’WPC œŌ)į§Ä%ø‹­ż„ż“ĖZJ“č§ęȦ#ß_ĶUz¬ĆŒ„r/`¢ńćģž³=Ē/ō±p½u¼õNEķČ[Źü2 ÕŸ¹Ņö–üwŒS½¤k›:žc¦ļu*­\/ś‘䐌°»V{ńihĆX“џ‚­ ½²_ܓšģ'*}}nšń>KĒ{*©~ęģ֔éŃ{Ļ@ŲŲ¼O¦_†.„1);†ŸŹßĻR1¾ź)·éÓ¾ź‰ ż%ƒ<ĄŪH]ƒĢ,ÉF+KžVƒ„ē›Å ōrā·Ž*üO*Ü~-īŁAé0§]Ė\…0ł)XüśLBĶ U/)ŪUh=ø¾]u%Zpb¦ŽM ę ˜½"ēäĒ(ÄƝ÷777pČæµFš½§óeńd#!xUN™ %ē 0YķwF 4J ^ m ‡ b U N— Nå 0ē ^ h t mv Q 0DŽ 0" ¶" Ų Ką …+U:°°°°°°“źźźźźźźźźźźźźźźźźźźźźźźźźźźźźźźźźźźźźźźźźźźźźźźźźźźźźź 0u}}}}} Bņņ D5 AD D?Å BG AQKʜ 0ub 0DטHP LaserJet 8000 DN PSŲŚŲŚŚŲŲŚ0(ÖĆ9 Z ‹6Times New Roman RegularX(1hę$””Ō€3‹XXŌÓĘŽÓ{Z='tttttt3|xwaiver- ł-(ÖĆ9 Z‹6Times New Roman Regular(Y3V¾$««Ż ƒhę!ŻŌ€ƒ™XXŌÓĘŽÓŻ  ŻŌ d Ō­ŒG'L ’U‹’ĄĄĄ GŃ8€f<XXdģXXdģ8ŃŃ€ Ń(#Ć$ņņŚ  Ś0Ś  Śóó(°(21|$¤¤Ż ƒhę!ŻŌ€ƒ™XXŌÓĘŽÓŻ  ŻŅ€°ŅŅ„°ŅÓ  ÓŃ  ŃŃŃŌ€¼F»ƒ™Ōą Ų ąņņŚ  Ś0Ś  Śóó ¬Ż ƒ’;$ŻŌ€ĄXXŌÓĘŽÓŅ€°ŅŅ„°ŅÓ  ÓŃ @ ŃŃ@ŃŌ€¼* »ĄŌą Ų ąņņŚ  Ś2Ś  ŚóóŻ  ŻŌ_Ō€€Ō€Xy X»¼* ŌSome€€assets€passing€outside€the€estate€had€survivorship€clauses€which€named€Ms.Š ° ŠMathis.€€She€received€approximately€$100,000€from€these€assets.  AŻ ƒ’;$ŻŌ€ĄXXŌÓĘŽÓŅ€°ŅŅ„°ŅÓ  ÓŃ @ ŃŃ@ŃŌ€¼* »ĄŌą Ų ąņņŚ  Ś1Ś  ŚóóŻ  ŻŌ_Ō€€Ō€Xy X»¼* ŌPolly€Brownššs€sister€was€Ms.€Mathisšš€grandmother.€€ {Ż ƒbź"ŻŌ€ƒ™XXŌÓĘŽÓŻ  ŻŌ€K¼ƒ™ŌŌ€fK¼ŌÓ  ÓŌ_Ōņ ņŌ Ad ŌFILEDŌ€X2ūXfŌŠ  ŠĢOctober€7,€1999ĢĢCecil€Ō_ŌCrowsonŌ_Ō,€Jr.ĢAppellate€Court€Ō_ŌClerkŌdA©Ōó óŌ_Ō,c½¬AZ‹"Arial Regular ‰Ż ƒ’;$ŻŌ€ĄXXŌÓĘŽÓŅ€°ŅŅ„°ŅÓ  ÓŃ @ ŃŃ@ŃŌ€¼* »ĄŌą Ų ąņņŚ  Ś3Ś  ŚóóŻ  ŻŌ_Ō€€Ō€Xy X»¼* ŌThere€is€nothing€about€page€4€which€is€detrimental€to€Ms.€Mathisššs€interests€underŠ ° Šthe€will€or€is€unusual.(M3ź$££Ż ƒhę!ŻŌ€ƒ™XXŌÓĘŽÓŻ  Ż dYYYY)’’!dxdxT^yś’  <<= 8Ą’’’’’’’’’’C’’____3 TripledxdCTriple 1+| d d dabTc[Cž’<<C’’ƒLevel 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5(M3ź$¢¢Ż ƒhę!ŻŌ€ƒ™XXŌÓĘŽÓŻ  Ż($$””ņ ņŚ  Ś1Ś  Śó óŻ ƒhę!ŻŌ€ƒ™XXŌÓĘŽÓŻ  ŻŌ_ŌŅ€°ŅŅ„°ŅÓ'€Š‡Xč“X°œX'ÓŃ  ŃŃ€'zŃŃTR[° AŲ'’ Legal3Ų' AŲ'’ Legal’3Ų'TŃŌ€¼F»ƒ™ŌŌ_Ōßv€`[@0,j:`  `€€@’Eō±` bttxz,°š +vßŌ_ŌŌ_Ōą Ų ąą 0 ąą ˆ ąą ą ąą 8 ąą  ąą č ąą@  źąņ ņIN€THE€COURT€OF€APPEALS€OF€TENNESSEEˆŠ ° Šą@{{(źąAT€NASHVILLEˆĢĢó óĢIN€RE:€ESTATE€OF€WARRENą  ą)Š n¾ ŠGLENN€BROWNą0 ˆ ąą0ąˆT$ˆT$ąą08ąT$ąT$ąą08T$8T$ą)Š\ ¬T$T$ Šą Ų ąą 0 ąą ˆ ąą ą ąą 8 ąą  ą)ĢCANDICE€MATHISą0 ą ąą08ąT$ąT$ąą08T$8T$ą)Š8 ˆT$T$ Šą Ų ąą 0 ąą ˆ ąą ą ąą 8 ąą  ą)ĢÓ6€ü(‚X˜‘X€Š‡Xč“X6Óą Ų ąPetitioner/Appellant,ą  ą)ą  ąAppeal€No.Š  d  Šą Ų ąą  ą)ą  ą01A01„9809„PB„00471Š R  Šv.ą Ų ąą  ą)Š š@  Šą Ų ąą  ą)ą  ąDickson€County€ProbateŠ Ž.  ŠJOE€BROWN€ą  ą)ą0  ąNo.€€07„97„076„P€ŠĢ T$T$ Šą Ų ąą  ą)Ģą Ų ąRespondent/Appellee.ą  ą)Š Øų  Šą Ų ąą  ą)ĢĢĢÓ  ÓCOURT€OF€APPEALS€OF€TENNESSEEĢĢĢAPPEAL€FROM€THE€PROBATE€COURTĢFOR€DICKSON€COUNTYĢAT€CHARLOTTE,€TENNESSEEĢĢĢTHE€HONORABLE€ANDREW€JACKSON€PRESIDING€ĢÓ9°,X‚Xģ“X€ü(‚X˜‘X9ÓÓ  ÓĢJIMMY€P.