In Re Estate of Hartley
In Re Estate of Hartley
Opinion of the Court
In this case a document entirely written, dated, and signed in the hand of the testator was admitted to probate. The entire document reads as follows:
“Los Angeles, Cal., Aug. 15th, 1917.
“My Last Will.
“Frank J. Hartley—being of sound and disposing mind—■
as follows—I bequeath,
To my daughter Lillian M. Murphey............... 500.00
To my daughter Edith F. Haney...................$500.00
To my son Francis C. Hartley.....................$500.00
To my daughter Loretta T. Hartley................$500.00
To my son Sylvester B. Hartley...................$500.00
To my son Lawrence F. Hartley...................$500.00
To my son Herbert J. Hartley....................$500.00
To my wife Ida S. Hartley........................$100.00
and no more as property settlement has long been made, same is of record. And I herein name my son Francis C. Hartley to act as administrator of my estate, and in case of his death my daughter Edith F. Haney to act as my administratrix.
“ (Signed) Frank J. Hartley.
“Residue to be divided equally between my daughter Lillian, my daughter Edith and my son Francis C. Hartley.
“ (Signed) Frank J. Hartley.
“Funeral expenses to be paid first out of money on hand or life insurance money. F. J. H.”
After the will had been admitted to probate a contest was inaugurated by certain of the heirs against the portion of the instrument following the first signature of the testator and by which the residue of the testator’s estate was given to three of his children.
The point made on the contest is that this portion of the will is a codicil and not being separately dated is void. The question is identical with that presented in the ease of La Grave v. Merle, 5 La. Ann. 278, [52 Am. Dec. 589], and is there put in this language: “Where an olographic testament contains several dispositions, of which the first ones are dated and signed, and the second are only signed by the testator, *471 are the latter null for want of date? They are; provided that from the manner those clauses are conceived and placed, they cannot be considered to have been written immediately after the first, and on the same date that the first was written. But if, according to the contents or position of the second clauses, it appears that they could have been written on the same day with the first, we ought to presume that they were so in effect, consider them as forming but one and the same testament, and apply to the whole, which is composed of different clauses, the general principle, that it is sufficient for the validity of the olographic will, that it be dated in the context, without its having a date at the end. ’ ’
It follows that the order of the probate court revoking the probate of this portion of the will should be reversed, and it is so ordered.
Shaw, J., and Lawlor, J., concurred.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- In the Matter of the Estate of FRANK J. HARTLEY, Deceased
- Cited By
- 6 cases
- Status
- Published