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Estate of Billings

California Supreme Court

64 Cal. 427 (1884)

Facts

E. L. Billings used a sheet of letterhead to write out a will. The sheet already had a few items printed on it, including the year 1880. Billings handwrote the words “April 1” before the number 1880, but he did not handwrite any year on the document. After Billings died, the document was presented as an olographic will, which was the original term for a holographic will. The lower court found that the document was not a valid holographic will, and the case was appealed.

Rule of Law

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Issue

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Holding and Reasoning (Myrick, J.)

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A "yes" or "no" answer to the question framed in the issue section;
A summary of the majority or plurality opinion, using the CREAC method; and
The procedural disposition (e.g., reversed and remanded, affirmed, etc.).

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