In re the Estate of Derrick
Cases that cite this one
4 later published cases cite this decision.
- SIMMONS, JAMES ROBERT, MTR. OF (Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of New York 2014)
- In re the Estate of Lewis (Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of New York 2014)
- In re the Estate of Lewis (Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of New York 2014)
- Matter of Parada (Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of New York 2017)
This list shows which later cases cite this one. It does not say how they treated it, and no review of that has been done. Not a substitute for Shepard’s or KeyCite — verify before relying.
Opinion of the Court
In May 2003, a photocopied document was submitted to the Probate Department of the Surrogate’s Court, Kings County, purporting to be the will of the decedent (hereinafter the 2003 instrument). The 2003 instrument provided that the real property was to be divided equally among the decedent’s three daughters, including Mildred Joseph.
In January 2008, the Public Administrator filed a petition to admit the Derrick will to probate, and Mildred Joseph (hereinafter the objectant) filed objections thereto. In an order dated March 11, 2010, the Surrogate’s Court, inter alia, granted the Public Administrator’s motion for summary judgment dismissing the objections. In a decree dated April 5, 2010, the Derrick will, was admitted to probate.
The Surrogate’s Court properly awarded summary judgment dismissing the objections and properly admitted the Derrick will to probate. The Public Administrator established, prima facie, that the Derrick will had been on file in the Probate Department of the Surrogate’s Court, Kings County, since 1978. Therefore, it was an ancient document, exempt from the requirements of SCPA 1405 (4), that, where the witnesses to a will are deceased, the handwriting of the testator and at least one witness must be proved (see Matter of Gallagher, 23 Misc 3d 1126[A], 2009 NY Slip Op 50951[U] [2009]; Matter of Brit
The objectant’s remaining contentions are without merit. Rivera, J.E, Balkin, Hall and Cohen, JJ., concur.
Case-law data current through September 30, 2026. Source: CourtListener bulk data.