Opinion ID: 1312586
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 10

Heading: was result a product of undue influence?

Text: Appellants claim the resulting changes were the product of undue influence because Floyd Goff bestowed upon Weeks a greater amount than he had intended to and effectively disinherited his children. However, the law recognizes the right of a person to control and dispose of his own property and the right to choose the person who shall be the recipient of his bounty. Eggert v. Schroeder, 158 Neb. 65, 62 N.W.2d 266 (1954); Johnson v. Mayfield, 163 Neb. 872, 81 N.W.2d 308 (1957). The type of undue influence which will void a written instrument is an unlawful or fraudulent influence which controls the will of the actor. Miller v. Westwood, 238 Neb. 896, 472 N.W.2d 903 (1991); Rule v. Roth, 199 Neb. 746, 261 N.W.2d 370 (1978). Appellants place a great deal of emphasis upon a tape-recorded conversation between Floyd Goff and appellants, during which Floyd Goff stated, [T]hey were power of appointing and changing beneficiaries to the pointwell, I don't know what the hell was going on, to be honest with you. But just moments prior to issuing this statement, he expressed a large degree of hesitancy to communicate his decision to Donna Goff and the children. This statement was made in the context of a difficult conversation in which a dying man struggled to explain to his former wife of 33 years and his children that they were no longer beneficiaries of his insurance policies. We must weigh that conversation with other evidence in the case. Appellants also assert Floyd Goff made a statement that he wished Weeks to have between $200,000 and $250,000. Prior to his illness, he had placed assets worth $151,267 in Weeks' name. Appellants contend that the actions of naming Weeks as sole beneficiary to the six policies discussed provide Weeks with proceeds of $347,472; more than the amount intended by him in his statement. Appellants contend that this is in violation of express instructions of the principal. However, at the time Floyd Goff made these monetary range statements, he did not know how much his policies were worth. He then obtained information that the policies were worth more than he had previously believed. He subsequently changed beneficiaries. This did give Weeks a greater amount than indicated in his prior statements; however, the record discloses the lack of consistency is due to his lack of knowledge of the policies' worth at the time of the earlier statements. Floyd Goff's relationship with Donna Goff and the children had deteriorated since his divorce, and communications between them became infrequent. Conversely, he enjoyed a loving and close relationship with Weeks. They discussed their retirement needs, generally had merged their property, and treated each other as husband and wife. Floyd Goff stated he wished to provide for and take care of Weeks. The evidence shows that the relationship between him and Weeks was one of affection. It would appear that it was that relationship which influenced him to make the beneficiary changes. This is no doubt distressing and regretful to his former longtime wife and natural children; however, it is not fraudulent and unlawful. Appellants thus have not satisfied their ultimate burden to prove by clear and convincing evidence each of the last two elements necessary to establish undue influence. Appellants' remaining assignments of error are without merit. Appellants contend that in exercising her power of attorney to change the beneficiaries of the six policies, Weeks breached her fiduciary duty to Floyd Goff, violated the express terms of the power of attorney, and as attorney in fact made an impermissible gift to herself pursuant to her power of attorney. Weeks did not exercise her power of attorney to execute the beneficiary changes. While it is true that Weeks helped obtain information and the forms per Floyd Goff's request and that she and her brother helped fill them out per his request, it was Floyd Goff himself who executed the change of beneficiary forms.