Davis' Will, In re

• Citation: 101 A.2d 521,14 N.J. 166
• Decision Date: 21 December 1953
• Docket Number: No. A--55,A--55
• Parties: In re DAVIS' WILL.
• Court: United States State Supreme Court (New Jersey)

Page 166

14 N.J. 166

101 A.2d 521

In re DAVIS' WILL.

No. A--55.

Supreme Court of New Jersey.

Argued Nov. 23, 1953.

Decided Dec. 21, 1953.

Francis W. Hayden, Newark, for appellant (Crummy & Consodine, Newark, attorneys).

William J. McCormack, Jersey City, for respondents (Milton, McNulty & Augelli, Jersey City, attorneys; Charles J. Milton, Jersey City, of counsel).

The opinion of the court was delivered by

OLIPHANT, J.

This is an appeal from an order of the Warren County Court which dismissed an order requiring the respondents to show cause why a judgment of the Surrogate's Court of that county, which had admitted to probate the last will and testament of Babette Davis, should not be set aside.

The proceeding was instituted pursuant to Rules 5:3--4(a), 5:3--5(a), now R.R. 5:3--4(a), 5:3--5(a). The moving parties were the next of kin of the decedent and the application was predicated on these allegations: (1) that the testatrix was mentally incompetent and incapable of disposing of her estate by will; (2) that the will was the product of undue influence, and (3) that it was not properly executed according to the laws of this State. The only points argued here are undue influence and certain rulings on the admission of evidence.

In a rather protracted trial it developed that the will had been executed on October 23, 1951, at the office of Ovid C. Bianchi, a counsellor-at-law of this State, after it had been drawn by Sol S. Solky, an attorney-at-law of this State from a form of a prior will of the testatrix supplied by Mr. Bianchi. Although Mr. Solky was never associated with Mr. Bianchi in the practice of law, he had the use of the office and had at times done legal research for him. He was also a civil service employee in the department of the city government of Orange, of which Mr. Bianchi was the director.

Mr. Bianchi had drawn at least two prior wills for the testatrix in one of which the testatrix divided and devised her estate in one-half shares to the two children of one Mary Shotwell, a cousin, and to the two children of Bianchi, each child receiving a quarter share. In the will in question the entire estate was willed to the two Bianchi children and Bianchi was named as executor.

There is a legal presumption that the testatrix was of sound mind and competent when she executed the will and the burden of proving undue influence is ordinarily upon the person asserting it and it must be clearly established. Gellert v. Livingston, 5 N.J. 65, 71, 73 A.2d 916 (1950). The mere existence of the attorney and client relationship without more does not establish undue influence. While the burden of proving undue influence lies with the contestant, if a will benefits one who is in a confidential relationship to the testatrix and there are additional circumstances of a questionable or suspicious character, a presumption of undue influence arises and the burden of proof is shifted to the proponent of the will. The relationship of attorney and client obviously is such a confidential relationship. In re Hopper's Estate, 9 N.J. 280, 88 A.2d 193 (1952). The mere relationship when it is genuine and sincere raises no implication of fraud or undue influence. To be undue the influence must be such as to destroy the free agency of the person over whom it is exerted. In re Neuman's Estate, 133 N.J.Eq. 532, 32 A.2d 826 (E. & A.1943); In re Nixon's Will, 136 N.J.Eq. 242, 41 A.2d 119 (1945); In re Hopper's Estate, supra.

There were a number of singular and peculiar circumstances appearing in this case of sufficient moment and substance to shift the burden of proof to the proponents of the will. While each case depends on its own particular facts, the rule is that where doubt is created the proof of the proponents must be clear and convincing as to the competency and free agency of the testatrix in order to resolve such doubt in their favor.

After a careful consideration of all the facts, conflicting as they are in some particulars, we agree with the trial court that they clearly indicate that such influence, as existed, was insufficient to impair the free agency of the testatrix when she made the will in question. She was a woman of considerable and diverse business experience acquired over the years. Up to the time of the making of her will in question she had managed her business affairs with considerable competence. While she often consulted Mr. Bianchi as to the legal details of her business transactions and had him draw the necessary formal legal papers, the actual decisions as to the investment of her funds or the sale of property in which she had an interest were in practically all instances made by...