Estate of Berger

FACTS AND PROCEDUAL BACKGROUND

I. Facts 2

A. Melanie Berger’s relationships Melanie Berger (Melanie) started dating Maria Coronado (Maria) in the spring of 2002. 3 At that time, Maria was in the midst of a divorce and had three daughters who were then 15, 11, and 10 years old. Melanie had met the daughters a few times prior to August 2002. In early August 2002, Maria proposed marriage to Melanie with a diamond solitaire ring and the two became engaged. Melanie had a sister, Glee (sister). Melanie and her sister had an “off and on” relationship. They would talk on the phone each month, but Melanie never mentioned Maria to her sister. B. Melanie schedules gender reassignment surgery Melanie was assigned male at birth.

2 These facts are drawn from the facts the parties stipulated are undisputed, from the exhibits admitted at the evidentiary hearing, and from the testimony at that hearing—all construed in the light most favorable to the probate court’s ruling and while discounting any uncorroborated portions of the testimony of the sole witness the court found not to be credible.

3 We are using first names for Melanie and Maria to avoid confusion that might arise…