Opinion ID: 2632331
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 6

Heading: finding testamentary capacity

Text: As stated previously, opponents to the will must prove lack of testamentary capacity by clear, satisfactory, and convincing evidence. Where a trial court's finding as to a testator's mental capacity is challenged on appeal, the appellate court is only concerned with whether there is substantial competent evidence to support the trial court's finding and does not compare or weigh the testimony. Perkins, 210 Kan. at 626. In Kansas, it is well settled that in order for the testator to have testamentary capacity, the testator, at the time the will is executed, must know and understand the nature and extent of his or her property and have an intelligent understanding of the disposition he or she desires to make of it, realize who his or her relatives are and who the natural objects of his or her bounty are, and comprehend the nature of the claims of those he or she desires to include and exclude from participation in the property distribution. In re Estate of Raney, 247 Kan. 359, 367, 799 P.2d 986 (1990); In re Estate of Ziegelmeier, 224 Kan. 617, Syl. ¶ 1, 585 P.2d 974 (1978); In re Estate of Oliver, 23 Kan. App.2d 510, 516, 934 P.2d 144, rev. denied 262 Kan. 960 (1997). The test of a testamentary capacity is not whether a person has capacity to enter into a complex contract or to engage in intricate business transactions nor is absolute soundness of mind the real test of such capacity. The established rule is that one who is able to understand what property he has, how he wants it to go at his death and who are the natural objects of his bounty is competent to make a will even though he may be feeble in mind and decrepit in body. Perkins, 210 Kan. at 626. The time when the will is made is the time of primary importance in considering if the testator possessed testamentary capacity. Evidence of capacity or lack of capacity before or after that time serves as only an aid in determining whether the testator had capacity at the time the will was executed. Oliver, 23 Kan. App.2d at 516; Perkins, 210 Kan. at 627. The fact the testator suffered from senile dementia is not the determining factor that the person lacked testamentary capacity. In re Estate of Brown, 230 Kan. 726, 730, 640 P.2d 1250 (1982); Oliver, 23 Kan. App.2d at 516. Opponents cite to numerous incidences that occurred both before and after the will was executed as support for their contention that Farr lacked testamentary capacity on the day the will was executed. The events opponents cite to include the following: (1) Two days before the will was executed, as well as on other occasions, Farr was noted as being unable to recall the current season, location of own room, staff names and faces, and that he was in nursing home, and his cognitive ability was noted as severely impaired; (2) less than 2 weeks after the will was executed Farr did not recall that he had gone to his grandson Justin's funeral only 2 days earlier; (3) while at his grandson's funeral, Farr did not recognize Nancy Farr, Marvin's ex-wife after a nearly 32-year marriage, or his grandson Courtney Farr; (4) Farr was reported as being unable to handle medical and financial decisions because of declining cognitive ability; and (5) in the fall of 1996, Farr did not recognize Lottie Farr, Marvin's wife and an employee of Terrace Garden, who had frequent contact with Farr. The first requirement for testamentary capacity is that the testator know and understand the nature and extent of his or her property and understand the disposition he or she desires to make of it. See Ziegelmeier, 224 Kan. 617, Syl. ¶ 1. The testimony at trial was that Farr either recited or acknowledged the majority of his property, recited or acknowledged his sons were Marvin and Howard, and inquired whether this will was the same as his previous will, which, by Brantley's testimony, left all Farr's property to Marvin and Howard and excluded the opponents. The trial court made findings of fact specific as to this evidence. Thus, there is sufficient competent evidence to support this element of testamentary capacity being met. The second and third requirements for testamentary capacity are that the testator realize who his or her relatives are and who are the natural objects of his or her bounty and comprehend the nature of claims of those included or excluded from property distribution. See Ziegelmeier, 224 Kan. 617, Syl. ¶ 1. The trial court did not specifically find Farr knew his relatives. There was testimony that Farr either recited or acknowledged his two sons Marvin and Howard; however, on the day the will was executed, no mention was made of the opponents, Farr's other heirs at law, or their father, Farr's deceased son Everett. The trial court apparently did not find this fact sufficient to defeat testamentary capacity. The trial court did find that Farr had previously voiced dissatisfaction with the opponents concerning the disposition of property made following his son Everett's death and that Farr had attributed failure to convey the property that passed to opponents following their grandmother's death on the opponents. Opponents also claim the trial court erred in the weight it gave Dr. Michael Jackson's testimony and in making specific findings regarding that testimony. Both expert and lay testimony is competent on the question of mental capacity. The trier of fact is not obligated to adopt the views and opinions of a physician, no matter how highly qualified, and to reject nonexpert testimony. The court may weigh the testimony of all witnesses on the question and follow the evidence which the court as the trier of fact finds is entitled to the most weight and credence. In re Estate of Carothers, 220 Kan. 437, 444, 552 P.2d 1354 (1976). Opponents contend the trial court erred in finding that Dr. Jackson testified that Farr might have had testamentary capacity on the day the will was executed. Opponents' argument appears to be that the trial court misinterpreted Dr. Jackson's testimony. The trial court found that Dr. Jackson's testimony was that Farr would not have been able to have had a lucid interval, defining lucid interval as one in which the subject person [is] completely restored to contractual capacity. Opponents contend Dr. Jackson's testimony that Farr could not have had a lucid