Walsmith

Walsmith v. Peltzer

Good Law
1970 Cal. App. LEXIS 2004·88 Cal. Rptr. 576·9 Cal. App. 3d 916
Court of Appeal of CaliforniaJuly 23, 1970Civ. No. 35746California2,516 words

Opinion

Lead Opinion

Lillie, J.

.—Harriette L. Peters died on October 15, 1968, aged 88, leaving a witnessed will executed some two months earlier (August 27, 1968). Thereunder appellant Peltzer, who drafted the instrument, was left one-fourth of her estate, the remainder went to her three grandchildren. It was denied probate following a nonjury trial of the contest brought by the grandchildren, also beneficiaries (but to the exclusion of Peltzer) under an earlier will. The court concluded that the purported will was made and executed as a result of the undue influence exercised by appellant Peltzer. 1 Concurrent with its denial of probate of the 1968 will, the court admitted to probate the earlier will and a codicil thereto. This appeal is from the judgment denying probate of the 1968 will.

The sole assignment of error is the insufficiency of the evidence to support the finding of undue influence. “The rules of evidence, the weight to be accorded to the evidence, and the province of a reviewing court, are the same in a will contest as in any other civil case.” (Estate of Bristol, 23 Cal.2d 221, 223 [ 143 P.2d 689 ].) Too, in reviewing the evidence all conflicts must be resolved in favor of the…

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