Aрpeal from a judgment wherein the district court reversed an order of the probate court of Wabasha County and determined that respondents here, cousins of Henry Hartz, deceased, and contestants of his last will, were entitled to bequests of f1,000 each as provided for therein. The order of the probate court, which was made on petition for allowance of final account and for a decree of distributiоn in the Hartz estate, had nullified such specific bequests to said respondents on the strength of a clause in the will which provided that:
“* * * Should any legatee herein directly or indirectly contest the validity of this Will and Testament in any manner, then any bequest, legacy and devise * * * hereinbefore made in fаvor of such person or persons shall be void and of no effect and such bequest, legacy and devise shall go to the St. Peter’s and St. Paul’s Cathоlic Church of Mazeppa, Minnesota, * *
Respondents had contested the will described, which left the residue and major portion of the estate to Anna Hoff, decedent’s housekeeper, on the grounds of undue influence and lack of testamentary
In the present proceedings, the district court found:
“That appellants [respondents here] did not prevail in their contest [of the will]; but that said contest was nevertheless begun and prosecuted in good faith and with probable cause. That it was not frivolous, vexatious nor actuated by malice.
* * * * *
“That * * * [the] Decree of Distribution provided for the final distribution of the estate; and that it ordered the paymеnt of the several legacies provided for in the Will * * * excepting, * * * the legacies of these appellants [respondents here].”
Based upon such findings, the court decided that the probate court order disallowing such bequests be reversed and that respondents were each entitled to receive the amounts specified for them in the will. It ordered the case remanded to the probate court with directions tо proceed in conformity with its decision. It is the contention of appellants — the executor, the residuary legatee, and the alternate beneficiary under the forfeiture clause — that under such clause respondents’ actions in contesting the will nullified or voided the specific bequests made in their favor therein.
Prior hereto this court has not had occasion to consider the application and effect оf a forfeiture clause such as here involved. Examination of the decisions of the appellate courts of other jurisdictions, howevеr, is indicative that the majority of them have adopted the rule that such a clause is valid and enforceable, subject to the exceрtion that it will not be held effective as to a bequest for a beneficiary who has unsuccessfully contested the will if it appears that the cоntest was instituted by such beneficiary in good faith and with probable cause to believe that the will was invalid. South Norwalk Trust Co. v. St. John,
The reason generally given in support of the majority viewpoint is that, if a will is actually invаlid, a strict and literal interpretation of such a forfeiture clause might prevent establishment of its invalidity and thus thwart the course of justice. Thereby, it is logically argued, the persons who may have been instrumental in the creation of the invalid document and who are to profit most by its admission to probate are provided a helpful cover for their wrongful acts or designs. South Norwalk Trust Co. v. St. John,
“* * * if a will were executed as the result of fraud, would not a legatee, who knew of the fraud but stood silently by fearing to risk loss of his legacy and accepted the fruits of the fraud, be morally a pаrty to it? Also, a will executed by an incompetent is legally no more his will than if it were forged, and a will secured by undue influence is as repugnant to the law as one secured by fraud. Public policy forbids that one should be tempted to let such wills prevail. The administration of justice should not be frustrated in such a manner.”
Courts holding the opposite viewpoint generally base their decisions upon the grounds that public policy does not invite or еncourage the extensive litigation which might arise from a liberal construction of such forfeiture clauses; and that such a construction
After due consideration of these opposing viewpoints, we have determined to adopt tbe rule now followеd by the majority of jurisdictions wbicb to us seems more in conformity with tbe interests of justice and tbe dictates of public policy. Its application hеre would make tbe trial court’s finding that tbe present will contest was instituted and prosecuted by respondents in good faith, and with probable cause to believe that tbe will was invalid, determinative of tbe ultimate issue relative to tbe specific bequests in respondents’ favor. Tbe finding appеars to have adequate support in tbe evidence. At the trial it was stipulated that tbe evidence to be submitted be limited to files and proceedings, and to tbe briefs submitted by counsel, in the various bearings in tbe will contest, including tbe appeals to this court. The basic facts relative therеto may be found in our previous decisions herein. In re Estate of Hartz,
It is contended by appellants that the admission of the will to probate established the validity of the forfeiture clause therein so that the issue as to respondents’ right to receive the specific bequests became res judicata. As indicated above, the validity of the forfeiture clause is recognized but its applicability here denied because of the finding that in the will contest respondents were motivated by good faith and had probable cause to believe the will invalid. In none of the proceedings relative tо the will contest were issues as to the good faith of respondents in bringing such contest or as to their probable cause to believe the will invalid presented or determined. It is doubtful if evidence bearing thereon would have been admissible therein. It would follow that the affirmative finding on such issues in the present proceedings is determinative thereof, and under our construction of the forfeiture clause compels affirmance of the judgment.
The judgment appealed from is affirmed.
Affirmed.