Opinion ID: 1378765
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: sneed was possessed of testamentary capacity

Text: ¶ 9 Testamentary capacity exists when a person possesses, in a general way, the ability to appreciate the character and extent of the devised property, understands the nature of the relationship between themselves and the objects of their bounty and apprehends the nature and effect of the testamentary act. [8] Whether one possesses testamentary capacity is a question of fact. When a person contests a testator's soundness of mind, the burden of persuasion associated with the issue rests upon them. [9] When a court ascertains a decedent's testamentary capacity, it is appropriate for it to consider evidence of the testator's mental capacity, appearance, conduct, habits and conversation both before and after the will is executed  if these factors are relevant to his/her mental condition at the time the will was executed. [10] ¶ 10 From the record it is apparent that until the very end of Sneed's life she was a self-reliant person with an independent will. She lived alone, drove her own car until the time of her death, mowed her own lawn, managed rental properties which she owned, and on occasions  contemporaneous to the execution of her will  managed a dentist's business office while he was out of town. The conveyances, [11] which Sneed made after executing her will, amply demonstrate that she understood the character of her property and further that she understood the intended effect of her testamentary acts  even though the district court later determined that the provisions of Exhibit A were not legally sufficient to create an inter vivos trust. No evidence indicates any desire on the testatrix's part to change, alter or revoke the will during the almost two years between its execution and her demise. [12] From review of the record it cannot be said that the district court's decision that Lorita Sneed was possessed of testamentary capacity is clearly against the weight of the evidence.