contests to Wills)
- Insane Delusion
- Fraud
- Undue Influence
- Mistake
Structure?
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(Contests to Wills: Insane Delusion)
- Requirements
- Testator Suffers from a Mental Disorder
- Causing Delusion/Hallucination Resulting in False Belief
- Resistant to Contrary Evidence
- Delusion Must Have Affected Will
- Effect = Only Part Affected Invalid
- Residuary Gift
Structure?
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(Contests to Wills: Fraud)
- Elements of Fraud
- Misrepresentation of Material Fact
- Known to be False by the Wrongdoer
- For the Purpose of Inducing Action or Omission
- Actually Induces the Desired Action or Omission
- Types of Fraud
- Fraud In Execution = Entire Will Invalid
- Effect = Intestate Succession Unless Prior Valid Will
- Fraud In Inducement = Only Part Affected Invalid
- Residuary Clause
- No Residuary Clause = Intestate Succession, OR
- Constructive Trust
- Fraud In Prevention of Revocation = No Probate
- Effect = Constructive Trust
- Fraud In Execution = Entire Will Invalid
Structure?
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(Contests to Wills: Undue Influence)
- Prima Facie Case = Only Part Affected Invalid
- Elements
- Susceptible Testator
- Psychological
- Financial
- Physical, OR
- Any Other Weakness
- Opportunity to Influence
- Disposition or Motive to Exert Influence
- Unnatural Result
- Susceptible Testator
- Effect = Only Part Affected Invalid
- Residuary Clause
- No Residuary Clause= Intestate Succession, OR
- Constructive Trust
- Elements
- Presumption of Undue Influence = Only Part Affected Invalid
- Elements
- Confidential Relationship
- Attorney-Client
- Doctor-Patient
- Guardian-Ward
- Penitential Relationships
- Trustee-Beneficiary
- But No Husband-Wife or Domestic Partners
- Active Participation in Procuring a Will
- Unnatural Result
- Confidential Relationship
- Interested Witnesses = Presumption of Undue Influence
- Exceptions
- Two Other Disinterested Witnesses, OR
- Fiduciary Capacity
- Effect = Only Part Affected Invalid
- Residuary Clause
- No Residuary Clause = Intestate Succession, OR
- Constructive Trust
- Exceptions
- Elements
- Statutory Undue Influence = Invalidates Donative Transfer
- Invalid Donative Transfers
- Drafter of Instrument
- Drafter’s
- Relatives
- Spouses
- Domestic Partners
- Cohabitants
- Business Partner, OR
- Employee
- Persons in Fiduciary Relationship With Settlor or Testator
- Care Custodians of Dependent Adult Settlor or Testator
- Care Custodians
- Dependent Adult
- > 64 Years Old, OR
- 18 Years Old With Mental or Physical Disability
- Exceptions
- Reviewed by Independent Attorney
- Clear & Convincing Evidence
- Inapplicable if Drafter = Transferee
- Inapplicable When Transferee is the Drafter’s
- Relative
- Spouse
- Domestic Partner, OR
- Cohabitant
- Effect = Will Valid But Devise > Intestate Share Invalid
- Invalid Donative Transfers
Structure?
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(Contests to Wills: Mistake)
- In the Execution
- Testator Signs Under Mistaken Belief that Instrument is Non-Testamentary
- Effect = Will Invalid
- Reciprocal Wills or Mutual Wills
- Definition of Reciprocal/Mutual Wills
- Testator Signs Under Mistaken Belief that Instrument is Non-Testamentary
- In the Inducement
- Effect = No Relief
- Face of Instrument Exception
- Mistake Appears on Face
- Disposition But For Mistake Appears on Face
- In the Content
- Omission = No Remedy
- Addition = Remedy Available
- In the Description (aka Ambiguity)
- Types of Mistakes in Description
- Non-identification
- Equivocation
- Effect = Extrinsic Evidence Admissible
- Latent Ambiguity
- Parol Evidence Admissible
- Patent Ambiguity
- Parol Evidence Admissible
- Latent Ambiguity
- Types of Mistakes in Description
- Mistake Involving Living Children
- Born or Adopted After Testamentary Instruments Executed = Pretermitted Child
- Effect = Intestate Share
- Born or Adopted Before Testamentary Instruments Executed = Pretermitted Child
- Effect = Child Disinherited
- Exception: Testator Mistakenly Believed Child Dead or Non-Existent
- Effect = Pretermitted Child & Intestate Share
- Born or Adopted After Testamentary Instruments Executed = Pretermitted Child
- Mistake in Validity of Subsequent Instrument = Dependent Relative Revocation (DRR)
- Test for DRR
- Revocation in Whole or in Part
- Revocation by Physical Act, OR
- Subsequently Executed Instrument
- Upon Mistaken Belief in Validity of Subsequent Will
- Prior Will
- Substantially Identical
- Consistent with Testator’s Intent
- Revocation in Whole or in Part
- Effect = Old Will Reinstated by Operation of Law
- 1st Will Destroyed = CA’s Lost Will Provisions
- At Least One Witness Testifies
- Test for DRR