Estate of Black
California Supreme Court
641 P.2d 754 (1982)
- Written by Sean Carroll, JD
Facts
Frances Black handwrote a will on partially preprinted “Last Will and Testament” stationery that was intended to be used for a will. The stationery left blank spaces labeled for things like the executor and the date of the execution. Black incorporated part of the preprinted language by filling in certain of these blanks. There was no handwriting on the will that was not Black’s. The will purported to leave most of Black’s estate to Gene Bouch (plaintiff) and his family. Bouch filed the will for probate. The trial court held the will to be invalid, finding that the holographic-will statute required that there be no markings on a holographic will other than the testatrix’s handwriting. Bouch appealed.
Rule of Law
Issue
Holding and Reasoning (Richardson, J.)
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