€LOCKERTĢ105€SYCAMORE€STREETĢASHLAND€CITY,€TENNESSEE€37105ĢĢTHOMAS€F.€BLOOMĢ500€CHURCH€STREET€5ņņTHóó€FLOORŠ R$¢" ŠNASHVILLE,€TENNESSEE€37219ĢĢATTORNEYS€FOR€PETITIONER/APPELLANTĢĢĢHENRY€F.€TODD,€JR.ĢTODD,€SPENCER€&€ATKINSĢ404€EAST€COLLEGE€STREETĢDICKSON,€TENNESSEE€37055ĢĢATTORNEY€FOR€RESPONDENT/APPELLEEĢĢÓ  Óņ ņREVERSED€AND€REMANDEDó óŠ h0ø+/ ŠÓ  ÓĢĢą Ų ąą ¼ ąPATRICIA€J.€COTTRELL,€JUDGEĢĢĢCONCUR:ĢĢCANTRELL,€J.ĢKOCH,€J.ĢӍ½ĘŽÓÓ  ÓņņŌ‡ɐ »¼FŌŠ ¶959 ŠŃ'zŃā āŃ8€y XXdģdČ8ŃŃ€ Ńā āŃ  ŃŌ_ŌŃ8€* »»dXXdģ8Ńņ ņOPINIONóóó óŠ ° ŠÓ  ÓŌ#†¼* »§ #ŌÓ9°,X°4ģ“X°,X‚Xģ“X9ÓӍ½Óą  ąIn€this€case,€the€decedentššs€grand€niece,€Candice€Mathis,€the€petitioner,Š k» Šappeals€the€trial€courtššs€finding€that€she€failed€to€establish,€by€clear€andŠ  ß Šconvincing€evidence€the€lost€or€destroyed€will€of€her€grand€uncle,€WarrenŠ ³  ŠBrown.€€The€trial€court€ordered€that€the€administration€of€the€estate€proceed€asŠ × '  Šan€intestate€estate.€€For€the€following€reasons,€we€reverse.Š ūK  Šą  ąMs.€Mathis€and€the€Browns€enjoyed€a€loving€and€extremely€closeŠ o  Šfamily€relationship.׃ׯ ƒ#ĆŻņņŚ  Ś1Ś  ŚóóŻ  Ż×  ׀€The€record€shows€that€Ms.€Mathis€€stayed€with€the€decedentŠ C“ Šand€his€wife,€Warren€and€Polly€Brown,€so€frequently€throughout€her€firstŠ g· Šeighteen€years€that€she€received€mail€at€their€home,€had€her€own€bed€room€and€Š ‹Ū Šand€possessed€her€own€house€key.€€One€of€the€Brownššs€friends,€their€funeralŠ Æ’ Šdirector,€recounted€that€š ša€lot€of€timesšš€they€referred€to€Ms.€Mathis€as€theirŠ Ó# Šš šdaughter.šš€Š ÷G Šą  ą€On€July€22,€1987€Warren€and€Polly€Brown€executed€their€wills,€whichŠ !k Šwere€very€similar.€Both€wills€conveyed€the€marital€estate€to€the€surviving€spouseŠ ?# Šand€left€most€of€the€remainder€to€Ms.€Mathis.€€€The€attorney€who€drafted€the€willŠ c%³  Šat€issue€remembered€that€the€Browns€š šwere€both€very€devoted€to€Candice.šš€€€HeŠ ‡'×"  Šobserved€that€Ms.€Mathis€š šwas€very€special€to€them€and€he€[the€decedent]Š «)ū$" Šwanted€to€take€care€of€her.šš€€Initially,€Warren€Brown€kept€the€wills€in€a€lock€boxŠ Ļ+'$ Šat€his€bank.Š ó-C)& Šą  ąIn€June€of€1994,€Mr.€Brown€learned€that€he€had€lung€cancer.€€PollyŠ 0g+( ŠBrown€died€in€1995.€€Around€that€time,€after€some€delay€in€retrieving€PollyŠ ;2‹-* ŠBrownššs€will€from€the€lock€box,€Mr.€Brown€moved€his€will€to€a€box€he€kept€inŠ _4Æ/, Ša€buffet€in€€Ms.€Mathisššs€bedroom€at€his€home.Š ƒ6Ó1. Šą  ąFollowing€his€diagnosis,€Warren€Brown€became€concerned€that€heŠ ° Šwould€become€incapacitated.