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Law of Wills, 2016A

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substantial compliance with the statute. For that reason, probate in these circumstances should<br />

proceed in solemn form. See N.J.S.A. 3B:3-23; R. 4:84-1. Probate in solemn form, which is an added<br />

precaution to assure pro<strong>of</strong> <strong>of</strong> valid execution, may be initiated on an order to show cause, R. 4:84-<br />

1(b), and need not unduly delay probate <strong>of</strong> a qualified will.<br />

IV<br />

The record suggests that the pr<strong>of</strong>fered instrument is the will <strong>of</strong> Russell Ranney, that he signed it<br />

voluntarily, that Schuster and Stout signed the self-proving affidavit at Russell’s request, and that<br />

they witnessed his signature. Furthermore, Betty has certified that Russell executed the will and that<br />

she is unaware <strong>of</strong> the existence <strong>of</strong> any other will. Before us, however, her attorney questions whether<br />

Russell “actually signed” the will. If, after conducting a hearing in solemn form, the trial court is<br />

satisfied that the execution <strong>of</strong> the will substantially complies with the statutory requirements, it may<br />

reinstate the judgment <strong>of</strong> the Surrogate admitting the will to probate.<br />

Following the judgment <strong>of</strong> the Appellate Division, this Court amended the Rules <strong>of</strong> Civil Procedure<br />

pertaining to probate practice. Those amendments resulted in the allocation <strong>of</strong> the probate<br />

jurisdiction <strong>of</strong> the Chancery Division to the Chancery Division, Probate Part. See R. 4:83.<br />

The judgment <strong>of</strong> the Appellate Division is affirmed, and the matter is remanded to the Chancery<br />

Division, Probate Part.<br />

14.3.3 Harmless Error/Dispensing Power<br />

The harmless error rule applies to situations when the testator does not attempt to comply<br />

with the statutory requirements. This rule is also referred to as the dispensing power because it<br />

permits the courts to dispense with the statutory formalities. Under the rule, the court may excuse<br />

noncompliance with statutory formalities if the proponent <strong>of</strong> the will produces clear and convincing<br />

evidence that the decedent intended the document to be his or her will. For the rule to apply, the<br />

proponents must show that the decedent prepared the document or caused the document to be<br />

prepared and the decedent signed the document and intended the document to constitute the<br />

decedent’s will.<br />

In re Estate <strong>of</strong> Ehrlich, 47 A.3d 12 (N.J. Super. Ct. App. Div. 2012)<br />

PARRILLO, P.J.A.D.<br />

Appellants Todd Ehrlich and Pamela Venuto appeal from an April 20, 2011 order <strong>of</strong> the General<br />

Equity Part admitting into probate the pr<strong>of</strong>fered Will <strong>of</strong> Richard D. Ehrlich and from the June 20,<br />

2011 order denying their motion for reconsideration. Respondent Jonathan Ehrlich cross-appeals<br />

from the July 6, 2011 order denying his motion for sanctions under the Frivolous Litigation statute,<br />

N.J.SA. 2A:15-59.1. We affirm.<br />

The material facts are not genuinely in dispute. Richard Ehrlich, a trust and estates attorney who<br />

practiced in Burlington County for over fifty years, died on September 21, 2009. His only next <strong>of</strong> kin<br />

were his deceased brother’s children—Todd and Jonathan Ehrlich and Pamela Venuto. The<br />

606

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