Opinion ID: 6491035
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Proceedings in the Probate Court

Text: On January 8, 2000, Kam died. Cedric initiated the instant case on May 5, 2000 by filing a petition (docketed as P. No. 00-1-0281) pursuant to HRS § 560:3^101 (1993), 8 for probate of the 1988 will and trust in favor of Kam’s children, Cedric and Edward W.L. Kam, Jr. On July 17, 2000, the Probate Court entered an order and judgment admitting the 1988 will to probate, appointing Cedric personal representative of Kam’s estate, and issuing letters testamentary to him. On September 11, 2000, Smith and Abastil-las filed a petition as creditors of Kam’s estate for unpaid legal and personal services rendered to Kam in 1995 and 1996. On October 11, 2000, Cedric objected to the creditors’ petition, alleging that the services rendered were part of a scheme to unduly influence and exploit Kam, and were of no benefit to her. That same day, Cedric also filed a petition for instructions seeking direction as to how to proceed with administration of the estate given the conflicting claims made by Smith and Abastillas. On October 19, 2000, at 4:21 p.m., Abastillas and Smith filed a reply to Cedric’s objection, attaching approximately 300 pages of documents supporting their creditors’ claim. At a 9:00 a.m. October 20, 2000 hearing on the creditors’ petition, Abastillas also voiced claims that she was the rightful personal representative of Kam’s estate under the 1996 will. With respect to the petition itself, the Probate Court found as follows: The court first finds that [Abastillas and Smith’s] reply filed on October 19th at 4:21 in the afternoon is untimely. The court further examining this document notes that there are 28 exhibits attached as part of this reply memo. These exhibits certainly should have been attached as part of the original petition, and if they were known in the exercise of reasonable due diligence would have been or should have been discovered by creditors so as to file this at the time the original petition was filed. The court finding that this document is untimely filed disregards and does not consider it in connection with the petition filed on behalf of Abastillas and Smith. Having reviewed the timely filed and properly submitted matters presented to the court, the court finds simply that the petitioners in this case, Abastillas and Smith, have failed to establish factual and/or legal basis which would warrant their entitlement for payment of claims as requested or alleged. The petition is denied. On November 8, 2000, the Probate Court entered a written order denying the creditors’ petition of Smith and Abastillas. On November 2, 2000, Abastillas followed through on her statements at the October 20 hearing, filing a petition to vacate the July 17, 2000 probate order and to instead have admitted to probate the 1996 will with her as personal representative of the estate. On November 13, 2000, Abastillas filed her objections to Cedric’s October 11, 2000 petition for instructions. In her objection, Abastillas argued, inter alia, that the April 22, 1997 Family Court order in FC-G-96-0299 purporting to void the 1995-96 estate documents was void for lack of subject matter jurisdiction and thus should not be given effect by the Probate Court. She also contended that the rulings in FC-AA-96-0003, including the October 3, 1996 findings of fact, had no pre-clusive effect because they were not actually litigated. On December 1, 2000, Cedric’s petition for instructions came for hearing before the Probate Court. After hearing arguments from counsel regarding jurisdiction, the Probate Court took the matter under advisement. 9 On December 13, 2000, Cedric filed his objection to Abastillas’ petition to vacate the July 17, 2000 probate order. Abastillas filed her reply on December 21, 2000. On January 12, 2001, Abastillas’ petition to vacate was heard in the Probate Court. At the close of the hearing, the Probate Court denied Abastillas’ petition, finding that the April 22, 1997 Family Court order validly voided the 1996 will and thus the July 17, 2000 order admitting to probate the 1988 will remained in effect. At a hearing on May 11, 2001, the Probate Court agreed to certify the various probate orders for interlocutory appeal. On January 2, 2002, the Probate Court entered orders (1) granting Cedric’s October 11, 2000 petition for instructions, (2) denying Abastillas’ November 2, 2000 petition to vacate, and (3) certifying the orders for interlocutory appeal. On September 13, 2002 and September 16, 2002, the Probate Court entered judgments (1) denying the September 11, 2000 creditors’ petition of Smith and Abastillas; (2) granting Cedric’s October 11, 2000 petition for instructions; and (3) denying Abastillas’ November 2, 2000 petition to vacate the July 17, 2000 order for probate of the 1988 will and instead appoint her as representative under the 1996 will. The judgments were certified for interlocutory appeal, and Abastillas and Smith filed notices of appeal from all three on October 11, 2002. 10 In granting Cedric’s petition and denying that of Abastillas, the Probate Court ruled that the April 22, 1997 order voiding the 1996 will and July 17, 2000 order directing probate of the 1988 will were “valid and enforceable and remain in effect.”