Case ID: so2d_395/html/0286-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "DANIEL S. PEARSON, Judge.", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

In re ESTATE of John Robert LOMAX, Sr. John Robert LOMAX, Jr., Appellant, v. Laura Lomax RAYTHWICK, individually and as personal representative of the Estate of John Robert Lomax, Sr., deceased, Tressa Ann Hipple, Robert Allen Lomax, Debra Lynn Best, and Elinor Wilson Lomax, Appellees.
    No. 80-1360.
    District Court of Appeal of Florida, Third District.
    March 17, 1981.
    Swope, Stobs & Koltnow and Donald W. Stobs, Jr., Miami Shores, for appellant.
    Bergman & Jacobs and Mark A. Jacobs, North Miami Beach, for appellees.
    Before BARKDULL, BASKIN and DANIEL S. PEARSON, JJ.
   DANIEL S. PEARSON, Judge.

The order under review denying appellant’s petition for revocation of probate, which asserted that his father’s will was procured by undue influence, is affirmed upon a holding that even if, arguendo, Laura Raythwick, the decedent’s sister and a person active in procuring the contested will, be deemed to have occupied a confidential relationship with the decedent and, by virtue of a devise in her favor of a one-sixth share of her brother’s estate, be deemed to be a substantial beneficiary, thereby raising a presumption of undue influence, there is ample evidence to support the trial court’s finding that (1) there was a reasonable explanation for Laura’s active role so as to satisfy her burden of coming forward to rebut this presumption, and (2) it does not otherwise clearly appear from the record before us that the decedent’s will was procured by undue influence. See In re Estate of Carpenter, 253 So.2d 697 (Fla.1971).

Affirmed. 
      
      . Appellant initially challenged the will on the additional ground that his father lacked testamentary capacity, but has abandoned that ground on appeal.