Newkirk v. Knight

456 P.2d 104
CourtSupreme Court of Oklahoma
DecidedJune 17, 1969
DocketNo. 41971
StatusPublished
Cited by2 cases

This text of 456 P.2d 104 (Newkirk v. Knight) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Supreme Court of Oklahoma primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Newkirk v. Knight, 456 P.2d 104 (Okla. 1969).

Opinion

BERRY, Vice Chief Justice.

This appeal from a judgment in a will contest presents the issue whether an improper, illicit, or meretricious relationship existing between the principal beneficiary and testator is sufficient to require finding of undue influence in execution of the will ?

May 14, 1952, James G. Newkirk executed a will, pertinent provisions of which stated:

“SECOND: I give and devise to Miss Pauline Knight, all of my property, real, personal and mixed of every kind wherever situated, whether vested or contingent at the time of my death, to he absolutely hers, free and clear of any conditions or restrictions whatever. I am a widower, not married now.
“Third: I have a daughter, Joan Jan-■ick, who is married, and for whom I have heretofore provided, and I do not wish her to participate in my will.
“Fourth: I hereby appoint and designate Miss Pauline Knight, sole executrix, without bond, of this my last will and testament.”

November 6, 1964, Joan Jancik filed petition in McCurtain County, Oklahoma, alleging death of James G. Newkirk on October 30, 1964, and her right as deceased’s daughter to appointment as administratrix. Contemporaneously her mother, Mary Lake Newkirk, filed waiver of her prior right and joined in request for Jancik’s appointment. After hearing the county court issued letters of administration to Joan Jan-cik who, as a non-resident, filed appointment of an agent. These parties, plaintiffs in error, hereafter are denominated contestants.

On November 17, 1964, defendant in error, hereafter the proponent, filed petition for probate of deceased’s will, alleging her interest as executrix and sole legatee under the will. Proponent also asked revocation of letters of administration previously issued, and an order rescinding and cancel-ling these letters was entered.

Contestants then filed contest against probate of the will alleging as surviving wife and daughter, to be deceased’s sole and only heirs at law, and denying the fact and validity of the will. Alternatively contestants asserted if will was executed this resulted from fraud, undue influence and domination exercised by proponent; and, deceased had been induced to execute same because of proponent’s exercise of domination and undue influence imposed upon deceased by reason of the unlawful, confidential relationship. Contestants alleged Mary Lake Newkirk was the surviving wife, which fact would have been known to deceased had he been of sound and disposing mind. Further, no provision had been made for contestant Jancik, which fact deceased knew if of sound mind, and terminology of the will failed to preclude Jancik’s right to participate in the estate.

Contestant also alleged she was deceased’s lawful wife both when will was executed and at time of testator’s demise, and therefore elected to take under the law without regard to whether will was admitted to probate. There is no dispute as to contestant’s right to inherit under the statute as surviving spouse. There was fur[106]*106ther prayer, in event will was admitted to probate, that proponent not be appointed executrix because of conflicting interests between the parties.

After hearing and consideration the county court found all issues in favor of admission of the will to probate; the will had been executed according to law in all particulars by deceased, who was of sound mind and not acting under duress, influence, or domination and control of any person when this will was executed. Contestants appealed to the district court from the order admitting the will to probate and granting letters testamentary to proponent.

This being a probate appeal, and governed by rules applicable to equitable proceedings, the Supreme Court will examine the entire record and weigh the evidence to determine whether the judgment is clearly against the weight of the evidence or contrary to applicable law.

Extended narration of the testimony is unnecessary. The record fairly establishes deceased was an energetic, hard working, strong willed individual, who unequivocally made his own decisions without compromise, or advice sought or taken from others. The record is devoid of evidence tending to show lack of mental capacity or physical abilities. Even contestant testified deceased was not insane, and was competent in 1961 when he executed a deed to Texas property as contestant’s husband. There is absolutely no evidence deceased was not capable or lacked testamentary capacity when this will was executed.

Contestant’s evidence established the fact of marriage in 1915 and birth of a daughter, contestant here. During their early marriage deceased engaged in construction work, and was assisted by his wife. In 1933 the parties moved to Texas and engaged in farming and livestock business until 1947 when they moved to Hereford, Texas. Proponent, contestant’s cousin, became acquainted with deceased in 1941 and the meretricious relationship began. When the parties moved to Hereford proponent followed. In January 1951 the parties sold their holdings, divided in excess of $100,-000.00 realized from the sale, and moved to the Rio Grande Valley. Deceased left the Valley in April 1951, ostensibly to find a new location, and contestant never saw deceased again. However, correspondence was carried on with deceased, and each assisted the other in transaction of business affairs. There was no evidence indicating either party ever secured a divorce.

Proponent’s evidence showed she and deceased were never married, and she knew deceased was married to contestant. After deceased left the Valley proponent began living with him, and they had traveled over several states looking for a place to make a new life before acquiring a ranch near Boswell, Oklahoma. During the entire time these parties held themselves out to the world as husband and wife. Proponent testified deceased stated he had paid off contestant, and never mentioned the fact of still being married.

Contestants point out this will was executed approximately a year after deceased left his wife, and at a time when he knew the marriage still existed and that no provision had been made for his daughter. Upon this basis the judgment is attacked from the standpoint a confidential, illicit relationship existed between testator and proponent. And, the will being an unnatural will, coupled with untrue statements as to his marital status, discloses undue influence had been brought to bear upon testator. From this contestants insist the burden devolved upon proponent to overcome the presumption of undue influence, and this burden was not met by proponent.

First considering contestants’ claim this was an unnatural will, we are of the opinion this argument is without substantial merit. The fact a will is unnatural, unfair, or unjust creates no presumption testator was incompetent. No presumption of mental incapacity arises because a will makes unequal distribution, or gives property to persons other than those who are natural objects of the testator’s bounty. 94 C.J.S. Wills § 35. The law [107]*107does not require testator to be either humane or just in disposition of his property. If possessed of requisite mental capacity testator may make an unequal distribution of property among his heirs or give it entirely to strangers. And, where the language of the will evinces testator’s clear intent to disinherit, or exclude natural children from participating in his estate, such act does not vitiate the will. Whitman v.

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Related

Estate of Crump v. Freeman
614 P.2d 1096 (Supreme Court of Oklahoma, 1980)
In Re Estate of Newkirk
1969 OK 93 (Supreme Court of Oklahoma, 1969)

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Bluebook (online)
456 P.2d 104, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/newkirk-v-knight-okla-1969.