Decedent with multiple residences was found to be domiciled in Pennsylvania, as all of his mail came to his Philadelphia residence and he wished to return there; undue influence was not proved by either direct or indirect evidence, as the … Continue reading
Tag Archives: Undue influence
The Commonwealth Court has considered the standards to be applied by the Public School Employees’ Retirement Board when it is alleged that a Public School Employee’s Retirement System beneficiary designation is the product of undue influence. Snizaski v. Pub. School … Continue reading
Evidence that decedent had suffered from a mental illness, and was determined to be incapacitated after executing will, was not sufficient to overcome evidence that decedent had testamentary capacity when executing will. Daughter was not in a confidential relationship with … Continue reading
In will contest, executor of probated will (and former agent of decedent under a power of attorney) appealed from the trial court’s demurrer of two preliminary objections, arguing that intestate heirs lack standing to contest the will and lack standing … Continue reading
Disinherited children and grandchildren alleged fraud, undue influence, lack of testamentary capacity, and forgery of probated will, of which a good friend of the decedent was the sole beneficiary. After considerable discovery, sole beneficiary moved for summary judgment, and the … Continue reading
Dead Man’s Act applies to bar testimony of beneficiaries claiming interest in annuity contract, and was not waived by allegations by executor that beneficiaries had used undue influence over the decedent. Applying principles similar to those that apply to wills, … Continue reading
Evidence that the decedent was eighty-nine years old, unable to perform the usual activities of daily living, experienced memory lapses, and exhibited other characteristics of old age and declining mental health were insufficient to overcome presumption of testamentary capacity, but … Continue reading
Proponent of will received substantial benefit under new will because his share of the estate increased from 6% to 35%, and his family’s share increased from 39% to 76%, and proponent had a confidential relationship with the testator, his aunt, … Continue reading
In a will contest for undue influence, the court found that the testator did not have a weakened intellect, meaning a prima facia claim of undue influence fails. Also, the court rejected an amendment to the petition for appeal from the … Continue reading
Decedent died several weeks after executing a new will that disinherited natural son and deceased daughter in favor of step-son, and the will was probated. In an appeal from probate alleging lack of testamentary capacity and undue influence, the court … Continue reading