€€€After€obtaining€permission€from€his€brother,€JoeŠ Ō$ ŠBrown,€Warren€Brown€executed€€a€power€of€attorney€authorizing€his€brother€toŠ ųH Šact€on€his€behalf€should€he€become€incapacitated.€€Ms.€Mathis€was€a€minor€at€theŠ  l Štime.Š @  Šą  ąWarren€Brown€was€hospitalized€during€the€week€of€May€5,€1997.€Š d“  ŠDuring€this€hospital€stay,€he€asked€a€friend,€June€McDonough,€to€pray€for€himŠ ˆŲ  Što€live€long€enough€to€attend€Ms.€Mathisššs€high€school€graduation.€€€At€that€time,Š ¬ü Šhe€told€Ms.€McDonough€that€he€had€left€€most€of€his€estate€to€Ms.€Mathis.€€Š Š  ŠAlthough€Mr.€Brown€had€learned€that€his€cancer€had€returned€in€April,€he€toldŠ ōD Šhis€doctors€that€wanted€to€postpone€treatment€because€he€did€not€want€to€riskŠ h Šbeing€unable€to€attend€Ms.€Mathisššs€graduation.€€Mr.€Brown€was€released€fromŠ <Œ Šthe€hospital€on€Sunday,€May€11€and€returned€home.€Š `° Šą  ąAfter€experiencing€pain€in€his€legs,€Mr.€Brown€sought€medicalŠ „ Ō Šattention€on€Thursday,€May€15.€€Theorizing€that€the€pain€could€be€due€to€bloodŠ Ø"ų Šclots,€the€doctor€arranged€for€Mr.€Brown€to€have€a€CT€scan€on€the€followingŠ Ģ$  ŠMonday.€€€Mr.€Brown€attended€Ms.€Mathisššs€graduation€on€Friday,€May€16.€€TheŠ š&@"  Šnext€day€Ms.€Mathis€left€for€a€vacation€trip€to€Florida.Š )d$" Šą  ąWarren€Brown€spent€the€afternoon€of€the€Sunday€before€he€underwentŠ 8+ˆ&$ Šthe€CT€scan€with€his€brother€and€sister„in„law.€€That€day€Ms.€Mathis€called€Mr.Š \-¬(& ŠBrown€from€Florida.€€Both€Ms.€Mathisššs€mother€and€her€grandmother€visited€Mr.Š €/Š*( ŠBrown€Sunday€evening,€as€they€customarily€did.€€Her€mother€stayed€until€9:00Š ¤1ō,* Šor€9:30€p.m.€€During€that€visit,€Mr.€Brown€told€her€that€his€funeral€arrangements,Š Č3/, Šinsurance€papers€and€will€were€in€the€box€and€actually€pulled€out€the€will€andŠ ģ5<1. Šunfolded€it.€€At€this€time,€Warren€Brown€indicated€his€hope€he€could€live€longŠ 8`30 Šenough€to€see€Candy€again€upon€her€return€from€Florida.Š ° Šą  ąThe€next€day,€May€19,€Joe€Brown€took€his€brother€to€the€hospital€forŠ Ō$ Šx„rays€and€a€CT€scan.€€Warren€Brown€had€a€stroke€at€around€3:10€p.m.€whileŠ ųH Šundergoing€the€CT€scan.€€From€that€time€until€his€death€several€days€later,Š  l ŠWarren€Brown€could€not€speak.€€Shortly€after€the€stroke€occurred,€Joe€BrownŠ @  Šwent€to€Warren€Brownššs€home€to€obtain€the€power€of€attorney€and€living€will.Š d“  Šą  ąOn€June€16,€1997,€Joe€Brown€filed€a€petition€seeking€appointment€asŠ ˆŲ  Šthe€administrator€of€Warren€Brownššs€estate.€€On€June€27,€Ms.€Mathis€filed€aŠ ¬ü Špetition€asking€that€her€copy€of€Warren€Brownššs€will€be€admitted€to€probate.