Opinion ID: 852511
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Invalidation of Pre-Guardianship Wills

Text: The trial court, perhaps in an effort to end these expensive hostilities, ruled on the validity of E.N.'s 1997 and 1999 wills at a time when E.N. was still living. The brothers contend that the validity of a will is a matter to be resolved in the probate court through will contest proceedings. The will contest statute allows any interested person to object to the probate of a will within three months of the order admitting the will to probate. Ind.Code § 29-1-7-17. The order admitting the will to probate requires a petition to probate a will, which must contain the date of the testator's death. Id. § 29-1-7-5. Thus, the brothers reason that a will contest may only occur after the testator's death. The children respond that Indiana's declaratory judgment statute authorized the trial court to determine the validity of E.N.'s wills. This statute provides that [a]ny person interested under a . . . will . . . may have determined any question of construction or validity arising under the instrument. Id. § 34-14-1-2. Generally, Indiana courts have required that the party seeking a declaratory judgment have a substantial present interest in the relief sought. Hibler v. Conseco, Inc., 744 N.E.2d 1012, 1023 (Ind.Ct.App. 2001) (citing Town of Munster v. Hluska, 646 N.E.2d 1009, 1012 (Ind.Ct.App.1995)). Although there is no Indiana case on point, some other jurisdictions have recognized an exception to the present interest requirement where a present right depends upon a decision as to a future right, where there are special circumstances satisfying the court that it is desirable to make a declaration presently as to future rights, or where a present determination of a right contingent on a future event may serve a real practical need of the parties for guidance in their future conduct. See generally Annotation, Questions Regarding Rights of Inheritance or Other Rights in Respect of Another's Estate After Death as Proper Subject of Declaratory Action Before Latter's Death, 139 A.L.R. 1239 (1942). Whether or not Indiana law would recognize this exception, it would not apply here because the ruling of the trial court did not require a determination of E.N.'s competency in 1997 or 1999. The trial court had before it a petition to approve the children's proposed estate plan. Had the proposed estate plan disposed of only E.N.'s excess assets, it would have been within the realm of steps authorized by the statute. This proposed estate plan disposed of all E.N.'s assets. It was therefore not authorized by the guardianship estate planning statute, and must be disapproved, regardless of the validity of E.N.'s prior wills, which remains a matter for the probate court to consider under the will contest statutes. [4]