Wills & Trusts Flashcards
Wills - ROADMAP
1) Execution
2) Capacity
3) Which Instrument Applies?
4) Components
5) Interpretation
6) Intestate Succession
7) Pretermitted Spouse/Child
8) Bars to Succession
Wills - EXECUTION
1) Testator’s Signature (by his hand or at his direction)
2) W Signatures
- At least 2 Ws being present at the same time must witness T’s signature or acknowledgment
- Deaths after 1/1/09 - will not made in strict compliance can still be admitted if C+CE shows T intended the doc to be his will at the time he signed it
Wills - INTERESTED WITNESSES
- One who receives a benefit in a will over and above what he would’ve received in intestacy
- Presumption of undue influence invalidates gift to him but NOT entire will
Wills - HOLOGRAPHIC INSTRUMENTS
No Ws required
Valid if T’s signature and all material provisions are in his handwriting:
- declaration as will
- dispositive clauses
- naming of executors
- attestation clause
- date
Wills - UNDUE INFLUENCE - COMMON LAW PRESUMPTION
There is a presumption of UI where:
1) beneficiary in a confidential relationship to T,
2) participates in some way in procuring a gift,
3) that is an unnatural bequest favoring B
Wills - UNDUE INFLUENCE - STATUTORY PRESUMPTION
There is a presumption of UI where B is the attorney, caregiver, or drafter OR is in a fiduciary relationship w/ T and transcribes the instrument
Wills - STANDARD UNDUE INFLUENCE
Undue influence is shown where (1) UI was exerted on T, (2) the effect of which was to overpower his free will and mind, (3) resulting in a will that would not have been executed but for the influence
FACTORS:
1) T was susceptible to UI
2) B had opportunity to exercise UI
3) B had disposition to influence T
4) Gift to B was unnatural
Wills - INSANE DELUSION
Bequest is invalid ONLY where it would not have been made but for the delusion
Wills - FRAUD
IN THE EXECUTION
- concerning character/content of instrument
- invalidates will
IN THE INDUCEMENT
- concerning facts that influence motivation
- will is still valid IF T would have still made it if true facts were known
Wills - MISTAKE
IN THE EXECUTION
- concerning character of document
- invalidates will
IN THE INDUCEMENT
- concerning facts that influence motivation
- No relief unless fact AND alternative disposition but for mistake appear on face
- 2015 CA SC held that even an unambiguous will can be reformed if C+CE (1) will contains mistake in expression of intent and (2) of T’s actual intent
Wills - REVOCATION
1) Subsequent will that expressly states revocation OR employs a contrary dispositive scheme
2) physical act w/ intent to revoke
3) Operation of law - divorce or termination of domestic partnership
Wills - REVIVAL
When W2 revokes W1 and W2 is later revoked itself:
- by PHYSICAL ACT, W1 is revived only if from either the circ’s of revocation OR T’s contemporaneous or subsequent declarations, it is evident that T intended W1 to be revived.
- by SUBSEQUENT INSTRUMENT, intent to revive must be clear on instrument itself
Wills - DEPENDENT RELATIVE REVOCATION
When T revokes all or part of a will on the mistaken belief that a new disposition, made concurrently, is valid, the ct will give effect to the revoked portion if it is consistent w/ what it believes to be T’s intent
Wills - CODICIL
- Alters, amends, etc a will
- Requires same formalities
- Admissible to probate by itself
- To the extent will is unchanged by codicil, it is deemed to speak as of the date of the codicil
Wills - INTEGRATION
Will consists of all papers/writing actually present at time of execution and that T intended to constitute his will
Intent and presence are presumed where papers are physically connected OR there is an internal sense of connection shown by provisions running from one page to the next
