Brooklyn

Published on: March 5, 2012

Court Decides Will Contest Case

by Stephen Bilkis

The testator before his death had written a will. He freely gave all his estate to his living heirs except for his erring daughter. Upon his death, his living wife who then was suffering from a disease brought the will and testament to an estate administration court. Her cousin and an estate attorney represented decedent’s wife. The court appointed her guardians who have appeared for her in the probate proceedings. Estate lawyers and wife’s cousin filed a respectful consideration of election as executor to be named on her behalf.

Upon learning that a notice of election was filed for her mother’s favor, the erring daughter filed to the estate litigation courts her objections. She particularly stated that the document was malicious because testator did not give her any property. The document also mentioned of her evil past actions, the reason of testator’s disinheriting her. While testator was in existence, said daughter sold some properties owned by the family. She forged her parent’s signatures, and used falsified power of attorney. She also converted some of her father’s estate to her name. Testator and his wife acted steadily and filed criminal actions against the erring daughter that resulted in her plea of guilty to a class A demeanor.

A New York Probate Lawyer said that though she filed objections to the estate administration courts, she never appeared and proved her sworn statement true. She presented her dissentient before the trial held out of estate administration court without any judge present. Nor did the erring daughter produce any document to prove the court that as testator’s daughter she was entitled to the estate. It was found out that her fundamental intention was to delay the probate proceedings. She filed a manifestation to the probate court that she was suffering from a psychological condition that prevented her from appearing in court.

Published on: March 4, 2012

Court Discusses No Contest Clauses in Wills

by Stephen Bilkis

A will executor petitioned in Court to probate the will and the recovery of property alleged asset of the estate. The examinations of the attorney-draftsman, the nominated executor and the attesting witnesses have been completed. Respondents are children of the deceased and grandchildren from a predeceased son.

In support of the motion which seeks a stay of this proceeding pending a construction of the will offered for validation, the petitioners allege that the no-contest clause violates public policy. An issue as to whether a provision of the last will and testament violates public policy must be resolved by construction of the will to determine the person who made the will’s intent and the effect of the provisions on the persons to be influenced. However, the court has no authority to define a will before its admission to validation. That branch of the motion is denied.

The respondents also seek an order permitting the deposition of the nominated successor executor and the attorney-draftsman of a prior will. In opposition, the petitioner argues that respondents are attempting to avoid the no-contest clause by obtaining a court order directing discovery.

Published on: February 28, 2012

Court Decides Will and Trust Dispute

by Stephen Bilkis

A resident of Connecticut died in 1936. He left a will duly admitted for validation in the State of Connecticut. He created a testamentary trust providing payment of the one third of the income to a life beneficiary, his nephew. The nephew bearing the same name as his uncle is a resident of Cattaraugus County, New York. The instant proceeding is brought in the Surrogate’s Court, Cattaraugus County in connection with the administration of the estate of the deceased nephew. The proceeding follows proceedings earlier brought in the validation court of Fairfield County, State of Connecticut referable to intermediate and final accountings of the testamentary trustee, a Chemical Bank.

A petition of a trust company for the determination of the validity and enforceability of claim of a chemical bank to the last will and testament of the man was filed. New York Probate Lawyers said that the trust company was the appointed representative for the administration of the estate and the said chemical bank was the beneficiary of a large trust set up by a will. The facts in support of the petition have been agreed to by opposing counsel in a written condition. It states that the man properly accepted to validate his will in the state of his residency.

The life beneficiary of a man died and with his death, payments of income terminated as well as the trust. The remaining principal of the trust was directed to be paid over to the designated remaindermen.

Published on: February 23, 2012

probate

by Stephen Bilkis

According to reports from a surrogate’s court, a decedent was survived by his wife, and two children from a previous marriage. In his last will and testament, he had chosen his wife to act as estate administrator. Upon his death, the will was submitted to probate court. The court named the wife as the estate administrator in the letter of testamentary.

Long Island Probate Lawyers said that before the decedent’s death and months after the wife was accorded as estate administrator, she exercised her functions. It was asserted to be true that she made several transactions which resulted to lessen the funds of the contested estate. The wife have made repeated fund transfers from an alleged joint account to her own account; paid her personal bills and expenses thru multiple on-line transfers from decedent’s personal accounts in a certain bank; and checks payable to her decedent’s husband were signed, endorsed and deposited to her account.

A New York Probate Lawyer said that the decedent’s children, with the help of their probate lawyers filed a case contesting the earlier decision of the court in naming the wife as the appointed executor. They reasoned out that she was unfit to carry out the terms of the contested will by virtue of dishonesty, by not providing their needs, by shallow understanding of good will and by thoughtlessly or carelessly expending of their funds. They asked the court to appoint decedent’s son as the executor instead of the wife. They submitted to the court a written document of the decedent’s therapist. The therapist testified under oath and sustained the allegations of the decedent’s children. The estate litigation lawyers further make clear that the case under litigation was not a subject for time consuming dispute. Children’s funds were at stake. The wife was guilty of a series of acts-any one of which, the court has the authority to give an order to remove the wife as executor in an earliest time.

Published on: February 23, 2012

Court Decides Extensive Will Dispute

by Stephen Bilkis

This issue was brought to the court to extend the time to file objections in validation of the will and a motion for construction of the provision. This is concerning the legal proving of the will of a woman who died, leaving a taxable estate of almost two million dollars. The most recent will dated, two weeks before his death has been offered for validation by the appointed representative. However, the prior will has been filed with the court. Petitioner and several other interested parties have examined the witnesses. The court has extended the time for filing objections pending a decision on the construction issue.

