Rose v. Dunn

679 S.W.2d 180, 284 Ark. 42, 1984 Ark. LEXIS 1877
CourtSupreme Court of Arkansas
DecidedNovember 13, 1984
Docket84-143
StatusPublished
Cited by69 cases

This text of 679 S.W.2d 180 (Rose v. Dunn) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Supreme Court of Arkansas primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Rose v. Dunn, 679 S.W.2d 180, 284 Ark. 42, 1984 Ark. LEXIS 1877 (Ark. 1984).

Opinions

Webb Hubbell, Chief Justice.

Appellants, heirs at law of Mills O. Pierce, deceased, appeal from a consolidated proceeding where the court below declared valid a will, a deed, and two trusts, all executed by Mills O. Pierce. Appellants argue that: (1) the trial court erred in finding that Mills O. Pierce was competent at the execution of his will and in finding that the execution of the will was a free and voluntary act done without undue influence; (2) the court erred in refusing to shift the burden of proof; (3) the court erred in finding the deed was supported by consideration. We affirm.

Mills O. Pierce, aged 89, and his brother Vernon Pierce, aged 82, had lived all their lives on their family farm until Vernon’s death on April 9, 1979. After Vernon’s death, Delma Dunn, a neighbor, moved in and stayed with Mills Pierce for seven to ten days. Shortly thereafter Mr. Dunn took Mills Pierce to Walter Niblock, an attorney in Fayetteville who had represen ted Mr. Dunn in the past. The purpose of the first visit to Walter Niblock was to discuss Vernon’s estate. Mills Pierce made several subsequent visits to Mr. Niblock where the disposition of Mr. Pierce’s property was discussed. These discussions led to Mr. Pierce’s execution of a will, a deed, and two trusts. The deed conveyed to Delma D. Dunn and Ann Dunn, appellees, the 160 acre farm owned by Mills Pierce for $ 1.00 and appellees’ promise to provide a home for Mr. Pierce until medical determination of his need for nursing home care. The will devised Mr. Pierce’s cash, bank account balances, and certificates of deposit to two trusts and the residuary of the estate to appellees. The two trusts provided scholarships for graduates of Prairie Grove High School. The trustees are Delma Dunn, Robert Shulstad, and Walter Niblock.

Ordinarily the party challenging the validity of a will is required to prove by a preponderance of the evidence that the testator lacked mental capacity or was unduly influenced at the time the will was executed. Thompson v. Orr Estate, 252 Ark. 377, 479 S.W.2d 229 (1972); Sullivant v. Sullivant, 236 Ark. 95, 364 S.W.2d 665 (1963).

Undue influence which avoids a will is not the influence which springs from natural affection or kind offices, but is such as results from fear, coercion, or any other cause that deprives the testator of his free agency in the disposition of his property, and it must be specially directed toward the object of procuring a will in favor of particular parties. Green, Guardian v. Holland, 9 Ark. App. 233, 657 S.W.2d 572 (1983); Sullivant v. Sullivant, 236 Ark. 95, 364 S.W.2d 665 (1963); McCulloch v. Campbell, 49 Ark. 367, 55S.W. 590 (1887). The mere fact that a beneficiary is present while a will is made does not give rise to a presumption of undue influence. Abel v. Dickinson, 250 Ark. 648, 467 S.W.2d 154 (1971).

Appellants first argue error in the trial court’s finding that Mills O. Pierce was mentally competent and executed his will by free and voluntary act without undue influence The question of undue influence and mental capacity are so closely interwoven that they are considered together. Neal v. Jackson, 2 Ark. App. 14, 616 S.W.2d 746 (1981); Phillips v. Jones, 179 Ark. 877, 18 S.W.2d 352 (1929).

When Mr. Pierce could not definitely make up his mind about the beneficiaries of his will, the attorney asked him to go home, figure out what he wanted to do, and then come back. At the next meeting, the attorney testified that, although Dunn was present during the initial discussion, he asked Dunn to leave in order to satisfy himself that Mr. Pierce knew what he wanted to do. The attorney stated that he broached the subject of leaving the property to family members but that “I was put in my place in a hurry.” He further stated that Mr. Pierce was “firm in his convictions as to what he wanted to do.” Mr. Pierce’s physician testified that he examined him for arthritis a few days after the execution of the will. The doctor stated he found evidence of a small stroke, but went on to state: “You suspect some of these things, and particularly in a man of his age, but as far as affecting his competency, I did not feel that it did in any way, shape, or form.” Mr. Pierce’s banker testified that Mr. Pierce had always handled his own affairs, had a mind of his own, and made his own decisions. He further stated that during the same month Mr. Pierce was visiting the attorney, Mr. Pierce continued to do his own banking and, in his opinion, was competent. We cannot say the trial court was clearly erroneous in finding that Mr. Pierce had both the testamentary capacity and freedom of will to execute a valid will.

The law regarding mental capacity in the execution of a will is also applicable to the execution of a deed and the creation of a trust. If the maker of a deed, will, or other instrument has sufficient mental capacity to retain in his memory, without promptings, the extent and condition of his property, and to comprehend how he is disposing of it, and to whom, and upon what consideration, then he possesses sufficient mental capacity to execute such instrument, Garis v. Massey, 270 Ark. 646, 606 S.W.2d 109 (Ark. App. 1980); Pledger v. Birkhead, 156 Ark. 443, 246 S.W. 510 (1923). The mental capacity oí the maker of a trust or deed is presumed, and the burden rests on the contestants to prove incapacity by a preponderance of the evidence. Union National Bank of Little Rock v. Smith, 240 Ark. 354, 400 S.W.2d 652 (1966); Gibson v. Gibson, 156 Ark. 528, 246 S.W. 845 (1923). Thus a finding of requisite mental capacity to execute a will must equally apply to a deed created on the same date as the will and a trust recited in the will.

Probate and chancery cases are tried de novo on appeal, but we will not reverse the findings of the probate judge or the chancellor unless clearly erroneous. ARCP 52. After giving due deference to the superior position of the chancellor to determine the credibility of the witnessess and the weight to be given their testimony, we cannot say his finding that appellants failed to prove undue influence by a preponderance of the evidence was clearly erroneous.

Appellants further contend the trial court erred in refusing to shift the burden of proof. In the case of a beneficiary who procures the making of a will, a rebuttable presumption of undue influence arises which places on the beneficiary the burden of proving beyond a reasonable doubt that the testator enjoyed both required mental capacity and freedom of will. Park v. George, Pers. Rep., 282 Ark. 155, 667 S.W.2d 644 (1984); Greenwood, Guardian v. Wilson, Adm’x., 267 Ark. 68, 588 S.W.2d 701 (1979). A threshhold question, then, is whether appellees, who were residuary beneficiaries of the will, procured the making of Mills O. Pierce’s will. In the case of Park v. George, Pers. Rep., 282 Ark.

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Bluebook (online)
679 S.W.2d 180, 284 Ark. 42, 1984 Ark. LEXIS 1877, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/rose-v-dunn-ark-1984.