Lovorn v. Brethouwer (In Re Estate of Tiedeman)
Lovorn v. Brethouwer (In Re Estate of Tiedeman)
Opinion
*724 INTRODUCTION
Following Brian L. Tiedeman's death, his nephew Dustin Lovorn filed a petition to have Tiedeman's purported holographic will admitted to probate in the county court for Lancaster County. Sue Ann Brethouwer and Jody Clark, two of Tiedeman's sisters, filed separate objections to Lovorn's petition, and the case was transferred to the district court for Lancaster County. The district court granted partial summary judgment in favor of Lovorn as to the document in question being written by Tiedeman, but granted summary judgment in favor of Brethouwer and Clark as to the document not being made with the requisite testamentary intent to be a valid holographic will. Lovorn appeals the district court's decision, and Brethouwer and Clark cross-appeal. We affirm.
BACKGROUND
We initially note that while this appeal was pending, a suggestion of death was filed notifying the court that Clark died on December 27, 2017. On January 19, 2018, a stipulation and joint motion for revivor was filed by the parties pursuant to
Tiedeman died on February 24, 2015. His estate is comprised primarily of a farm operation and has a gross value of approximately $4 million. Before his death, Tiedeman managed the farm operation with Lovorn. Tiedeman's only heirs at law were his three sisters: Brethouwer, Clark, and Lovorn's mother. Lovorn filed a petition in county court on March 4 to have the purported holographic will admitted into formal probate. We set forth the handwritten document below to reflect, as best possible, its use of spacing and capitalization, and its spelling:
5-22-14
I Brian L Tiedeman want all my
All Property to Dustin Lovorn
I here by attend to change my will.
[Signature]
The county court subsequently appointed Lovorn special administrator of Tiedeman's estate in order to manage the farming operation to prevent waste.
Brethouwer filed an objection to the petition for formal probate of the purported holographic will and transferred the action to the district court. Her objection alleged as follows: (1) The purported will does not express testamentary intent, (2) Tiedeman did not have testamentary capacity at the time of the purported will's execution, (3) Tiedeman lacked mental capacity to execute a will, (4) Tiedeman was under duress from Lovorn when the purported will was created, and (5) the purported will is the product of undue influence exercised by Lovorn over Tiedeman. Clark filed a separate objection, alleging the document in question (1) was not executed properly under Nebraska statutes governing the execution of a will, (2) is not a valid holographic will, (3) does not express testamentary intent, (4) is not in Tiedeman's handwriting, (5) was not made with testamentary intent at the time of its creation, (6) is *726 the product of undue influence by Lovorn over Tiedeman, (7) was created while Tiedeman was under duress from Lovorn, (8) was created at a time when Tiedeman did not have testamentary capacity, (9) resulted from fraud by Lovorn, and (10) was not intended to be a will and was the result of mistake by Tiedeman. Lovorn filed separate answers to both objections denying all of the allegations by both Brethouwer and Clark listed above.
Brethouwer then filed a motion for summary judgment, requesting judgment as a matter of law that the purported will "did not express sufficient testamentary intent as required by
At the hearing on the motions for summary judgment, Lovorn offered the affidavit of attorney Patrick D. Timmer, in which Timmer explained the circumstances of the creation of the purported will. Counsel for Brethouwer and Clark made objections to the affidavit, including arguments related to extrinsic and parol evidence. The court took the offer of the affidavit under advisement. And although counsel for Clark challenged the accuracy of the affidavit based on alleged prior inconsistent reporting by Timmer as to whether the purported will was drafted by Tiedeman at home or at Timmer's office, this was only raised by argument and not through any evidence submitted at the hearing.
*822 The district court issued an order on August 15, 2016. In that order, the court sustained objections to Timmer's affidavit as to paragraphs 10, 12, and 13, but received the remainder of the affidavit. The court observed that parol evidence was not admissible to determine the intent of a testator as expressed in his or her will unless there is a latent ambiguity therein which *727 makes his or her intention obscure or uncertain. The court further observed that with regard to the purported will in this case, "it is apparent that no latent ambiguity exists." Concluding it could not consider extrinsic evidence to determine Tiedeman's testamentary intent, the court sustained objections to the three paragraphs noted above.
