In re Proving the Last Will & Testament of Delprat

Majority

p. 355

Matter of Proving the Last Will and Testament of Frances Morris Delprat, Deceased.

(Surrogate’s Court, New York County,

May, 1899.)

Headnote

Will — Execution — Failure of testatrix to declare the instrument to be her will.

Where the only evidence that a decedent declared a paper, offered for probate, tó be her will is contained in a recital, to that effect in the attestation clause, and the only subscribing witness produced testifies that the decedent did not declare to her that the paper was her will and merely requested the testifying witness to sign the “ instrument ” as a witness and this testimony is confirmed by that of the husband of the testatrix who was present, probate will be refused, as it must appear unequivocally that the testatrix communicated to the subscribing witnesses the testamentary character of the instrument. . ' .

Proceedings upon the probate of a wilL

Joseph F. Hover, for proponent.

Ooudert Bros., for legatees.

Maginnis & Blackwell, for contestants. .

Gilbert W. Minor, special guardian.

The instrument offered for probate purports to have been subscribed by the decedent* and signed by two witnesses. There is a full attestation clause. One of the subscribing witnesses cannot be found. The other, a French woman, was examined by commission and testified, that the decedent Subscribed , the will in the presence of both witnesses, and requested her to

p. 356

sign the “instrument” as a witness; that she so signed and that she saw the other witness sign. She testified positively that the decedent did not declare that the instrument was her will, at least not in the French language, and that the witness did-not understand the' English language in which the decedent conversed with the other subscribing witness. The husband testified that he was present-at the time of execution and heard all that "was said by the decedent to the subscribing witnesses; that he asked the missing witness to sign the instrument, and that neither the decedent nor • he informed the witnesses that, the instrument was her will. The only evidence of a declaration by the decedent is a statement to that effect in the attestation clause. When supportéd by other proof, the attestation clause becomes very important, and upon such combined evidence wills have been sustained where the witnesses failed to recollect what took place at the time of execution, and even where they testified that the acts required by the statute had not been performed. The formal proof may not, however, be presumed from the attestation clause alone and against positive credible testimony. Woolley v. Woolley, 95 N. Y. 231 ; Lewis v. Lewis, 11 id. 220. The decedent requested the witness to sign the “instrument.” The description of the paper by the witness as a “ will or agreement,” or as an “ instrument in writing ” is insufficient. Rutherford v. Rutherford, 1 Den. 33 ; Wilson v. Hetterick, 2 Bradf. 427 . It must be made to appear unequivocally that the testamentary character of the instrument was communicated by the testator to the witnesses. Lewis v. Lewis, 11 N. Y. 229 ; Ex parte Beers, 2 Bradf. 163 .

Probate denied.

Cases cited

Woolley v. Woolley 95 N. Y. 231 N.Y. 1884-02-26 p. 356