Kline Estate

2 Pa. D. & C.2d 371, 1954 Pa. Dist. & Cnty. Dec. LEXIS 79
CourtPennsylvania Orphans' Court, Westmoreland County
DecidedSeptember 28, 1954
Docketno. 9
StatusPublished

This text of 2 Pa. D. & C.2d 371 (Kline Estate) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Pennsylvania Orphans' Court, Westmoreland County primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Kline Estate, 2 Pa. D. & C.2d 371, 1954 Pa. Dist. & Cnty. Dec. LEXIS 79 (Pa. Super. Ct. 1954).

Opinion

Copeland, P. J.,

Decedent, Benn Kline, died a resident of this county, on September 6, 1952. His last will, dated November 7, 1951, was probated on September 8, 1952, and letters testamentary were issued to two of decedent’s sons, Louis and Jacob Kline.

An appeal from probate of the will was filed on September 3, 1953, by decedent’s two daughters, Dora Etta Tanner and Hannah H. Mehlman. On October 8, 1953, preliminary objections to the petition for citation, accompanying the appeal, were filed and on November 16, 1953, a petition was filed by contestants for leave to amend the petition on the appeal. This paper has been and is now considered as an amendment to that petition. An answer was filed by proponents [372]*372on January 11, 1954, and hearings were heard before the court on March 23 and 24, 1954.

The reasons assigned by contestants in their appeal are lack of testamentary capacity and undue influence.

Findings of Fact

1. Decedent herein, Benn Kline, died testate, on September 6, 1952, a resident of this county, and his last will dated November 7, 1951, was duly probated on September 8, 1952, and letters testamentary were issued to Louis and Jacob Kline.

2. Decedent’s wife predeceased him and he left to survive him as his heirs at law six children, being four sons, Harry, Louis, Jacob, Joseph, and two daughters, Hannah Mehlman and Dora Etta Tanner. All these children are sui juris and their ages range from 32 to 47 years.

3. By his last will testator disinherited Hannah; he gave Joseph $1,000, and created three trusts of $5,000 each for the children of Harry, Louis and Dora Etta; he also created a trust of a house and lot on Weldon Street, appraised at $8,500, for Dora Etta during her life and at her death to her children; and gave the residuary estate to Louis, Jacob and Harry. This will also contained a provision whereby any of the four sons was given the right to purchase an equity in the store business in which decedent had been a partner with his son, Harry.

4. Decedent had executed, á prior will on May 26, 1949. In this will decedent also disinherited Hannah; set up a trust of $5,000 for Dora Etta for life and then to her children, and gave the residue of his estate to the four sons. This will-also contained a provision for any of the four sons to purchase an interest in decedent’s business.

5. Decedent executed the next prior will in June 1948. By this will, he also disinherited Hannah, and gave the residue of his estate to the five other children. [373]*373This will also provided for any of the sons to purchase an interest in decedent’s business.

6. Decedent had certain prejudices against some of his children. He was prejudiced against Hannah chiefly, because of difficulties arising out of the settlement of the estate of decedent’s wife and .which resulted in Hannah entering a suit against her father. With respect to Dora Etta, he had a friendly feeling toward her but did not get along with her husband and did not’ want him to receive any of the- estate. With respect to Joseph, decedént thought that he was wasting his time as a veterinarian and wanted him to take a part in decedent’s store business, which Joseph failed to do.

7. Decedent undoubtedly had testamentary capacity and was of sound mind. After the date of the will decedent transacted business in handling the store business during Harry’s vacations and during Harry’s lunch hour every day. He bought property in Latrobe Borough and managed his rented properties, arranging for repairs and personally collecting, rent. He acted together with Harry in the purchase of merchandise for the store. Decedent was a very good business man up until several days before his death and was of a very determined nature.

8. The only evidence presented by contestants as to testamentary capacity was that decedent had a violent temper at times, was forgetful as to where he had put certain articles and that he had somewhat slowed down since the death of his wife in October 1947.

9. The health of decedent, at the time of writing his last will, was apparently good. In 1951 he drove his car, by himself, to. Hot Springs, Ark.,, and in the summer of 1952 he drove by himself -to visit his son in California. He did business in.the store until the time of his death.

10. Two of decedent’s sons, Harry and .Louisa held much the same prejudicial views against Hannah and [374]*374the husband of Dora Etta. They discussed these matters with decedent, but in agreement with him rather than in way of influencing him.

11. There was no undue influence practiced upon-decedent at any time which influenced him at the time of writing his last will.

Conclusions of Law

1. Decedent was of sound mind and had testamentary capacity at the time of the execution of the will dated November 7, 1951.

2. There was no undue influence practiced upon decedent which affected him at the time of the execution of the will.

3. The appeal from probate of decedent’s will should be dismissed and the decree of probate confirmed.

4. The costs should be paid by contestants.

Discussion

When proponents offered in evidence the record of the probate of decedent’s will, the burden of proof shifted to contestants to prove lack of testamentary capacity (Higbee Will, 365 Pa. 381), and to prove undue influence: De Maio Will, 363 Pa. 559.

All the evidence, including that of contestants, shows without a doubt that testator had testamentary capacity. There is no inference in. the evidence that testator was seized of any sudden mental disability at or near the time • of the execution of the will. Decedent- did have a slight -stroke in 1948, as a result of which he temporarily lost the use of his right arm and the sight of his right eye. However, testator’s recovery was substantially complete, although he suffered from high blood pressure. Decedent drove his own car, unaccompanied by anyone else, from Ligonier to Hot Springs, Ark., in 1951, and made a similar trip to California in the summer of 1952. After the date of [375]*375the will decedent purchased real estate in Latrobe, attended to maintenance of other rented property, personally collected rents therefrom, transacted business in the usual manner in his store in Ligonier, was at times vice president or treasurer of a club to which he belonged, and generally did all the things he was accustomed to do at a time when there was no doubt about his testamentary capacity, although he did not act as strenuously as he had in prior years.

The only evidence presented by contestants as to mental capacity was that testator at times had a violent temper, was forgetful where he had placed things, complained of headaches, and had slowed down to some extent. Of these things, only forgetfulness would have some bearing on this case, aind a failure of memory is not incapacity unless it is total or extends to the immediate family or to his property: Conway Will, 366 Pa. 641.

As set forth in the findings of fact, testator had certain prejudices against some of his family. In Mohler’s Estate, 343 Pa. 299, and speaking about testatrix in that case, the court said, page 308:

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Bluebook (online)
2 Pa. D. & C.2d 371, 1954 Pa. Dist. & Cnty. Dec. LEXIS 79, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/kline-estate-paorphctwestmo-1954.