€€Š Š  ŠHer€petition€stated€that€her€copy€appeared€to€be€complete,€but€the€willššsŠ ōD Špagination€included€a€fourth€page€which€not€present.Š h Šą  ąA€consolidated€hearing€on€these€petitions€was€held€on€October€8€andŠ <Œ Š29,€1997.€€At€the€hearing,€it€became€apparent€that€page€four€of€the€copy€whichŠ `° Šreflected€signatures€was€missing.€€Eventually,€the€lawyer€who€drafted€the€willŠ „ Ō Šwas€able€to€find€his€copy€of€the€will,€which€included€the€missing€page.€TheŠ Ø"ų Šlawyerššs€file€copy€did€not€reflect€signatures.€€The€copy€filed€by€Ms.€MathisŠ Ģ$  Šincluded€signatures€and€the€testatorššs€signature€on€each€page.€€The€two€copiesŠ š&@"  Šwere€identical€except€for€the€presence€of€the€signatures€and€the€absence€of€pageŠ )d$" Šfour€from€Ms.€Mathisššs€copy.€€The€lawyerššs€copy€was€admitted€into€evidence.€Š 8+ˆ&$ ŠWarren€Brownššs€lawyer€testified€that€he€drafted€the€Brownsšš€wills€at€the€sameŠ \-¬(& Štime,€acted€as€a€witness€when€Mr.€Brown€executed€his€will,€and€rememberedŠ €/Š*( Šseeing€Warren€Brown€sign€the€will.€Attached€to€the€will€was€an€attestation€clauseŠ ¤1ō,* Šwhich€stated€that€the€witnesses€understood€that€the€document€they€were€signingŠ Č3/, Šwas€a€will,€duly€signed€by€Warren€Brownššs€lawyer€and€another€witness.€€Š ģ5<1. Šą  ąWarren€Brownššs€will€provided€that€in€the€event€€his€wife€predeceasedŠ 8`30 Šhim,€Ms.€Mathis€was€to€receive€$10,000€and,€if€she€had€not€reached€the€age€ofŠ ° Šeighteen,€the€sum€was€to€be€held€in€trust€until€she€attained€that€age.€€The€will€alsoŠ Ō$ Šleft€several€smaller€sums€and€items€to€other€relatives.€€However,€the€rest,€residueŠ ųH Šand€€remainder,€which€included€a€life€insurance€policy€and€most€of€his€personalŠ  l Šeffects,€was€left€in€a€€trust€set€up€for€Candice€Mathis.€€The€trustee€was€instructedŠ @  Što€use€the€cash€value€of€the€life€insurance€policy€for€Ms.€Mathisššs€education€afterŠ d“  Šshe€turned€nineteen€years€of€age.€€The€trustee€was€authorized€to€give€Ms.€MathisŠ ˆŲ  Šany€of€Mr.€Brownššs€personal€effects€that€she€desired.€€The€will€specified€thatŠ ¬ü ŠPolly€Brownššs€rings€and€the€silver€bowls€and€platters€were€to€be€kept€for€Ms.Š Š  ŠMathisššs€personal€use€and€not€sold.€€The€trustee€was€to€retain€all€real€propertyŠ ōD Šuntil€Ms.€Mathis€turned€twenty„one,€but€allow€her€to€choose€any€of€the€realŠ h Šproperty€as€her€residence€prior€to€that€time.€€The€remaining€real€property€was€toŠ <Œ Šbe€leased€and€the€resulting€income€was€to€be€used€for€Ms.€Mathisššs€support€andŠ `° Šmaintenance.€€The€remainder€of€the€estate€was€to€be€placed€in€investments€withŠ „ Ō Šthe€interest€therefrom€used€to€pay€Ms.€Mathisššs€educational€expenses.