The three excluded paragraphs of Timmer's affidavit averred: Tiedeman told Timmer that he wanted to change his will to give all of his property to Lovorn, but that Timmer did not have time to discuss a new will with him; Timmer handed Tiedeman a piece of paper and told him to write, " 'I, Brian L. Tiedeman, want all my property to go to Dustin Lovorn and I hereby intend to change my will' "; and Timmer told Tiedeman "to write 'I hereby intend to change my will' to show his intention as to the purpose of the document."
In relevant part, the admitted portion of Timmer's affidavit averred: Timmer, an attorney, had worked with Tiedeman "on a number of occasions" with regard to the administration of Tiedeman's father's trust (Tiedeman was the trustee); Timmer was scheduled to meet with Tiedeman on May 22, 2014, for an allotted 45 minutes, and at that time, Tiedeman signed trust administration documents and powers of attorney appointing Lovorn as Tiedeman's attorney in fact; during this meeting, Timmer told Tiedeman to schedule another appointment to discuss a new will, but he explained to Tiedeman that in the meantime, he could "do what is called a holographic will" and told him he could create a document in his own handwriting that is signed and dated; Timmer personally witnessed Tiedeman writing on paper given to him and signing the document, and this is the document that has been offered for probate in Tiedeman's estate; Tiedeman did not leave the conference room during the course of the meeting and "the writing of the will"; Lovorn did not accompany Tiedeman to this meeting, nor did Lovorn speak to Timmer about "the will" until after Tiedeman's death; Tiedeman left "the holographic will" with Timmer, which he placed in Tiedeman's estate planning *728 file; Tiedeman told Timmer that Lovorn was already a joint owner on some of Tiedeman's accounts or that he was planning to add him to accounts; and Timmer stated that he was aware on May 22 that Tiedeman had an existing will prepared by another attorney, but that Timmer did not know the whereabouts of that will.
With that evidence, the district court first considered whether the purported holographic will was in Tiedeman's handwriting. The court stated that Timmer's affidavit "clearly shows that Timmer witnessed [Tiedeman] write and sign the document, he then left the document with Timmer, who placed it in [Tiedeman's] estate planning file." Since the court found there were no genuine issues of material fact regarding this issue, it granted partial summary judgment in favor of Lovorn, finding that the "purported holographic will is in the handwriting of [Tiedeman]."
The next issue considered by the district court was whether the purported holographic will expressed sufficient testamentary intent. Based on the evidence admitted, the court granted summary judgment in favor of Brethouwer and Clark, finding that "the writing fails to express sufficient testamentary and donative intent." It was *823 the court's opinion that the words expressed Tiedeman's intent to create a new will at a future date. In sum, the court stated that "the purported holographic will ... does not contain sufficient material provisions expressing testamentary and donative intent and cannot be legally recognized as a valid holographic will."
The district court ordered the matter transferred back to the county court "to carry the final decision to judgment and execution."
Lovorn filed a motion for the district court to set a supersedeas bond pursuant to
Lovorn also filed a motion with the district court to reconsider the amount of the supersedeas bond and to extend time to file the bond. Lovorn's motion included an affidavit from the president of a bond company, which affidavit indicated the bond company was requiring $400,000 in collateral, plus a $6,000 fee per year, for a $400,000 bond. Lovorn claimed that he did not have sufficient assets to provide such collateral and that the primary asset in the estate is farm ground, which cannot be destroyed or removed, so a lesser bond would protect the beneficiaries. Lovorn's affidavit stated he owned vehicles and miscellaneous assets totaling $68,753, plus a one-half interest in the farm operation's machinery ($152,440) secured by a bank and for which ownership is "likely disputed."
