Learn About the Law
Get help with your legal needs
FindLaw’s Learn About the Law features thousands of informational articles to help you understand your options. And if you’re ready to hire an attorney, find one in your area who can help.
IN RE: Pat TUCCIO, a/k/a Patsy Tuccio, a/k/a Pasquale Tuccio, deceased. Patricia Hagen Tuccio, petitioner-respondent; Patricia Tuccio, objectant-appellant.
In a contested probate proceeding, the objectant appeals from a decree of the Surrogate's Court, Suffolk County (Czygier, Jr., S.), dated September 30, 2005, which, upon, inter alia, an order of the same court dated March 31, 2005, granting the petitioner's motion for summary judgment dismissing the objections to probate, admitted the will to probate.
ORDERED that the decree is affirmed, with costs to the petitioner payable by the objectant-appellant personally.
Contrary to the objectant's contention, the petitioner adhered to the court-ordered time frame for filing of dispositive motions, and thus, her motion for summary judgment dismissing the objections to probate was properly considered by the Surrogate's Court (see CPLR 3212[a]; cf. Kihl v. Pfeffer, 94 N.Y.2d 118, 123, 700 N.Y.S.2d 87, 722 N.E.2d 55; Mitchell v. New York Hosp., 61 N.Y.2d 208, 214, 473 N.Y.S.2d 148, 461 N.E.2d 285; J & A Vending v. J.A.M. Vending, 303 A.D.2d 370, 371-372, 757 N.Y.S.2d 52).
The Surrogate's Court properly granted that branch of the petitioner's motion which was for summary judgment dismissing the objection for improper execution. Where, as here, the attorney draftsman supervised the will's execution, there is a presumption of regularity that the will was properly executed in all respects (see Matter of Weltz, 16 A.D.3d 428, 791 N.Y.S.2d 141; Matter of Weinberg, 1 A.D.3d 523, 767 N.Y.S.2d 234). In opposition to the petitioner's prima facie showing that the will was properly executed in accordance with the formal requirements of EPTL 3-2.1, the objectant failed to raise a triable issue of fact to support her objection for improper execution or relating to the genuineness of the decedent's signature on the will (see Matter of Weltz, supra; Matter of Weinberg, supra; Matter of Terry, N.Y.L.J., Oct. 8, 1998 at 31, col. 4; Matter of Wilson, N.Y.L.J., Aug. 18, 1998 at 22, col. 5).
The Surrogate's Court also properly granted that branch of the petitioner's motion which was for summary judgment dismissing the objection for lack of testamentary capacity. In opposition to the petitioner's prima facie showing that the decedent was alert and of sound mind at the time of execution and that he knew the nature of the act he was performing, the extent of his property, and the natural objects of his bounty, the objectant failed to raise a triable issue of fact as to the decedent's alleged lack of testamentary capacity (see Matter of Kumstar, 66 N.Y.2d 691, 692, 496 N.Y.S.2d 414, 487 N.E.2d 271; Matter of Weltz, supra; Matter of Spinello, 291 A.D.2d 406, 736 N.Y.S.2d 894; Matter of Herman, 289 A.D.2d 239, 734 N.Y.S.2d 194).
Thank you for your feedback!
A free source of state and federal court opinions, state laws, and the United States Code. For more information about the legal concepts addressed by these cases and statutes visit FindLaw's Learn About the Law.
Decided: March 20, 2007
Court: Supreme Court, Appellate Division, Second Department, New York.
Search our directory by legal issue
Enter information in one or both fields (Required)
Harness the power of our directory with your own profile. Select the button below to sign up.
Learn more about FindLaw’s newsletters, including our terms of use and privacy policy.
Get help with your legal needs
FindLaw’s Learn About the Law features thousands of informational articles to help you understand your options. And if you’re ready to hire an attorney, find one in your area who can help.
Search our directory by legal issue
Enter information in one or both fields (Required)