Opinion ID: 1280005
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Is Grace Greenwood a Favored Beneficiary?

Text: In recent years, the favored class of beneficiaries listed under Restatement § 347(b) (published in 1940) has been expanded to embrace the natural object of the donee's affection. See Estate of McNeill, 463 A.2d 782, 784 (Me. 1983); Schwartz v. Baybank Merrimack Valley, N.A., supra ; Draft Restatement § 18.3. We find this view preferable to adherence to the § 347(b) list which does not, for example, even include husbands in the favored class. We therefore follow the Draft Restatement and hold that the equitable exception may be applicable when the named beneficiary is a natural object of the donee's affection. Because Grace Greenwood is the decedent's sister, she is a natural object of Willie Mae Strobel's affection. We hold, therefore, she is one of the class of favored beneficiaries who can qualify for application of the equitable exception to the general rule.