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Law of Wills, 2016A

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contests the will has the burden <strong>of</strong> showing that the testator was incompetent when he or she<br />

executed the will. The existence <strong>of</strong> a conservatorship or a guardianship does not create the<br />

presumption that the protected person lacks testamentary capacity.<br />

2. Sophia hired a lawyer to execute her will. When she filled out the will questionnaire, Sophia<br />

included the Golden Gate Bridge as one <strong>of</strong> her assets. Does this indicate that she lacks testamentary<br />

capacity?<br />

3. Madge told the lawyer drafting her will that she had three children, five grandchildren and one<br />

great-grandchild. In fact, Madge has only two grandchildren and no great-grandchildren. Does this<br />

indicate that she lacks testamentary capacity?<br />

4. In the Romero case, what evidence did the contestants present to support their claimed that the<br />

testator lacked testamentary capacity? Why did the court hold that Romero had the necessary<br />

capacity? Why did they argue that Romero was suffering from an insane delusion?<br />

5. In the Romero case, what was the test for testamentary capacity under the VA regulations? Would<br />

the outcome <strong>of</strong> the case have been the same if the court had applied that test?<br />

6. Why did the Romero court determine that the fact that a guardian had been appointed for Romero<br />

did not impact his testamentary capacity? Do you agree with that determination?<br />

Matter <strong>of</strong> Estate <strong>of</strong> Oliver, 934 P.2d 144 (Kan. App. 1997)<br />

GERNON, Presiding Judge:<br />

This is a will contest case. The contestants, Lenard and Charlene Miller, appeal the trial court’s<br />

decision to admit the will <strong>of</strong> Alta E. Oliver into probate.<br />

Oliver died in 1993 at the age <strong>of</strong> 93, leaving an estate <strong>of</strong> approximately $400,000. She was survived<br />

by a sister and several nieces and nephews.<br />

The Millers were friends with Oliver. From 1978 until her death, Oliver wrote several different wills,<br />

leaving the Millers as beneficiaries in each, but in varying degrees.<br />

In 1985, the Millers took Oliver to her attorney, Raymond Stein, and she executed a will which made<br />

the Millers the principal beneficiaries.<br />

In 1988, a guardian and a conservator were appointed for Oliver. She also entered a nursing home<br />

that fall.<br />

In November 1988, several <strong>of</strong> Oliver’s relatives, including her sister, visited her and tape recorded<br />

their conversation with her. The substance <strong>of</strong> the conversation was to advise Oliver that she had<br />

given Lenard Miller control <strong>of</strong> her estate and to urge her to see her lawyer to check her estate plan.<br />

One nephew, Charles Albert, subsequently asked Guy Steier, Oliver’s guardian ad litem, to meet<br />

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