׃ׯ ƒ#ĆŻņņŚ  Ś2Ś  ŚóóŻ  Ż×  ׀€The€trustŠ Ø"ų Šterminated€when€Ms.€Mathis€turned€twenty„one.€€The€will€provided€that€if€Ms.Š Ģ$  ŠMathis€died€before€reaching€that€age,€the€assets€of€the€trust€were€to€be€dividedŠ š&@"  Šbetween€several€other€relatives.€€Joe€Brown€was€not€mentioned€in€the€will.Š )d$" Šą  ąAt€the€hearing,€Joe€Brown€testified€that€his€brother€approached€himŠ 8+ˆ&$ Šabout€the€power€of€attorney€in€June€1996,€shortly€after€his€diagnosis.€€At€thatŠ \-¬(& Štime,€Joe€Brown€went€to€his€brotherššs€home€and€was€given€a€copy€of€the€powerŠ €/Š*( Šof€attorney.€€He€stated€that€his€brother€had€showed€him€where€the€original€wouldŠ ¤1ō,* Šbe.€€When€asked€if€he€knew€where€his€brother€kept€his€valuable€papers,€Joe€Š Č3/, ŠŠ ģ5<1. ŠBrown€testified:Š ° ŠÓÓą8  ąI€know€where€he€kept€the€power€of€attorney€and€living€willŠ Ō$ Šand€where€he€had€some€ledger€sheets€that€he€had€showed€meŠ ę6 Šall€his€assets.€€He€showed€me€where€he€kept€them.€.€.€TheŠ ųH Šledger€sheets€were€in€a€wooden€box€about€18€inches€squareŠ  Z Šand€it€was€sitting€in€the€floor€under€his€dresser€.€.€.€in€hisŠ  l Šspare€bedroom.Š. ~ Š  Š  ŠĢÓÓHe€also€informed€Joe€Brown€about€his€lock€box€at€the€bank.€€Joe€Brown€deniedŠ R¢  Šthat€his€brother€had€ever€mentioned€his€will€and€denied€ever€seeing€Warren€orŠ vĘ  ŠPolly€Brownššs€wills.Š šź  Šą  ąJoe€Brown€testified€that€he€had€a€close€relationship€with€his€brother,Š ¾ Šš šthe€last€year€particularly,€the€last€two€years.€.€.€We€got€reacquainted€basically€toŠ ā2 Šgoing€places€together€and€stuff€there€after€his€wife€died.ššŠ V Šą  ąJoe€Brown€testified€that€he€took€his€brother€to€the€hospital€on€MondayŠ *z Šfor€the€CT€scan.€€He€stated€that€the€next€day,€after€his€brother€suffered€the€stroke,Š Nž Šhe€went€alone€to€Warren€Brownššs€home€to€obtain€the€power€of€attorney€andŠ rĀ Šliving€will.€€He€denied€seeing€the€original€will€while€searching€in€the€box€for€theŠ –!ę Šother€documents.€€Joe€Brown€testified€that€he€returned€to€the€house€after€WarrenŠ ŗ#  ŠBrownššs€death€a€few€days€later€to€find€the€lock€box€keys.€€He€also€testified€thatŠ Ž%.! Šhe€entered€the€house€on€May€21€to€obtain€the€clothing€for€his€brotherššs€burial€andŠ (R#! Šhe€searched€the€house€on€May€27.€€He€claimed€that€he€found€the€ledger€missingŠ &*v%# Šand€had€the€locks€changed€after€he€observed€Ms.€Mathis€leaving€the€house.Š J,š'% Šą  ąMs.€Mathis€testified€that€Warren€Brown,€her€š šUncle€Chunky,šš€hadŠ n.¾)' Šgiven€her€a€copy€of€his€will€after€her€Aunt€Polly€Brown€had€died.€€She€hid€itŠ ’0ā+) Šunder€her€mattress€in€her€bedroom€at€Mr.€Brownššs€home.€€Ms.€Mathis€stated€thatŠ ¶2.