Case ID: ny-2d_40/html/0875-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

In the Matter of the Estate of Oscar Sunshine, Deceased. Elizabeth Sunshine, Appellant; Melvin Sunshine, as Executor of Oscar Sunshine, Deceased, et al., Respondents.
    Argued September 15, 1976;
    decided October 19, 1976
    
      
      Nicholas R. Doman, William T. Livingston, II, and Michael S. Kraft for appellant.
    
      John M. Hadlock, Donald P. Parson and Lawrence N Chanen for Melvin Sunshine, respondent.
   Memorandum. Order affirmed, with costs to all parties filing briefs payable out of the estate.

The rule with respect to antenuptial agreements in this State places no special evidentiary or other burden on the party to the agreement, or one on his or her behalf, who seeks to sustain the agreement (see Matter of Davis, 20 NY2d 70, 76; Matter of Phillips, 293 NY 483, 491). Even if one allow credit, as one should, for the opportunities of the Trial Judge, whose conscientious analysis indicated that his responsibilities were carefully executed, this is the kind of case which offers no opportunity to discover the truths sealed on one side by death. Hence, the divided views in the Appellate Division are understandable and reasonable. On balance, this court accepts generally the factual version of the majority of the Appellate Division (Cohen and Karger, Powers of the New York Court of Appeals, § 112).

Chief Judge Breitel and Judges Jasen, Gabrielli, Jones, Wachtler, Fuchsberg and Cooke concur in memorandum.

Order affirmed, etc.