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Frank Steiner is a respected attorney advocating for clients in Probate, Probate Litigation‹, Commercial litigation, Small Business litigation, Contract Law, Sports and Entertainment Law and Mediation. Attorney Steiner has a broad background, with over 40 years in corporate management and law practice combined. Based in Nashville, Frank Steiner is familiar with practice and procedure in the courts throughout Tennessee, both Circuit and Federal(District) Courts. He has the necessary skills and experience to help you resolve your legal problems.
(a) If the validity of any Last Will or Testament, written or nuncupative, is contested, then the court having probate jurisdiction over that Last Will or Testament must enter an order sustaining or denying the contestant’s right to contest the Will. If the right to contest the Will is sustained, then the court must:
(b) As used in this section, the term “the appropriate court for trial” means the court elected by the contestant, in the notice of contest, to conduct a trial upon the validity of the Will.
Under T.C.A. § 32-1-102 the code dictates that any person of sound mind eighteen (18) years or older may make a Will. Determining whether or not an individual is of sound mind is of course not a definitive science. If a testator has a lucid interval when executing the Will, the Court will hold that the testator was of sound mind.
It is not influence upon a capable mind that is prohibited. It is the undue influence thereof which is the subject of judicial condemnation. Patterson v. Mitchell (1929 M.S.) 9 Tenn.App. 662. For the doctrine of undue influence to be applicable there must be a confidential relationship in existence whereby one party is in a position, because of the confidential relationship, to exercise undue influence over the mind and will of the other. Turner v. Leathers (1950) 191 Tenn. 292.
The proponents of the Will have the initial burden of proving that the Will was duly executed. See In re Estate of Elam, 738 S.W.2d 169, 171 (Tenn. 1987). This may be accomplished using the testimony of living witnesses and by showing that the Will complies with all formalities of law. See In re Estate of King, 760 S.W.2d 208, 210 (Tenn. 1988). Proof of due execution makes out a prima facie case of the will’s validity because it gives rise to a presumption that the testator was capable of making a Will. Curry v. Bridges, 45 Tenn. App. 395, 407, 325 S.W.2d 87, 92 (1959); Needham v. Doyle, 39 Tenn. App. 597, 622, 286 S.W.2d 601, 612 (1955). Accordingly, the burden of proof then shifts to the contestant to prove the will is invalid for some reason. Green v. Higdon, 870 S.W.2d at 520; Taliaferro v. Green, 622 S.W.2d 829, 835 (Tenn. Ct. App. 1981).
The first 48 hours after the death of a family relative are the most hectic. The family is more concerned with planning the funeral, editing the obituaries and notices in newspapers and getting the family matters in order. In most instances the last thing relatives are thinking about at this point is the Will or the existence of a Will. The first 48 hours after the death of the close Family member are usually very sad and very emotional. But at some point, the estate of the decedent must be considered and the sooner this is done the better for the estate in general. If the decedent has executed a Will is imperative that the attorney who executes the Will keeps a copy and ensures that the testator put the Will in an easily discoverable location and alerts the selected executor or executrix of the location of that Will. We want to avoid Family members scrambling through personal property of the decedent trying to find the Will, the Will’s location should already be known. Do they have a Will? Do they have a Trust? A good attorney must take great care in his/her estate planning and always keep copies of all products he/she developed for the client in a location and knows where to get it. In addition, the attorney must review the files every few years to make sure that the plan derived by the attorney is still the most effective to meet the clients needs.
Tennessee’s statutory framework provides for the following types of wills:
T.C.A. §32-1-104 Will other than holographic or nuncupative – – Signatures governs attested wills under Tennessee law. The statute specifically states as follows:
(a) The execution of a will, other than a holographic or nuncupative Will, must be by the signature of the testator and of at least two (2) witnesses as follows:
(b) (1) For Wills executed prior to July 1, 2016, to the extent necessary for the Will to be validly executed, witness signatures affixed to an affidavit meeting the requirements of § 32-2-110 shall be considered signatures to the Will, provided that:
(2) If the witnesses signed the affidavit on the same day that the testator signed the Will, it shall be presumed that the witnesses and the testator signed at the same time, unless rebutted by clear and convincing evidence. If, pursuant to this subsection (b), witness signatures on the affidavit are treated as signatures on the will, the affidavit shall not also serve as a self-proving affidavit under § 32-2-110. Nothing in this subsection (b) shall affect, eliminate, or relax the requirement in subsection (a) that the testator sign the Will.
(a) A nuncupative Will may be made only by a person in imminent peril of death, whether from illness or otherwise, and shall be valid only if the testator died as a result of the impending peril, and must be:
(b) The nuncupative Will may dispose of personal property only and to an aggregate value not exceeding one thousand dollars ($1,000), except that in the case of persons in active military, air or naval service in time of war the aggregate amount may be ten thousand dollars ($10,000).
(c) A nuncupative will neither revokes nor changes an existing written Will.
T.C.A. § 32-1-105 governs holographic wills and specifically states as follows:
No witness to a holographic Will is necessary, but the signature and all its material provisions must be in the handwriting of the testator and the testator’s handwriting must be proved by two (2) witnesses.
Tennessee Probate Courts still see quite a few holographic Wills that periodically show up in probate. Most holographic wills are done without the assistance of an attorney which leads, in many cases, to unexpected consequences for the estate of the testator. As an attorney if you become aware that a client has a holographic Will, you should at least request to review it to ensure that it would be effective upon presentation to the court. Holographic Wills since they’re drawn up by the testator may not exhibit the formalities required under the law. A simple update to ensure compliance with the statute might save an estate serious heartache upon presentment to the court.
We believe the key to representing business is to investigate and assess the vulnerabilities of the organization. Our Attorney has successfully defendant cases involving business disputes and commercial litigation.
Frank Steiner has a broad knowledge of experience in corporate environments which he brings to the table in all of his client engagements. This includes working for Andersen consulting, Hughes Aircraft, and Continental Airlines.
We bring this wealth of 25 plus years of corporate experience to each and every client service.
Frank Steiner Law offers services in representation of entertainment and sports clients, such as drafting contracts, review of contracts, interpretation of contract and litigation fir breach of contract.
With over 25 years of experience in corporate management, Attorney Steiner has in-depth understanding and insight in the construct of contracts. Whether it is business or employment contract, he is able to navigate his clients to get the best protection while negotiate the best term for them. Before signing any contracts, call our office for confidence and competent assistance you deserve.
Attorney Frank Steiner is a Tennessee listed rule 31 mediator and neutral. Approximately 97% of all litigation results in mediation. Mediation is an effective approach to resolving disputes and reducing the cost of litigation. Frank Steiner has over 25-years in corporate management where he has engaged in mediation to save problems. During his term at Continental Airlines, Frank Steiner engaged in complex mediation and negotiation involving the training provided by the original equipment manufacturer ensuing that his client obtained the most advance and thorough aircraft training. This special skill has work well to achieve favorable and successful outcome for many of his clients.
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