Opinion ID: 2209080
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 5

Heading: Substantial benefit to beneficiary

Text: The record is replete with evidence which supports the circuit court's finding that Moore was largely benefited by Koontz's will. The benefits to be received by Moore, albeit not immediate, were both substantial and inevitable. Upon testator's death, his estate automatically passed to Allen and Moore's contingent interest under that will vanished. Because he was also a contingent beneficiary under Allen's will, however, his interest under that will then became vested, subject only to the possibility, however remote, that Allen would change her mind and make a new will naming a different beneficiary. In order to avoid this uncertainty, Moore then drafted two deeds. Under the first deed, Moore as personal representative of testator's estate purportedly conveyed the real property to Allen. This conveyance was made notwithstanding the fact that the testator's will had not been admitted to probate. Consequently, Moore had not been granted letters of administration and did not have the authority to convey the testator's property. [5] Moore manipulated Allen to execute the joint tenancy deed with the intention of preventing her from dispossessing herself and thereby thwarting his scheme to possess the entire Koontz estate. Clearly, Moore's intent was to become the sole beneficiary under Allen's will, survivor under the deed, See, Young v. Young, 37 Md. App. 211, 217, 376 A.2d 1151, cert. denied, 281 Md. 746 (1977), and thereby acquire fee simple ownership of this real property. While the quantum of proof necessary to establish undue influence varies according to the susceptibility of the testator, Sellers, supra, 206 Md. at 70, 110 A.2d 73, here the evidence is abundant so as to manifest the existence of all seven elements. Accordingly, we believe the trial court was correct in concluding that Moore had coerced Koontz to execute the 1984 will.