Laverty v. Homeier
Laverty v. Homeier
Opinion of the Court
On January 5, 1966, a will of decedent executed in 1965 was admitted to probate. On July 7, 1966,
Appellants urge that respondents’ petition amounts to a contest of the 1965 will, and is barred because filed two days after expiration of the 6 months limitation for contest (Prob. Code, §§380, 384). But probate of an earlier will is not a contest of a later will already admitted to probate (Estate of Marx (1917) 174 Cal. 762 [164 P. 640, L.R.A. 1917 P 234]). A petition for probate of a later will, offered after the year period then allowed for contest (Code Civ. Proc., §§ 1327, 1333) is not a contest and is not barred by the limitation of time for contest (Estate of Moore (1919) 180 Cal. 570 [182 P. 285]). Appellants point to the absence of later cases on the point as weakening the authority of Moore. But this lack is readily explained. The Probate Code, adopted in 1931, specifically provides (§ 385) that “ [fjailure to contest a will does not preclude the subsequent probate of another will of the decedent. ’ ’ The draftsman of that code made clear that the section codifies the rule of Moore (Evans, Comments on the Probate Code of California (1931) 19 Cal. L. Rev. 602, 607). The petition for probate of the 1953 will and 1963 codicil is not barred because filed after expiration of the six months period for contest.
Of course, the earlier will and codicil could have no testamentary effect if they had in fact been revoked by the 1965 will. Respondents relied upon the doctrine of dependent relative revocation, i.e., they argued that the revocatory clause of the 1965 will was intended by the testatrix to be effective only if the later will made the same disposition of the bulk of her estate as did that of 1953 (Estate of Kaufman, 25 Cal.2d 854 [155 P.2d 831]; Estate of Cuneo, 60 Cal.2d 196 [32 Cal.Rptr. 409, 384 P.2d 1, 7 A.L.R.Sd 1132]). Appellants’ argument is, in essence, an attack upon the sufficiency of the evidence to support the findings.
The extrinsic evidence is similarly strong. The attorney who drew the 1965 will testified that testatrix told him she wished to change the executrix named in the codicil, but otherwise to retain the same will. He suggested that it would be awkward to ship her furniture and clothing to Canada., where respondents live, that their sale would produce but little, and that she might wish to leave it to someone nearby. She agreed and named the legatee of these articles. He drafted the will in longhand, naming respondents to receive the residue of the estate, but his secretary omitted this paragraph from the typed will. He did not review it before taking it to testatrix in the convalescent home where she was. Testatrix was 83 years old, and suffered greatly impaired vision. He attempted to read the will to her, but was frequently interrupted, principally by nurses attending the other occupant of the two-bed ward. He summarized the will as leaving the furniture to the friend and naming her as executrix, but leaving everything else to respondents. She agreed and executed the will.
Upon all the evidence, the conclusion is inescapable that testatrix intended to revoke her earlier will only if the new one left all of real value in her estate to respondents. Particularly impressive is the recital of the 1965 will naming respondents as her nephew and niece, and stating that “I have other relatives to whom I purposely leave nothing.”
Courts are enjoined to give effect to every expression of a will and to avoid an interpretation which will lead to intestacy (Prob. Code, § 102). Here, all property left by decedent
We are well aware that it is not our function to draw a new will for the testatrix. Yet the overwhelming evidence here assures against that danger, and clearly brings the case within the established rule of dependent relative revocation (Estate of Kaufman, supra, 25 Cal.2d 854; Estate of Cuneo, supra, 60 Cal.2d 196).
Appellants argue that the testimony of the attorney who drew the will was erroneously admitted. Yet Kaufman and Cuneo relied upon comparable testimony.
Judgment affirmed.
Salsman, J., and Brown (H. C.), J., concurred.
On November 26, 1968, the opinion was modified to read as printed above.
Case-law data current through December 31, 2025. Source: CourtListener bulk data.