The district court overruled Lovorn's motion for reconsideration and for an extension of time to file a bond. Lovorn then filed a motion with this court to review the district court's supersedeas bond amount and for leave to file his bond out of time in response to the court's decision to overrule his motion for reconsideration; it was filed as a separate appeal (case No. A-16-933). Brethouwer and Clark filed separate motions for summary disposition with this court, both arguing we lacked jurisdiction to hear Lovorn's appeal based on his failure to post the $400,000 supersedeas bond set by the district court. Those motions were overruled, and we entered an order setting the bond amount at $100,000, which Lovorn subsequently posted.
The appeals in cases Nos. A-16-887 and A-16-933 have been consolidated for briefing and disposition.
Although not relevant to this appeal, we note that following the district court's order regarding summary judgment, Clark filed a petition in the county court to have a purported lost will admitted to formal probate and nominated herself as personal representative. The petition included the purported *730 copy of a lost will which was unsigned by Tiedeman. Lovorn and his mother both filed objections to Clark's petition to have the lost will admitted to probate based on Lovorn's pending appeal. The county court scheduled a hearing date; however, our record does not show any further information.
ASSIGNMENTS OF ERROR
Lovorn assigns nine errors, which we consolidate and restate as follows: The district court erred (1) in finding Brethouwer and Clark were entitled to judgment as a matter of law that the purported holographic will did not contain sufficient testamentary intent, (2) in failing to consider extrinsic evidence in determining the testamentary intent of the purported will, and *824 (3) in setting the supersedeas bond in the amount of $400,000.
Brethouwer assigns on cross-appeal that the district court erred by receiving any part of Timmer's affidavit into evidence.
Clark assigns on cross-appeal that the district court erred (1) by receiving any part of Timmer's affidavit into evidence and (2) by finding the purported will was in Tiedeman's handwriting. She also assigns error to this court for reducing the amount of the supersedeas bond.
STANDARD OF REVIEW
The interpretation of the words in a will or a trust presents a question of law. When reviewing questions of law in a probate matter, an appellate court reaches a conclusion independent of the determination reached by the court below.
In re Estate of Etmund,
When reviewing cross-motions for summary judgment, an appellate court acquires jurisdiction over both motions and may determine the controversy that is the subject of those motions; an appellate court may also specify the issues as to which questions of fact remain and direct further proceedings as the court deems necessary.
Johnson v. Nelson,
*731 ANALYSIS
Not Valid Holographic Will on Its Face.
The district court concluded that the document offered as Tiedeman's holographic will was in Tiedeman's handwriting, but that the words "I Brian L Tiedeman want all my All Property to Dustin Lovorn I here by attend to change my will" did not "express sufficient testamentary and donative intent" to qualify as a holographic will. Rather, the court concluded that the words expressed only "Tiedeman's intent to create a new will at a future date."
Like the district court, we begin our analysis by setting forth the statutory requirements for a holographic will. Pursuant to
An instrument which purports to be testamentary in nature but does not comply with section 30-2327 is valid as a holographic will, whether or not witnessed, if the signature, the material provisions, and an indication of the date of signing are in the handwriting of the testator and, in the absence of such indication of date, if such instrument is the only such instrument or contains no inconsistency with any like instrument or if such date is determinable from the contents of such instrument, from extrinsic circumstances, or from any other evidence.
The district court found the purported holographic will did "not contain sufficient material provisions," which § 30-2328, set forth above, clearly requires. Material provisions of a will are defined as those provisions which express donative and testamentary intent. See
In re Estate of Foxley
,
The district court in the present matter, like the New Jersey court, concluded that the writing at issue failed to "contain sufficient material provisions expressing testamentary and donative intent and cannot be legally recognized as a valid holographic will." It found that the words "I Brian L Tiedeman want all my All property to Dustin Lovorn" failed to contain an operative verb to express a specific bequest and that the word "to" by itself does not have "present [or] future meaning." However, Lovorn asserts those particular words can only be understood as a specific bequest, because taken together, the words describe who the beneficiary is and what property is being devised. He concedes an "additional operative verb would have made the document more clear," but asserts "the document as a whole is sufficient to show Tiedeman's testamentary intent." Brief for appellant at 11. However, even if this court were to agree with Lovorn and find the writing was sufficient to establish donative intent, the writing still fails as a valid holographic will because of the lack of testamentary intent, which we discuss next.
