Summer Redstone- example of competency challenge
Is Redstone Competent To Take Actions Or Not? At 92 years old, Sumner M. Redstone is currently a director, chairman emeritus, and controlling shareholder of 80% of the voting shares of Viacom and CBS. Redstone will remain in control until he either dies or is declared incompetent. During testimony in the lawsuit concerning his competency, Judge David J. Cowan stated that he was strongly considering Redstone’s motion to dismiss the case, which would leave Redstone in charge of his $42 billion media empire. Manuela Herzer, Redstone’s former lover, brought the suit in Los Angeles, California...
Read MoreContesting a Will in NC – Testamentary Capacity
When contesting a will in NC based on lack of capacity, the general rule is: A testator-decedent has testamentary capacity if he: – comprehends the natural objects of his bounty; – understands the kind, nature, and extent of his property; – knows the manner in which he desires his act to take effect; and – realizes the effect his act will have upon his estate. This is the general rule. It means that even if someone is insane, they could still possibly have testamentary capacity. In addition, just because someone cannot read or write, they can still make a will. The...
Read MoreBifurcated Will Contests in NC
Sometimes there are several different wills/documents purporting to be the will of the deceased, such that different parties are contending one over the other should be ruled as the Last Will and Testament of the deceased. Each party may want a different will as the will to use because one or the other benefits that particular party as opposed to the others. If there are competing last wills happens, the trial may be bifurcated. Bifurcation is when the jury decides one issue, then after that decision, more evidence is presented and the jury decides the subsequent issues. This way, the court...
Read MoreWhat is being attacked in a Will Contest
A Will caveat is an in rem proceeding. N.C. Gen. Stat. § 31-32. It is an attack upon the validity of the instrument purporting to be a will. The will and not the property devised is the res (or probated assets) involved in the litigation. So when a caveator is contesting a will in NC, they are attacking the validity of the will, not the estate. An attack on the estate, or interpretation of the will, is a different type of estate litigation case. See also 1961 case, IN THE MATTER OF THE WILL OF SARA B. COX, Deceased A will contest has to be filed within three years of the will being...
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