Case Name: Gray v. Gray & a.
Court: New Hampshire Supreme Court
Jurisdiction: New Hampshire
Decision Date: 1880-06
Citations: 60 N.H. 28
Docket Number: 
Parties: Gray v. Gray & a.
Judges: 
Reporter: New Hampshire Reports
Volume: 60
Pages: 28–29

Head Matter:
Gray v. Gray & a.
Upon a hearing on a petition for the probate of a will in common form, the appearance of counsel for the heirs, and the cross-examination by them of the witnesses to the will, will not ordinarily have the effect to waive the probate in solemn form.
Appeal from a decree of the judge of probate, ordering the probate, in solemn form, of the will of George Gray, deceased. Facts found by a referee.
The appellant was the wife of George Gray, deceased, and, December 25, 1877, she was appointed administratrix on his estate, and took upon herself that trust. Subsequentty, at the instance of one of the heirs, she was cited to settle her account as administratrix, June 24, 1879. She appeared, and at that time filed a petition to prove a lost will of the deceased in common form. This fact becoming known to the counsel for the heirs, he appeared and cross-examined the witnesses, and asked and obtained a postponement of the hearing. At the time to which the hearing was adjourned, the counsel for the heirs appeared, and stated that he did not then desire to contest the matter further, but wished to have the will proved in solemn form at some other time. No notice of probate in common form was given to the heirs.
The other facts, material, appear in the opinion.
Atherton, for the appellant.
Fassett, for the appellees.

Opinion:
Stanley, J.
The question is, whether the probate court was right in decreeing probate of the will in solemn form. The appellant claims that, although her petition was fijtjprobate in common form, and was without notice to the heirs, WwtfSem the fact that the heirs were represented by counsel at 'fiiffPBBflmfe' on that petition, who examined the witnesses, the notice to'^qjlieirs requrbd by the statute was unnecessary, and the probate was, in legal effect, in solemn form.
Probate of a will in solemn form is made after all interests may be affected have been duly notified and| tunity to be heard. Noyes v. Barber, 4 N. H. 406; SOI. The statute requires notice to the executor,! and by publication to all persons interested. G-. L.. _
K¡ M report appears the appellant, having been cited to settle her account a^adininistratrix, appeared and presented a petition for the probate, in common form, of the will of her deceased husband. Unless the requirements of the statute were waived by the heirs, there was not a probate in solemn form. On the question of waiver, the referee finds that none of the heirs were present or had any knowledge of any proceedings to prove the will of the deceased. They had not employed or instructed counsel in regard to a lost will. The fact that the hearing was postponed at the request of counsel, taken in connection with the other fact that at the adjourned hearing the appellant was notified that the heirs wished the will proved in solemn form, shows that they did not intend to waive the notice required by the statute, and the further fact that the judge of probate decreed that the will should be proved in solemn form also shows that he did not understand that there was any waiver of a compliance with the statute.
Appeal dismissed.