*733 The district court also considered the words "I here by attend to change my will" and stated that "even when read as 'intend' to change my will," the words do not "sufficiently evidence intent that the document is [Tiedeman's] final will, revoking all prior wills with the intention to dispose of his property upon his death." The court further stated, "[T]hese words express Tiedeman's intent to create a new will at a future date and not that this expression intended the creation of a final will."
No particular words or conventional forms of expression are necessary to enable one to make an effective testamentary disposition of his or her property.
Gretchen Swanson Family Foundation, Inc. v. Johnson,
However, Lovorn argues the district court ignored the legal definition of the word "hereby" when determining whether there was present or future intent. He points to other jurisdictions' definitions, as well as the legal definition of "hereby" as either "[b]y this document" or "by these very words." Black's Law Dictionary 842 (10th ed. 2014). Lovorn argues that using one of these definitions would change Tiedeman's words in the document to " 'I [by this very document] attend to change my will.' " Brief for appellant at 13. Lovorn asserts reading the words in this *826 way requires the statement to be understood as a present intent to change his will.
Clark contends the use of the word "hereby" in the writing is inconclusive because it is not coupled with an operative verb, which prevents it from adding present intent. Brethouwer puts forth the same arguments, finding the lack of an operative *734 verb, even with the word "hereby," cannot be interpreted as present testamentary intent. Clark also contends the use of the verb " 'want' " instead of " 'devise,' " " 'bequeath,' " or " 'give' " indicates future intent and not a present intent to make a will. Brief for appellee Clark at 8.
As noted above, "hereby" means "[b]y this document," Black's Law Dictionary, supra, and "intend" means, in relevant part, "[t]o have in mind a fixed purpose to reach a desired objective; to have as one's purpose ... [t]o signify or mean," id. at 930. The combination of the words "hereby intend" with the words "to change my will" does not clarify whether Tiedeman meant that with "this document," he was actually changing or revoking an existing will and creating a new will at that moment, or that with "this document," he was signifying his plan to change an existing will in the future. For example, the writing in question could have simply been a note written by Tiedeman to remind Timmer of his plans to later change his will, particularly since an admitted portion of Timmer's affidavit indicates Timmer told Tiedeman to schedule another appointment to discuss a new will. On the other hand, if the excluded portions of Timmer's affidavit could be considered, an argument can certainly be made that the writing was intended to evidence present testamentary intent. As set forth earlier, testamentary intent concerns whether the document was intended to be a will.
It is significant, therefore, whether the district court could have considered evidence outside the four corners of the purported will to determine testamentary intent under the circumstances present here. In construing the words within the four corners of the document, we can find no error with the district court's analysis and conclusion that the writing indicates only future intent and lacks present testamentary intent. Accordingly, we next consider whether extrinsic evidence may be considered to determine testamentary intent, because if so, a different outcome is possible.
*735 Extrinsic Evidence.
Ambiguity exists in an instrument, including a will, when a word, phrase, or provision in the instrument has, or is susceptible of, at least two reasonable interpretations or meanings.
In re Estate of Etmund
,
A patent ambiguity is an ambiguity appearing on the face of the instrument,
*827
whereas a latent ambiguity is one outside the will.
In re Estate of Florey,
We now explain why the writing at issue does not involve a latent ambiguity, which would allow consideration of extrinsic evidence. A latent ambiguity exists when the testator's words are susceptible of more than one meaning, and the uncertainty arises not upon the words of the will as looked at themselves, but upon those words when applied to the object or subject which they describe.
