Surrogate Holzman of Bronx County recently addressed the issue of whether New York’s witness beneficiary rule would serve to invalidate bequests to a witness and only beneficiary of a will that had been executed outside of this jurisdiciton. Jaclene D’Agostino discusses the decision in our most recent entry.
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Motion to Dispense with Testimony of Uncooperative Attesting Witness Denied
In Matter of Smith, the nominated executor of an estate sought to dispense with the testimony of one of the attesting witnesses at the SCPA 1404 stage of a probate proceeding. The court denied the motion, explaining that the statutory requirements had not been satisfied. Jaclene D’Agostino discusses the decision in our latest blog entry.
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Court of Appeals: Fiduciary’s Legal Fees to be Equitably Allocated among Beneficiaries
The Court of Appeals has issued a decision that changes the way in which a fiduciary’s legal fees incurred in defending objections will be paid from a trust or estate. In Matter of Hyde, the Court reversed its prior interpretation of SCPA 2110 and established new guidelines. Jaclene D’Agostino discusses the decision in this week’s entry.
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Estates May Pursue Legal Malpractice Claims on Behalf of Decedents
The Court of Appeals has rendered a landmark decision, chipping away at privity in holding that an estate fiduciary may maintain a legal malpractice claim against its decedent’s estate tax planning attorneys for negligent representation. Until now, privity, i.e., a legal connection between two parties, was a strict condition precedent to maintaining a legal malpractice
In Terrorem Clause Construed to Apply to Revocation Proceeding
The First Department has issued a noteworthy decision in determining that an in terrorem clause would be triggered by a revocation proceeding. Jaclene D’Agostino discusses the case in this week’s entry.
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Appellate Division Cites Equitable Factors In Denying Entitlement to Elective Share
The Second Department has recently issued two decisions that expand the parameters of disqualification from entitlement to the spousal right of election. In Matter of Berk and Campbell v. Thomas, the Appellate Division addressed situations in which the statutory limitations on disqualification failed to render equitable results. Jaclene D’Agostino discusses the decisions in this week’s entry.
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Summary Judgment Granted, Dismissing Objections and Admitting Will to Probate
In Matter of Feller, a contested probate proceeding that was decided last week in Monroe County, the Surrogate addressed typical objections pertaining to due execution, testamentary capacity, and undue influence. The decision provides a cohesive illustration of the standards and considerations that Surrogates routinely utilize in addressing these allegations. Jaclene D’Agostino discusses the case in this week’s entry.
Continue Reading Summary Judgment Granted, Dismissing Objections and Admitting Will to Probate
Court of Appeals: Extra Deposition Did Not Violate In Terrorem Clause
Last week, the Court of Appeals rendered a significant decision regarding the extent of discovery that may be conducted without triggering an in terrorem clause. In Matter of Singer, objections to probate were never filed. However, the issue presented was whether a beneficiary’s decision to depose the decedent’s prior attorney, a form of discovery not protected by the safe harbor provisions of EPTL 3-3.5 or SCPA 1404, triggered the two in terrorem clauses set forth in the propounded will. Jaclene D’Agostino discusses the case in this week’s blog entry.
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Potential Court Approval of Religious Divorce Is Irrelevant to Right of Election
A recent decision emanating from the Kings County Surrogate’s Court provides another interesting application of the rules on entitlement to an elective share. In Matter of Atiram, 2009 NY Slip Op 52356(U), the petitioner sought a determination as to her right of election under EPTL 5-1.1A. She had married the decedent in 1952, but
Posthumously Voided Marriage Negates Right of Election
This week, Jaclene D’Agostino discusses a recent decision on an application to determine the validity of an elective share, when the marriage had been declared void by an Article 81 court after the decedent’s death.
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