In re Anella
Cases that cite this one
11 later published cases cite this decision.
- In re Mele (Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of New York 2014)
- In re Mele (Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of New York 2014)
- In re Rottkamp (Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of New York 2012)
- In re Rottkamp (Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of New York 2012)
- Murphy v. Hollins-Reid (Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of New York 2025)
- Matter of Michels (Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of New York 2021)
- Matter of Armato (Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of New York 2021)
- Matter of Martinico (Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of New York 2019)
- Matter of Cianci (Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of New York 2018)
- In re DiDomenico (Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of New York 2012)
- In re DiDomenico (Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of New York 2012)
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 2002, a family dispute occurred in which the objectant raised a chair over his head in the presence of the decedent, causing damage to the decedent’s home. Thereafter, the decedent advised friends that he was afraid that the objectant intended to harm him.
In 2005, the decedent retained an attorney to draft a new will (hereinafter the 2005 will), which did not contain any bequests to the objectant or Theresa. Both the attorney-drafter, who met with the decedent privately during the course of drafting the 2005 will, and a psychiatrist who evaluated the decedent at the suggestion of the attorney-drafter before the 2005 will was prepared, opined that the decedent understood who his heirs were and was able to make decisions with respect to the distribution of his estate.
The 2005 will was executed on October 24, 2005, before two attesting witnesses, the attorney-drafter and his secretary. The 2005 will appointed the proponent as the executor of the estate, and divided the residuary estate equally between Margaret and Joanne, after the payment of the decedent’s debts and funeral expenses. The 2005 will made no provision to the objectant or Theresa.
On November 14, 2006, the decedent passed away, survived by all five of his children. On March 6, 2007, the proponent filed a petition for probate of the 2005 will and for letters testamentary. The objectant filed objections to probate, alleging, inter alia, lack of testamentary capacity and undue influence. The proponent moved for summary judgment dismissing the objections to probate.
In support of her motion, the proponent submitted, inter alia,
The proponent also established that the 2005 will was not the product of undue influence by the proponent over the decedent (see Matter of Eastman, 63 AD3d 738, 740 [2009]; Matter of Klingman, 60 AD3d 949, 950 [2009]). Even if the proponent had a confidential relationship with the decedent because she cared for him and took care of his financial affairs, such relationship is counterbalanced by the close family relationship which existed between them (see Matter of Scher, 74 AD3d at 828; Matter of Zirinsky, 43 AD3d 946, 948 [2007]; Matter of Swain, 125 AD2d 574, 575 [1986]). In opposition to the proponent’s prima facie showing of entitlement to judgment as a matter of law dismissing the objection alleging undue influence, the objectant failed to raise a triable issue of fact (see Matter of Scher, 74 AD3d at 828; Matter of Zirinsky, 43 AD3d at 949).
Accordingly, the Surrogate’s Court properly granted those branches of the proponent’s motion which were for summary judgment dismissing the objections to probate based on lack of testamentary capacity and undue influence, and admitted the will to probate. Angiolillo, J.E, Austin, Roman and Cohen, JJ., concur.
Case-law data current through December 31, 2025. Source: CourtListener bulk data.