Case Name: VAN DEMARK et v. TOMPKINS Exr et
Court: Supreme Court of Ohio
Jurisdiction: Ohio
Decision Date: 1929-06-12
Citations: 7 Ohio Law Abs. 379
Docket Number: No. 21542
Parties: VAN DEMARK et v TOMPKINS Exr et
Judges: Marshall, CJ., Kinkade, Robinson, Jones, Matthias and Allen, JJ, concur.
Reporter: The Ohio Law Abstract
Volume: 7
Pages: 379–379

Head Matter:
VAN DEMARK et v TOMPKINS Exr et
Ohio Supreme Court
No. 21542.
Decided June 12, 1929

Opinion:
Syllabus by
DAY, J.
DECEDENTS' ESTATES
(220 Wb) In an action to contest a will, the jury should be instructed that, before it would be justified in setting aside a will, the evidence tending to invalidate the will must outweigh both the evidence tending to sustain the will and the presumption arising from the order of the probate court admitting the will to probate as the valid last will and testament of the testator. Instructions should not limit the determination of such issue to the evidence introduced by either party exclusively, but the issue should be determined by the preponderance of all the evidence adduced in the case, regardless of which party may have called a witness or adduced the evidence. (Hall v Hall, Exr., 78 Ohio St., 415, explained; Kennedy v Walcutt, 118 Ohio St., 442, approved and followed.)
Judgment affirmed.
Marshall, CJ., Kinkade, Robinson, Jones, Matthias and Allen, JJ, concur.