154 N.Y.S. 827 | N.Y. App. Div. | 1915
The appeal is from the decree of the Surrogate’s Court of Westchester county, admitting to probate a paper writing bearing date April 5, 1902, as the last will and testament of George W. Horton, deceased, relating to real and personal property. Grandchildren are the beneficiaries. The petition propounding the will was verified September 18, 1913. Citation issued September 22, 1913, and was served on the contestant on September 29, 1913. In this paper the decedent described himself as a resident of the city, county and State of New York. The petition alleges that the decedent was a resident of Westchester county at the time of his death and
The widow appeared in the proceeding and opposed the application for probate. She filed a verified answer in which she alleged: The paper propounded was not the decedent’s will; on the 8th of August, 1913, at Painesville, Lake county, O., he made, published and declared a certain paper to be his last will and testament; in it he described himself as domiciled at that place; he made his wife sole beneficiary and revoked all other and former wills; he was a resident of Lake county, where he died on the 14th day of September, 1913; the paper was proved in the Probate Court of Lake county, 0., as the last will and testament of the testator; and that court issued its letters testamentary to the executrix named in the will. She prayed for an order dismissing the proceedings. The surrogate conducted a hearing. Proof was made of the following facts:
The Constitution and laws of Ohio establish a Probate Court in each county as a court of record, with exclusive jurisdiction to take proof of wills and to grant or revoke letters testamentary. (See Ohio Const, art. 4, §§ 1, 7, 8; Ohio Gen. Code, § 10492.) The laws of that State provide: “Ho will shall be admitted to probate without notice to the widow or husband and next of kin of the testator, if any, resident in the State, in sgch manner and for such time as the Probate Court directs or approves.” (Ohio Gen. Code, § 10507.) Proof must be made in open court. If it appears that such will was duly attested and' executed, and that the testator at the time of executing it was of full age, of sound mind and memory, and not under restraint, the court shall admit the will to probate. The will must be filed and the testimony taken, recorded and preserved. A certified copy of the will and order of probate annexed thereto is made effectual proof of the original. If within two years (statute reads one year) after probate had, no person interested appears and contests the validity of the
The contestant offered in evidence, authenticated in strict compliance with section 905 of the Revised Statutes of the United States, a record of the proceedings of the Probate Court of Lake county, 0., including an order admitting to probate the paper writing there proposed as the valid last will and testament of George W. Horton, deceased, late of that county, and an exemplified copy of -the letters testamentary issued
The respondent, against the appellant’s assertion, contends that the decree of the Ohio court did not bar inquiry into the domicile of the decedent; that it was not even competent evidence of the fact of domicile, as neither the proponent, nor the heirs at law, nor the next of kin, were parties to the proceeding in which the decree was made; that the surrogate of Westchester county had the power to decide that the decedent was a resident within his jurisdiction; and, if he so decided, that he had jurisdiction of the probate of the decedent’s will.
Sustained by authority, we approve this contention and affirm the decree, with costs. (Overby v. Gordon, 177 U. S. 214; Tilt v. Kelsey, 207 id. 43.)
Jenks, P. J., Thomas and Rich, JJ., concurred.
The parties hereto having stipulated in open court that this case may be disposed of by a court of four, the decision is as follows: Decree of the Surrogate’s Court of Westchester bounty affirmed, with costs.