+ ŠMr.€Brown€kept€the€box€containing€his€important€papers€in€the€buffet€in€thatŠ Ś4*0- Šsame€room.Š ž6N2/ Šą  ąMs.€Mathis€testified€that€she€retrieved€her€copy€of€the€will€and€someŠ "9r41 Šphotographs€on€the€day€of€the€funeral,€using€her€key€to€enter€Mr.€Brownššs€home.€Š ° Š€She€looked€in€the€box€for€Mr.€€Brownššs€original€will€but€it€was€not€there.€€Š Ō$ ŠAccording€to€Ms.€Mathis,€while€she€was€there,€she€found€a€copy€of€her€auntššsŠ ųH Šwill,€which€had€also€been€given€her€by€Warren€Brown,€in€a€file€box€in€her€closet,Š  l Šbut€did€not€remove€it.Š @  Šą  ąMs.€Mathis€testified€that€after€the€locks€were€changed€and€she€was€toldŠ d“  Šno€will€could€be€found,€she€went€back,€entering€with€the€help€of€a€locksmith,€toŠ ˆŲ  Šretrieve€some€of€her€belongings€and€to€search€further€for€the€original€will.€€AtŠ ¬ü Šthat€time,€she€discovered€that€the€copy€of€her€auntššs€will€that€she€had€seen€a€fewŠ Š  Šdays€earlier€was€missing.€€She€testified€she€thought€it€unusual€that€Joe€Brown€hadŠ ōD Šnot€called€her€when€he€could€not€find€the€will.Š h Šą  ąOne€of€Warren€Brownššs€friends,€June€McDonough,€testified€that€priorŠ <Œ Što€his€death,€he€had€told€her€that€he€had€a€will€and€had€left€almost€everything€toŠ `° ŠCandice€Mathis.€€When€she€telephoned€him€the€week€before€he€died,€heŠ „ Ō Šreiterated€that€he€had€a€will€and€left€most€of€his€estate€to€Ms.€Mathis,€š šbecauseŠ Ø"ų Šshe€was€just€like€his€daughter.ššŠ Ģ$  Šą  ąFay€Eaton,€Mr.€Brownššs€maid,€testified€that€Mr.€Brown€spoke€of€hisŠ š&@"  Šwill€from€time€to€time.€€He€told€her€that€the€will€was€in€a€little€box€he€kept€š šinŠ )d$" ŠCandyššs€bedroom.šš€€One€day€in€March€he€asked€her€to€get€the€will€for€himŠ 8+ˆ&$ Šbecause€he€wanted€to€work€on€it.€€According€to€Ms.€Eaton,€he€had€discussedŠ \-¬(& Šleaving€his€church€and€Ms.€Mathisššs€brother€some€money,€š šbut€he€said€the€restŠ €/Š*( Šof€it€was€Candyššs.šš€€She€also€testified€that€he€took€the€will€to€the€bank€or€theŠ ¤1ō,* Šlibrary€to€work€on€it€and,€later,€when€he€handed€the€box€back€to€her,€it€wasŠ Č3/, Šheavier€than€before.Š ģ5<1. Šą  ąMs.€Mathisššs€mother€testified€that€Mr.€Brown€had€discussed€adding€aŠ 8`30 Šcodicil€to€his€will,€but€she€had€not€seen€one.€€However,€she€stated€that€heŠ ° Šdiscussed€the€will€regularly:Š Ō$ ŠÓÓą8  ąwe€talked€about€what€he€intended€to€have€happen,€you€know,Š ųH Šthe€whole€time,€but€whenever€he€would€get€where€he€wasŠ  Z Šhaving€a€really€bad€day€or,€you€know,€really€feeling€sick,€heŠ  l Šwould€always€want€to€go€over€it.€€He€would€want€to€go€overŠ . ~ Šthe€will€and€his€funeral€arrangements€and€make€sure€that€weŠ @  Šunderstood€where€everything€was.