In re the Will of Fobac

266 A.D. 80, 41 N.Y.S.2d 780, 1943 N.Y. App. Div. LEXIS 3494

This text of 266 A.D. 80 (In re the Will of Fobac) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of the State of New York primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
In re the Will of Fobac, 266 A.D. 80, 41 N.Y.S.2d 780, 1943 N.Y. App. Div. LEXIS 3494 (N.Y. Ct. App. 1943).

Opinion

Dowling, J.

Meri Fobac, also known as Mary Fabac, died at Tonawanda, N. Y., on October 31,1929, leaving her surviving an adult daughter, Antonia Fabac, a resident of Mocilo, Savarin, Na Kupi, Croatia, Jugoslavia. Mrs. Fobac also left a will executed by her on the 11th of October, 1929. By the will she devised and bequeathed all of her property to one Blaz Ivancic of Tonawanda, N. Y., and she appointed him as her sole executor. He was not related to the testatrix.

On April 17, 1939, Blaz Ivancic presented a petition, verified in October, 1938, to the Surrogate of Erie county asking for the probate of said will, for his appointment as executor and that a citation issue to Antonia Fabac, she being the only living relative of the testatrix. On April 17, 1939, the Surrogate of Erie county issued a citation to Antonia Fabac directing her to show cause why a decree should not be made admitting said will to probate as the last will of Meri Fobac, also known as Mary Fabac. The citation was returnable on May 19, 1939. The citation was duly served by publication on Antonia Fabac. On the return of the citation on May 19, 1939, Antonia Fabac appeared by her attorneys, Gibbons, Pottle & Pottle, who then filed in the Surrogate’s Court of Erie County the following notice of retainer and appearance.

<< Notice of Appearance.
In the Matter of Proving the Last Will and Testament of Meri Fobac, also known as Mart Fabac,
Deceased.
Sirs:
You will please take notice that we have been retained by and hereby appear for Antonia Fabac, a party to the above entitled proceeding, and hereby demand the service upon us of all papers and notices in the proceeding at our office, 618-[82]*82630 Walbridge Bldg., 43 Court St. in the City of Buffalo, County of Erie, and State of New York.
Dated, Buffalo, N. Y. May 17,1939.
Gibbons, Pottle & Pottle,
Attorneys for Antonia Fabac,
618-630 Walbridge Bldg.,
Buffalo, N. Y.
To:
George T. Vandermeulen, Esq.,
Clerk of the Surrogate’s Court, Erie County, and to Charles F. Boine, Esq.,
Attorney for Petitioner.”

On December 13, 1939, Blaz Ivancic died leaving a will which was admitted to probate by the Surrogate of Erie county and letters of administration with the will annexed were issued to Tomas Ivancic, the sole residuary devisee and legatee under said will. When Blaz Ivancic died the proceedings for the probate of the will of Meri Fobac, also known as Mary Fabac, had not been completed. On September 12, 1940, Tomas Ivancic presented a supplemental petition, verified by him on September 12,1940, asking that the will of Meri Fobac, also known as Mary Fabac, lie admitted to probate and that letters of administration with the will annexed be issued to him. In the supplemental petition, Tomas Ivancic recited the proceedings that had been taken by Blaz Ivancic for the probate of said will. He also alleged in said petition “ * * * and on the return day of said citation, namely May 19, 1939, said Antonia Fabac duly appeared herein by her attorneys, Gibbons, Pottle & Pottle, and said proceeding for the probate of said instrument now remains unfinished.” Antonia Fabac, by her attorneys, Gibbons, Pottle & Pottle, interposed a verified answer and objections wherein it was alleged, in substance, (1) that the court had no jurisdiction to entertain the supplemental petition, (2) that the paper writing offered for probate was not the last will and testament of Meri Fobac because the same was not duly executed by the said Meri Fobac, (3) that on October 11, 1929, Meri Fobac was not of sound mind or memory or mentally capable of making a will, (4) that said paper writing was not freely or voluntarily executed by Meri Fobac and that it was procured by fraud and undue influence practiced upon her by Blaz Ivancic or by some person or persons acting in concert or privity with him, (5) that the cause of action set forth in the petition and the supplemental petition was barred by both [83]*83the six- and the ten-year Statutes of Limitations, (6) that the petitioners were guilty of loches in presenting said alleged will for probate.

Without any motion having been made by either petitioner to strike from the record the said notice of appearance or the answer and objections, the learned Surrogate, on his own motion, handed down a decision striking out the answer and objections “ on the ground that no authority has been filed for these attorneys to appear for Antonia Fabac ” as provided in section 41 of the Surrogate’s Court Act. In the decree dismissing the answer and objections, leave was granted to Antonia Fabac to file an answer and objections upon due appearance of said Antonia Fabac by a duly authorized attorney if made and filed within sixty days from the date of the service upon Gibbons, Pottle & Pottle, attorneys, of a copy of an order entered in accordance with said decision.” The decree further provided that in the event that Antonia Fabac failed properly to appear within the sixty days specified, a decree admitting the will to probate would be entered without further notice.

On May 7, 1939, Antonia Fabac, by an instrument in writing signed by her in Jugoslavia and witnessed by Furaj Bebrovic and Ivan Toncic appointed one Marko Glavinic of Pittsburgh, Pa., her true and lawful attorney to look after her interests in the real property left by her mother in Tonawanda, N. Y., and to employ counsel for that purpose. The decree striking out the answer and objections interposed by Antonia Fabac was entered June 9, 1941. At that time Germany had overrun and absorbed Jugoslavia. Under those circumstances, contact with Antonia by her attorneys, Gibbons, Pottle & Pottle, was impossible.

Pursuant to his power of attorney and under date of August 27, 1941, Marko Glavinic by an instrument in writing duly acknowledged before Louis A. Barmen, a notary public in Allegheny County, Pa., appointed Gibbons, Pottle & Pottle, as attorneys to represent Antonia Fabac in the proceedings for the probate of her mother’s will. The power of said Barmen to acknowledge deeds for the conveyance of lands and real estate in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania was duly certified by Willi am Z. Clark of the Court of Sessions in and for the County of Allegheny,' in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. The power of attorney and certificate of appointment were timely filed on September 16,1941, by Gibbons, Pottle & Pottle, in the office of the Surrogate of Erie county. The learned Sur[84]*84rogate handed down a decision on September 17, 1941, holding that the power of attorney and the appointment of Gibbons, Pottle & Pottle, as attorneys for Antonia Fabac pursuant thereto were not acknowledged and certified in accordance with section 41 of the Surrogate’s Court Act. The learned Surrogate then dismissed the answer and objections and directed the probate of the will. A decree of probate was entered on the 17th of September, 1941. Letters of administration with the will annexed were issued to Thomas (Tomas) Ivancic.

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266 A.D. 80, 41 N.Y.S.2d 780, 1943 N.Y. App. Div. LEXIS 3494, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/in-re-the-will-of-fobac-nyappdiv-1943.