Court Opinion

ID: 9790198
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-31 01:48:46.078718+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T07:37:27.326901
License: Public Domain

CARTER, J.
I concur in the judgment of reversal and in the views expressed in the majority opinion with the exception of what is said therein with respect to the Estate of Kurtz, 190 Cal. 146 [210 P. 959]. In my opinion the Estate of Kurtz was erroneously decided, and should be expressly overruled. I do not believe that it can fairly be said that the will which was interpreted in that ease made provision for the surviving spouse or unborn child of the testator, ‘ ‘ or in such way mentioned [them] therein as to show an intention not to make such provision.” As I read section 70 of the Probate Code (formerly section 1299 of the Civ. Code) it appears to have been clearly the intention of the Legislature to make mandatory the revocation of a will made prior to marriage where the spouse survives the maker, "unless provision has been made for the spouse by marriage contract, or unless the spouse is provided for in the will, or in such way mentioned therein as to show an intention not to make such provision”; and I do not believe that this provision can be *770satisfied by the use of general language in a will such as “all of my heirs,” “any person whomsoever” and the like as indicating an intention on the part of the testator not to make provision for such surviving spouse.
While it may be true that there is a sound basis for a factual distinction between the instant case and the Estate of Kurts, I prefer to base my conclusion in this case upon an interpretation of section 70 of the Probate Code (formerly section 1299, Civ. Code) in direct conflict with that expressed in the opinion of this court in the Estate of Kurtz, and consider that ease as no longer an authority.