ŠR¢  Š  Š  ŠĢÓÓAccording€to€Ms.€Mathisššs€mother,€the€night€before€his€stroke,€Warren€BrownŠ vĘ  Štook€out€his€will€and€showed€it€to€her:Š šź  ŠÓÓą8  ąI€visited€Uncle€Chunky€on€Sunday€before€his€birthday€onŠ ¾ ŠMonday€and€I€was€there€probably€š!š€I€went€by€every€dayŠ Š  Šexcept€for€maybe€just€one€or€two€and€I€was€there€fromŠ ā2 Šprobably€7:00€that€night€until€9:30€that€night.€€He€knew€hisŠ ōD Šcancer€had€come€back€and€I€knew€it€and€he€wanted€to€go€overŠ V Šall€the€details€that€night.ÓÓŠh Š  Š  ŠShe€testified€that€the€will€was€in€the€box€that€night:Š <Œ ŠÓÓą8  ąHe€took€the€top€off€and€I€recognized€it€as€being€the€sameŠ `° Špapers€that€he€had€looked€at€many€times€before.€€And€I€justŠ rĀ Šsaid€to€him,€Uncle€Chunky,€weššre€not€going€to€talk€about€thatŠ „ Ō Šright€now.€€You€know,€I€didnššt€want€to€talk€about€it.€€And€IŠ –!ę Šsaid€weššre€not€going€to€talk€about€that.€€We€know€whereŠ Ø"ų Ševerything€is.€€Itššs€in€the€box.€€And€he€said,€okay,€I€just€wantŠ ŗ#  Što€make€sure€you€understand€where€everything€is.€€And€IŠ Ģ$  Šsaid,€yes,€I€know€where€everything€is.€.€.€I€was€very€upsetŠ Ž%.! Šbecause€he€was€so€sick€and€I€just€didnššt€want€to€sit€down€andŠ š&@"  Šdiscuss€it€with€him€that€much.€.€.€He€unfolded€it€.€.€.€and€I€putŠ (R#! Šit€back€in€and€I€said,€Uncle€Chunky,€weššre€not€going€to€talkŠ )d$" Šabout€this.€€But€he€told€me€everything€is€here€in€this€box€andŠ &*v%# Šthat€was€Sunday€night.€€And€if€he€told€me€it€was€in€there,€itŠ 8+ˆ&$ Šwas€in€there.ÓÓŠJ,š'% Š  Š  Šą  ąMs.€Mathisššs€grandmother€testified€that€between€1974€and€1995€JoeŠ n.¾)' ŠBrown€visited€the€Browns€š švery€seldom,šš€meaning€no€more€than€two€or€threeŠ ’0ā+) Štimes€during€the€twenty€year€period.€€She€testified€that€until€Warren€Brown€š šgotŠ ¶2.+ Šsick,€he€didnššt€have€any€relationship€with€Joe.€€They€might€have€talked€on€theŠ Ś4*0- Šphone.€€They€didnššt€visit€each€other.šš€€Ms.€Mathisššs€grandmother€testified€that€Š ž6N2/ Šshe€read€the€will€in€the€spring€of€1993,€during€a€visit€with€Polly€Brown.€€Š "9r41 ŠÓÓą  ąThe€night€before€his€stroke,€she€visited€Mr.€Brown.€€She€testified:Š ° Šą8  ąI€went€to€his€home€most€every€day,€if€I€could,€and€I€was€thereŠ Ā Šand€he€told€me€that€he€hoped€that€nothing€happened€to€himŠ Ō$ Šbefore€Candy€got€back.€€And€he€also€told€me€then€that€he€hadŠ ę6 ŠCandy€taken€care€of,€everything€he€had€would€go€to€CandyŠ ųH Šand€he€didnššt€want€any€hard€feelings€over€it.€€And€then€whenŠ  Z ŠI€got€ready€to€leave,€he€went€to€the€back€of€the€bedroom,Š  l ŠCandyššs€bedroom,€took€out€the€box€and€showed€me€the€boxŠ . ~ Šthat€contained€his€will€and€his€funeral€plans€and€his€livingŠ @  Šwill.