Court Opinion

ID: 5347543
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2022-01-08 06:24:56.737448+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T08:29:40.588953
License: Public Domain

This is an appeal from a decree of the Surrogate’s Court of Montgomery county, admitting a will to probate. Objections were filed on the grounds of defective execution, mental incapacity and undue influence. The will is regular on its face, and reasonable in its content, was signed by two witnesses, and bad an attestation clause annexed thereto. Both of the witnesses were sworn, and both supported the will. The will was executed when the testatrix was about seventy-five years of age, and about four years before her death. It was written out by the hand of her attorney in her own home, with no one else present. From the testimony of the subscribing witnesses it appears that the testatrix declared the instrument to be her will in the presence of both of them, signed it in their presence, and requested them to sign as witnesses, and that they did so at that time. The proof was sufficient to sustain a proper execution. Proof as to undue influence was slight, and entirely inadequate to support that contention. The testimony on testamentary capacity was conflicting, and we think the surrogate reached the. proper conclusion. Decree unanimously affirmed, with costs to the respondents payable out of the estate. Present — Hill, P. J., MeNamee, Crapser, Bliss and Heffernan, JJ.