interval did not speak to his inability to be restored to contractual capacity, but instead that Farr was unable to return to a level of less cognitive decline because dementia is irreversible and progressive. After reviewing the testimony referred to by the opponents, Dr. Jackson's statement regarding Farr's inability to have a lucid interval did not extend beyond the definition in the trial court's decision. Additionally, the opponents are missing the most important findings of fact the trial court made regarding Dr. Jackson's testimony. The trial court found: Dr. Jackson further admitted on cross examination that he testified previously; that the decedent suffered only `moderately advanced' dementia, that perhaps the decedent would have been capable of understanding the nature of his property, the decedent's natural heirs and the distribution that the decedent would like to make; that the staff and persons who were present in the room at the time of the execution of the Will would be in a better position to observe the decedent; that the disease afflicting the decedent was one which would generally take years to advance; that less than 60 days prior to Dr. Jackson's diagnosis, another doctor in Scott City opined in a medical record that the decedent had only senile dementia with one report clearly showing a diagnosis of `early senile dementia.' (Emphasis added.) In so finding, the trial court either gave greater weight to Dr. Jackson's deposition statements or used the statements in weighing Dr. Jackson's credibility; regardless, however, there was no misinterpretation. It is not this court's duty to reweigh the evidence, only to determine whether there is substantial competent evidence to support the trial court's findings. Opponents also challenge the trial court's finding that Dr. Jackson's deposition testimony that Farr's dementia was moderately advanced differed from his testimony at trial. Opponents contend the terminology used at trial was different from that used during the deposition and that Dr. Jackson never changed his opinion of Farr's condition. On direct examination, Dr. Jackson testified that Farr was in a moderate to severe demented state when he started seeing Farr in late 1996. At his deposition, Dr. Jackson testified that Farr's dementia was only moderately advanced, as the trial court's finding of fact states. At the time of trial, Dr. Jackson had reviewed an article submitted by the opponents that contained a seven-level classification system for individuals with cognitive disease. This article was not admitted into evidence at trial. When asked to classify Farr under this classification system, Dr. Jackson testified Farr was in a severe state of dementia when he first met Farr in 1996, basing this classification on his records, a couple of visits with Farr, and the fact that Farr was a resident in an intermediate care facility. The trial judge noted that the terminology had been changed during the case. This distinction in classification, however, did not serve as the sole basis for the trial court's determination that Farr had testamentary capacity and is an accurate statement. Thus, it does not amount to reversible error. Opponents contend the trial court erred in finding that Dr. Jackson had testified that Farr could have been capable of understanding the nature of his property, his natural heirs, and the distribution he would like to make of his property. On re-direct, opponents attempted to explain Dr. Jackson's deposition statement by claiming Dr. Jackson was referring to Farr's long-term memory in making this statement. Opponents are attempting to convince this court to reweigh the evidence and find its witnesses and facts more credible. This court's standard of review is to determine only whether substantial competent evidence exists to support the trial court's findings, and it will not reweigh the evidence. See Perkins, 210 Kan. at 626. Opponents also contend the trial court erred in failing to give greater weight to Dr. Jackson's expert testimony. They cite to Dr. Jackson's testimony that a person suffering from dementia can attempt to conceal it and contend the trial court should have given more weight to Dr. Jackson's testimony because of this, relying upon In re Stafford, 193 Kan. 120, 392 P.2d 140 (1964). In In re Stafford, the court held that medical testimony presents the most clear and satisfactory evidence when a person afflicted with a mental disorder is capable of concealing the disorder from a layman. 193 Kan. at 129. It is the factfinder's function to determine the weight and credibility of the witnesses. Appellate courts will not pass upon the credibility of witnesses or reweigh conflicting evidence. Griffin v. Price, 199 Kan. 649, 651, 433 P.2d 464 (1967); Stoskopf v. Stoskopf, 173 Kan. 244, 245, 245 P.2d 1180 (1952); State v. Timms, 29 Kan. App.2d 770, 31 P.3d 323, 327 (2001). Although Dr. Jackson testified a person suffering from dementia might attempt to conceal the disease, Dr. Jackson did not testify that Farr was successful in doing so. In fact, Dr. Jackson testified at his deposition that those present at the time the will was executed and those who observed him daily were in a better position to judge whether Farr was having a good day or a bad day. Those present at the execution of the will included two members of the medical profession and a long-time acquaintance. Dr. Jackson, who saw Farr approximately once every 60 days, did not pursue extensive diagnosis of his dementia. The trial court did not ignore the testimony of Dr. Jackson in rendering its decision, and this court will not pass upon the credibility the trial court placed on Dr. Jackson's testimony. See Carothers, 220 Kan. at 444. Those present at the execution of the will, medical professionals and a long-time acquaintance, believed Farr to have been aware of what was going on when the will was executed. There was evidence that would support that Farr intended to disinherit the opponents. There was also evidence that Farr intended for the 1997 will to be identical to his 1991 will. Opponents had the burden of proving lack of testamentary capacity by clear, satisfactory, and convincing evidence. The trial court's findings of fact supports its conclusion that Farr had testamentary capacity at the time the 1997 will was executed. This court will not reweigh the evidence. See Perkins, 210 Kan. at 626.