Burke v. Kehr

876 S.W.2d 718, 1994 Mo. App. LEXIS 577, 1994 WL 109440
CourtMissouri Court of Appeals
DecidedApril 5, 1994
DocketNo. 63554
StatusPublished
Cited by5 cases

This text of 876 S.W.2d 718 (Burke v. Kehr) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Missouri Court of Appeals primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Burke v. Kehr, 876 S.W.2d 718, 1994 Mo. App. LEXIS 577, 1994 WL 109440 (Mo. Ct. App. 1994).

Opinion

KAROHL, Judge.

Will contestants F. Townsend Burke, Paul S. Burke, and Thomas M. Hess appeal from a directed verdict in favor of will proponents Kent D. Kehr, decedent’s attorney and named personal representative, and twelve designated charitable organizations collectively referred to as Catholic Charities. The contestants are the heirs at law of testatrix, Margery C. Bussen. Margery C. Bussen executed the will on April 1, 1983, and she died on February 14, 1990, a resident of Ste. Genevieve County, Missouri. A jury trial was held to determine whether Margery C. Bussen was under the undue influence of Kehr with respect to the residuary clause in [720]*720her will in which she left the residue and bulk of her estate to Kehr, as trustee of a charitable trust, to distribute to charitable organizations such as the Catholic Charities named in the will.

This is a second appeal regarding the dispute. See, Burke v. Kehr, 826 S.W.2d 855 (Mo.App.1992). In this appeal contestants argue the trial court erred in: (1) entering its finding that the proponents of the will had sustained their burden of formally proving due execution where they failed to offer the original will; (2) directing a verdict in favor of proponents at the close of all the evidence where contestants made a submissible case on the issue of undue influence; and, (3) excluding evidence of the existence and terms of an inter vivos trust of decedent because such evidence was relevant and material to the issue of the exercise of undue influence. We affirm.

Margery C. Bussen died on February 14, 1990. Her will dated April 1, 1983 was admitted to probate in common form in Ste. Genevieve County on February 22, 1990. Kehr was appointed as the independent personal representative. He was decedent’s lawyer and her late husband’s lawyer. He drafted and witnessed the will. First notice of publication of probate occurred on February 28, 1990. Contestants, as heirs at law, filed a two count petition on August 21, 1990, contesting the will, in part, on two grounds. They alleged: (1) decedent was of unsound mind at the time of the execution of the will as to Article VI; and, (2) she was under the undue influence of Kehr with regard to the execution of the will as to Article VI which reads as follows:

ARTICLE VI. Residue To Exempt Organizations. I give, devise and bequeath all the rest, residue and remainder of the property which I own at the time of my death, both real and personal, and of every kind and description wherever the same may be situated, to my Personal Representative, hereinafter named in ARTICLE VII, solely for the purpose of distribution to such corporations, foundations or organizations operated exclusively for religious, charitable or educational purposes as he shall select, provided such contributions qualify for the charitable deduction provided for in Section 2055 of the 1954 Internal Revenue Code or corresponding provisions of subsequent Internal Revenue enactments. It is my wish that contributions be made to the following organizations, among others ... [names and addresses of the twelve Catholic Charities joined as defendants].

Proceedings prior to trial included a change of venue to the Circuit Court of St. Francois County, successful motions to dismiss filed by proponents based on the absence of necessary parties, and the previous appeal.

On March 18,1992, we held the partial will contest was properly dismissed by the circuit court on proponents’ motion on the allegation of unsound mind because contestants failed to join as parties specific devisees under the will whose interests would be extinguished if the testatrix were found to have been of unsound mind. Burke v. Kehr, 826 S.W.2d 855 (Mo.App.1992). We did not adopt contestants’ argument that the testatrix could have been of unsound mind with respect to only one provision in the will. We found and ruled the trial court did not have jurisdiction to invalidate an entire will when necessary parties pursuant to § 473.083.6 RSMo Cum.Supp.1990 were not named and joined. Id. at 862. We did, however, reverse and remand for a trial on the issue of undue influence on the terms of the residuary clause. It is possible for a will to be partially invalidated based on undue influence, and the necessary parties were named and joined concerning the validity of Article VI of the will. Id. at 862.

A jury trial was held on December 15 and 16, 1992. Contestants’ evidence consisted of the testimony of Kehr and F. Townsend Burke, copies of decedent’s current and former wills, letters, notes, and other documentary evidence. Proponents did not offer any evidence except the document certified by the probate court of Ste. Genevieve County to be a certified copy of the will. They jointly moved for a directed verdict at the close of contestants’ evidence, and the motion was granted.

Contestants, in their first point on appeal, argue the court erred in finding that [721]*721the proponents sustained their burden of proving due execution, attestation and the existence of testamentary capacity by permitting them to use a certified copy of the will and where the original will was never produced or proven. Prior to the enactment date of § 473.081 RSMo 1986, enacted in 1980, effective January 1, 1981, the filing of any will contest had the effect of vacating a judgment admitting the will to probate and leaving the paper wilting unproven until established by judgment of the circuit court. Fletcher v. Ringo, 164 S.W.2d 904, 906 (Mo.1942); Hodges v. Hodges, 692 S.W.2d 361, 365, n. 3 (Mo.App.1985). This section recognizes a suit for partial invalidity no longer operates to vacate the judgment admitting the will to probate. Proof of the will was not required because that was not an issue.

In Hodges, the issues were improper execution, lack of testamentary capacity, and undue influence in signing the will. If proven, one or all of these grounds would have required a determination that the testator died intestate. In Fletcher v. Ringo, the issues were testamentary incapacity—unsound mind—and overpowering undue influence. In a case contesting the validity of an entire will the proponents of a will have the burden of establishing a prima facie case of due execution. Hodges, 682 S.W.2d at 366. Such proof must be in solemn form. Fletcher v. Henderson, 333 Mo. 349, 62 S.W.2d 849, 851 (Mo.1933). When a will is proven in solemn form, “it is necessary that all parties interested be cited to witness the proceedings, that the will be produced in open court, that the witnesses be there examined, and that all parties in interest have the privilege of cross-examination.” State ex rel. Callahan v. Hess, 348 Mo. 388, 153 S.W.2d 713, 717 (Mo.1941).

However, the trial of the present will contest involved only a claim of partial invalidity authorized by § 473.081. That section separates the provisions subject to contest from those not involved in the contest so that “the other parts of the will may be admitted to probate under Sections 473.073 & 473.083.” Accordingly, in a partial

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Bluebook (online)
876 S.W.2d 718, 1994 Mo. App. LEXIS 577, 1994 WL 109440, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/burke-v-kehr-moctapp-1994.