In re Estate of Mousel,
In summary, a patent ambiguity is a case where the same word in a will has two meanings discernible from the face of the will itself, whereas a latent ambiguity is a case where the word has two meanings, but only when extrinsic evidence is
*828
brought to bear.
In re Estate of Smatlan
,
Clark correctly argues that any question regarding the testamentary intent of the purported holographic will is a patent ambiguity. She relies on
In re Estate of Matthews,
Both Brethouwer and Clark direct us to
In re Estate of Foxley,
Although one might be sympathetic toward giving effect to the decedent's perceived testamentary intent, the Legislature has chosen to require that testamentary intent be expressed in certain ways before an instrument is entitled to be probated as a will. Unfortunately for the decedent, the instrument in this case fails. See Matter of Estate of Muder ,159 Ariz. 173 ,765 P.2d 997 (1988). In this case, the testimony of [the decedent's] attorney and [one of] her daughter[s] ... indicates that when [the decedent] changed the terms on the copy of her will, she was at least considering, if not actually intending, to write [her grandson] out of her will. We cannot conclude, however, that she had come to a final decision when writing on the copy of the will. We must remember that both the original and the copy of the will were found together in the den of [the decedent's] home, and an argument can be made that she was simply making notes on the copy of the will as to possible changes and had not, at the time of making those notes, made a final decision as to [her grandson]. If she was making a final decision, a plausible argument can be made that she would have made those changes on the original. If we make an exception in this case to the rule that holographic words, standing alone, have to demonstrate a clear testamentary intent, where do we stop? To weaken the rule would be to invite mischief or outright fraud by overreaching heirs, friends, or *739 other potential beneficiaries taking advantage of testators in their most vulnerable moments, such as advanced age or right after an argument with one of the children or grandchildren. If one has made a final decision to write an heir out of his or her will, this must be done in such a way that the *829 expression of this intention complies with the statute.
In re Estate of Foxley,
In re Estate of Foxley
certainly emphasizes the importance of being true to the statutory requirements by making sure that an instrument expresses testamentary intent in certain, clear ways before being entitled to be probated as a will; further, courts should not give effect to any "perceived" testamentary intent.
Lovorn's counsel also referred to
In re Estate of Foxley
,
Lovorn also asserts the district court should have admitted Timmer's entire affidavit based on
In re Estate of Dimmitt,
In summary, we agree with the district court's decision that the purported holographic will could not be legally recognized as a valid holographic will. The court correctly determined that the document did not contain sufficient material provisions expressing testamentary and donative intent within the document itself and that *830 extrinsic evidence could not be considered to aid in that determination since there was no latent ambiguity. *741 Supersedeas Bond.
Lovorn assigned as error that the supersedes bond amount of $400,000 set by the district court was both an excessive amount and in excess of 50 percent of his net worth, which he argues is contrary to
Remaining Assigned Errors.
On cross-appeal, Brethouwer and Clark both assign as error the district court's admission of Timmer's affidavit, other than paragraphs 10, 12, and 13. Clark also assigns as a separate error the district court's finding that the writing in question was in Tiedeman's handwriting. However, an appellate court is not obligated to engage in an analysis that is not necessary to adjudicate the case and controversy before it.
Streck, Inc. v. Ryan Family
,
CONCLUSION
For the reasons set forth above, we affirm the district court's order.
AFFIRMED .
Reference
- Full Case Name
- In RE ESTATE OF Brian L. TIEDEMAN, Deceased. Dustin Lovorn, Special Administrator of the Estate of Brian L. Tiedeman, Deceased, Appellant and Cross-Appellee, v. Sue Ann Brethouwer, Appellee and Cross-Appellant, and David L. Clark, Jr., and Sheila G. Casares, Copersonal Representatives of the Estate of Jody Clark, Deceased, Appellees and Cross-Appellants.
- Cited By
- 5 cases
- Status
- Published