The petitioner to the recent will, prays for a resolution that the no-contest provision does not apply to the other heirs, who include a foundation itself and a number of charities. The other organization supports the foundation’s position and has submitted an affidavit containing information that the no-contest provision is not directed to the charities. The woman’s grand-niece and other beneficiary have opposed the requested relief.

A New York Probate Lawyer said the recent will contains several gifts to individuals and charities of either specific dollar amounts, or items of tangible personal property, or a combination of both. In addition, the will sets up trust for her grand-niece and places another in trust for her sons. The grand-niece receives tangible personal effects and the house.

Published on: February 22, 2012

Court Rules on Validity of Will

by Stephen Bilkis

The petitioners of this probate case wanted to withdraw their petition and requested the court to issue letters of administration. The petitioners wanted to abandon their action placing on probate the alleged copy of the testament.

According to the last will and testament of the decedent, the remaining estate will go to her sisters. The decedent named one sister as the executor of the will while the other one was named as the successor. The said executor had predeceased the testator and no issue was raised. The whole estate was passed on to the successor of the will which was also the other successor.

The successor had filed a petition for a guardian to be appointed for her property. Since the court has found that the successor cannot to be relied on managing her own properties, a guardian was appointed. The petitioners of the case were the appointed guardians.

Published on: February 21, 2012

Beneficiaries Claim Estate Administrator is Dishonest

by Stephen Bilkis

According to reports from a surrogate’s court, a decedent was survived by his wife, and two children from a previous marriage. In his last will and testament, he had chosen his wife to act as estate administrator. Upon his death, the will was submitted to probate court. The court named the wife as the estate administrator in the letter of testamentary.

Before the decedent’s death and months after the wife was accorded as estate administrator, she exercised her functions. It was asserted to be true that she made several transactions which resulted to lessen the funds of the contested estate. The wife have made repeated fund transfers from an alleged joint account to her own account; paid her personal bills and expenses thru multiple on-line transfers from decedent’s personal accounts in a certain bank; and checks payable to her decedent’s husband were signed, endorsed and deposited to her account.

A New York Probate Lawyer said that the decedent’s children, with the help of their probate lawyers filed a case contesting the earlier decision of the court in naming the wife as the appointed executor. They reasoned out that she was unfit to carry out the terms of the contested will by virtue of dishonesty, by not providing their needs, by shallow understanding of good will and by thoughtlessly or carelessly expending of their funds. They asked the court to appoint decedent’s son as the executor instead of the wife. They submitted to the court a written document of the decedent’s therapist. The therapist testified under oath and sustained the allegations of the decedent’s children. The estate litigation lawyers further make clear that the case under litigation was not a subject for time consuming dispute. Children’s funds were at stake. The wife was guilty of a series of acts-any one of which, the court has the authority to give an order to remove the wife as executor in an earliest time.

Published on: February 20, 2012

Court Rules on Allegations of Undue Influence

by Stephen Bilkis

The petitioners in this case have filed a motion for summary judgment which will dismiss the public administrator’s objections. The petitioners are also seeking the admission of the testator’s will for probate.

Before the death of the testator, he had been living in a facility for the elderly for many years. One of the two petitioners in this case is the current administrator of the elderly home. The other petitioner held the position of director of the same place. As co-executors of the will, the entire estate of the decedent will go to them.

Upon learning of the will, the petitioners have filed for probate but the public administrator prevents the action. The public administrator is obliged under the law to become one of the parties in litigation. The objections were raised because during that time, the decedent allegedly did not have the ability to draft a testament. Nassau County Probate Lawyers said that the public administrator also made allegations that the contested will was only written because of the undue influence of the petitioners.

Published on: February 18, 2012

Court Rules on Bank Fraud Allegations

by Stephen Bilkis

A man who died in New York City was survived by two brothers. One lived in Endicott and the youngest in Pennsylvania who drove to Endicott and arrived in the evening to attend his brother’s funeral the following day.

A New York Probate Lawyer said that prior to the funeral, the youngest brother suggested that arrangements be made to read the will soon. Shortly after the funeral a conference was held at the Trust Company. Present were the two brothers, the executive vice-president of the Trust Company; the counsel for the Trust Company; and an associate attorney with his father-in-law.

The testimony concerning what occurred at that conference is completely contradictory. Postponing for the moment a discussion of the completely opposing testimony, it is agreed that both the living brothers each signed a form of Waiver and Consent to Probate. These waivers were retained by the father-in-law of the associate attorney.

Published on: February 17, 2012

Court Rules on Probate Issue

by Stephen Bilkis

The appellants of a probate case have filed for an objection against the original ruling of probate by the court. The court did not accept the objections of the appellants.

According to the objections of the appellants, they asserted that the surrogate court should have used its authority to decide on the matter of estate’s original probate due to the fact that another court already had previous jurisdiction over it. The appellants further argue that the original order for probate had already been settled in a foreign country. Such foreign proceeding was concluded by the court as possibly replicated in the city.

The decedent’s will was executed in the city in which the decedent, also known as the testator, has lived. That will and testament revokes all the previous wills that have been written by the testator. The will contains instructions on the funeral expenses and debt payments. The remaining assets after the previous expenses are deducted shall be awarded to the former wife of the testator and another party. The male respondent of this court proceeding was identified as the executor of the will.