Robert dies and his child informally opens intestate estate and becomes appointed Personal Representative.
Later, Dunn petitions to admit a copy of a purported Will which nominates Dunn as Personal Representative. Dunn is not related to Robert. The purported Will leaves nothing to Dunn.
Dunn is represented in this proceeding by Attorney Gilbert.
Dunn says he worked for Attorney Gilbert as a “private contractor,” and in that capacity became the custodian of Robert’s Will.
Dunn says Gilbert drafted the Will. Gilbert says he did not.
Dunn claims a fire at his home resulted in the original will being destroyed, giving rise to the need to provide the Court with a copy of the Will which had been saved on a computer.
All of this weirdness and a lack of any supporting witnesses results in the trial judge denying Dunn’s request to admit a copy of the purported Will.
The Court of Appeals affirms. The case is unpublished.
To read In Re Hughes Estate click here.
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