Opinion ID: 1199638
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 5

Heading: interpreting wills

Text: ¶ 10 In attempting to ascertain the testator's intent, we consider the text of the will as a whole and, when appropriate, the circumstances at the time it was executed. In re Estate of Smith, 119 Ariz. 293, 295, 580 P.2d 754, 756 (App.1978). A will is ambiguous when the written language is fairly susceptible of two or more constructions, Smith, 119 Ariz. at 296, 580 P.2d at 757, the same standard applicable to other documents. See Taylor v. State Farm Mut. Auto. Ins. Co., 175 Ariz. 148, 154-55, 854 P.2d 1134, 1140-41 (1993). A latent ambiguity does not appear on the face of the will but appears when considering extrinsic evidence. In re Estate of Shields, 84 Ariz. 330, 331, 327 P.2d 1009, 1010 (1958). If the language of the will is reasonably susceptible to two interpretations, we may consider extrinsic evidence to ascertain the testator's intent. Smith, 119 Ariz. at 295-96, 580 P.2d at 756-57. Extrinsic evidence is not, however, admissible to contradict the plain language of the will. Hill v. Hill, 37 Ariz. 406, 410, 294 P. 831, 833 (1931). If extrinsic evidence is admissible, interpreting the will generally becomes a question of fact. In re Estate of Black, 211 Cal.App.2d 75, 27 Cal.Rptr. 418, 427 (1962). See Taylor, 175 Ariz. at 159, 854 P.2d at 1145; United California Bank v. Prudential Ins. Co. of America, 140 Ariz. 238, 260, 681 P.2d 390, 412 (App.1983) ([A]ny ambiguity in ... documents is subject to a factual determination concerning... intent ... and is to be resolved conclusively by the trier of fact.).