In re the Estate of Foundas

112 Misc. 2d 973, 448 N.Y.S.2d 114, 1982 N.Y. Misc. LEXIS 3224
CourtNew York Surrogate's Court
DecidedFebruary 23, 1982
StatusPublished

This text of 112 Misc. 2d 973 (In re the Estate of Foundas) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering New York Surrogate's Court primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
In re the Estate of Foundas, 112 Misc. 2d 973, 448 N.Y.S.2d 114, 1982 N.Y. Misc. LEXIS 3224 (N.Y. Super. Ct. 1982).

Opinion

OPINION OF THE COURT

Joseph J. Traficanti, Jr., S.

This is a construction proceeding which was brought on by way of petition by the infant issue of the decedent through the court-appointed guardian ad litem. The decedent Christine P. Foundas executed a document purporting to be her last will and testament on May 9,1978. The will was admitted to probate by this court on November 23, 1981 and the question raised by the guardian ad litem of construction was reserved for future consideration and decree in accordance with SCPA 1420 (subd 3).

The will in essence bequeathed to John J. Foundas, the decedent’s husband, all of the estate, and provided that if John predeceased her, then the entire estate would go to her children per stirpes including the infant Demetra J. Foundas who brings this proceeding.

On April 14, 1981 Christine P. Foundas, the decedent, entered into a separation agreement with John, her husband. Among other things this agreement provided that the wife would have custody of the children with visitation [974]*974rights to the husband. Various provisions were included for the support of the children during minority and for the wife until her death or remarriage. Further the parties agreed that the husband would deliver a deed to the wife conveying all his right, title and interest to a parcel of land in Saugerties, New York, on which was situated a one-family dwelling. The separation agreement also contained two paragraphs purporting to be releases found in paragraphs “3” and “4”. Because of their importance in this proceeding, paragraphs “3” and “4” are set forth here at length:

“3. Subject to the provisions of this Agreement, each party has remised, released and forever discharged and by these presents does for himself or herself and his or her heirs, legal representatives, executors, administrators and assigns, remise, release and forever discharge the other of and from all cause or causes of action, claims, rights or demands whatsoever, in law or in equity, which either of the parties hereto ever had or now has against the other, except any and all causes of action for divorce.

“4. Each of the parties may in any way dispose of his or her property of whatsoever nature, real or personal, and each of the parties hereto, each for himself or herself, respectively, and for their respective heirs, legal representatives, executors, administrators and assigns, hereby waives any right of election which he or she may have or hereafter acquire regarding the estate of the other, whether heretofore or hereafter executed, as provided for in any law, now or hereafter effective, of the State of New York or any other state or territory of the United States, or any foreign country, and renounces and releases all interests, right or claim of distributive share or intestate succession or dower or curtesy or otherwise, that he or she now has or might otherwise have against the other or the estate of the other, under or by virtue of the laws of any State or Country and each will at the request of the other, or his or her legal representatives, executors, administrators and assigns, execute, acknowledge and deliver any and all deeds, releases, or any other instruments necessary to bar, release or extinguish such interests, rights and claims or which may be necessary for the proper effectuation of any of the provisions of this agreement. Each of the parties [975]*975renounces or relinquishes any and all claims and rights that he or she may have or may hereafter acquire to act as executor or administrator of the other party’s estate.”

The separation agreement was filed with the Ulster County Clerk on June 19, 1981. Neither party, however, has obtained a divorce. The wife died in an automobile accident on July 8, 1981. A petition was filed for the probate of the will by the substitute executor, the primary executor, the decedent’s husband having renounced. The question presented is whether the language of the separation agreement is sufficient to cause a revocation of the provisions of the decedent’s will granting her estate to her husband in accordance with the stricture of EPTL 3-4.3.

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Related

In re the Estate of Coffed
387 N.E.2d 1209 (New York Court of Appeals, 1979)
In re the Estate of Maruccia
429 N.E.2d 751 (New York Court of Appeals, 1981)
In re the Estate of Torr
17 Misc. 2d 1063 (New York Surrogate's Court, 1959)
In re the Estate of Nelson
51 Misc. 2d 375 (New York Surrogate's Court, 1966)

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Bluebook (online)
112 Misc. 2d 973, 448 N.Y.S.2d 114, 1982 N.Y. Misc. LEXIS 3224, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/in-re-the-estate-of-foundas-nysurct-1982.