Case Name: In the Matter of the Estate of Arthur J. Elkan, Deceased. Lynne H. Federman, Appellant, et al., Petitioner; Marion R. Gerdus, Respondent
Court: New York Supreme Court, Appellate Division
Jurisdiction: New York
Decision Date: 2011-05-19
Citations: 84 A.D.3d 603
Docket Number: 
Parties: In the Matter of the Estate of Arthur J. Elkan, Deceased. Lynne H. Federman, Appellant, et al., Petitioner; Marion R. Gerdus, Respondent.
Judges: 
Reporter: Appellate Division Reports
Volume: 84
Pages: 603–603

Head Matter:
In the Matter of the Estate of Arthur J. Elkan, Deceased. Lynne H. Federman, Appellant, et al., Petitioner; Marion R. Gerdus, Respondent.
[923 NYS2d 495]

Opinion:
Decree, Surrogate's Court, Bronx County (Lee L. Holzman, S.), entered July 16, 2009, which granted the objectant's motion to deny admission of a will to probate, unanimously affirmed, without costs.
The proponent of the will failed to sustain his burden of showing that the testator possessed testamentary capacity when he signed the will, i.e., that he understood the nature and consequences of executing a will (see Matter of Kumstar, 66 NY2d 691 [1985]; Matter of Coddington, 281 App Div 143 [1952], affd 307 NY 181 [1954]). The testimony of the disinterested witnesses demonstrated that the testator suffered from various ailments that significantly affected his mental capacity and, more specifically, that he was unable to make financial decisions and that he was likely not competent when he signed the will.
In light of the above, we need not reach the merits of the claim that the will at issue was the result of undue influence. This should not be interpreted to favor either party's position on that subject. Concur — Tom, J.E, Mazzarelli, Renwick, Freedman and Manzanet-Daniels, JJ.