€€ŠR¢  Š  Š  ŠĢÓÓą  ąAfter€considering€the€evidence,€the€trial€court€held€that€the€proof€wasŠ vĘ  Šinsufficient€to€establish€a€lost€or€destroyed€will.€€Ms.€Mathis€moved€for€a€newŠ šź  Štrial.€€In€denying€her€motion,€the€trial€court€stated€that€the€evidence€showed€thatŠ ¾ Šthe€original€will€was€in€the€possession€of€Warren€Brown€from€the€date€of€itsŠ ā2 Šexecution€until€the€date€of€his€death.€€The€court€also€found€that€page€four€of€theŠ V Šwill€was€not€proved€to€have€been€properly€signed€and€witnessed.€€Ms.€MathisŠ *z Šnow€appeals€and€she€argues€that€reversal€is€required€because€she€successfullyŠ Nž Šestablished,€by€clear€and€convincing€evidence,€the€lost€will.ą š ąŠ rĀ Šą  ąOur€standard€of€review€in€this€case€is€ņņde€novoóó€on€the€record,€with€aŠ –!ę Špresumption€of€the€correctness€of€the€trial€court's€findings€of€fact.€The€decisionŠ ŗ#  Šof€the€trial€court€will€be€affirmed€unless€the€evidence€preponderates€against€itsŠ Ž%.! Šfindings€of€fact€or€the€trial€court€committed€an€error€of€law.€ņņSee€óóTenn.€R.€App.Š (R#! ŠP.€13(d);€ņņIn€re€Estate€of€Rossóó,€969€Ō‡ ¼* »»¼* ŌS.W.2dŌ#†¼* »» ¼* āZ#Ō€398,€400€(Tenn.€App.€1997).€€Š &*v%# ŠQuestions€of€law€receive€plenary€review.€€ņņSee€Malone€&€Hyde€Food€Services€v.Š J,š'% ŠParson,óó€642€S.W.2d€157,€159€(Tenn.€App.€1982)Š n.¾)' Šą@¦¦-źąI.ˆŠ ’0ā+) Šą  ąTo€prove€a€lost€or€destroyed€will,€the€proponent€must€establish:Š ¶2.+ ŠÓÓą8  ą(1)€that€the€testator€made€and€executed€a€valid€will€inŠ Ś4*0- Šaccordance€with€the€forms€of€law;€(2)€the€substance€andŠ ģ5<1. Šcontents€of€the€will;€and€(3)€that€the€will€had€not€beenŠ ž6N2/ Šrevoked€and€is€lost€or€destroyed€or€cannot€be€found€after€aŠ 8`30 Šdue€and€proper€search;€€Š"9r41 Š  Š  ŠÓÓņņSee€In€Re€Estate€of€Westóó,€729€S.W.2d€676€(Tenn.€App.€1987);€ņņShrum€v.€Powellóó,Š ° Š604€Ō‡ ¼* »»¼* ŌS.W.2dŌ#†¼* »» ¼* ž^#Ō€869,€871€(Tenn.€App.€1980).€€€These€elements,€which€are€imposedŠ Ō$ Što€prevent€fraud,€must€be€proved€by€š šclear,€cogent€and€convincing€proof.€€ņņSeeŠ ųH ŠShrumóó€at€871.€€ņņŠ  l Šą  ąóóWithout€question,€Ms.€Mathis€clearly€established€that€Warren€BrownŠ @  Šhad€made€and€executed€a€valid€will.€€Testimony€of€Mr.€Brownššs€lawyer€and€the€Š d“  Švarious€witnesses€who€read€the€will€proved€that€element.€€The€lawyer€producedŠ ˆŲ  Šhis€file€copy,€which€included€five€pages.€€Pages€one,€two,€three€and€five€matchedŠ ¬ü Šexactly€the€xerox€copy€introduced€by€Ms.€Mathis.€€He€also€testified€heŠ Š  Šremembered€Mr.€Brownššs€signing€the€will.€€The€proof€shows,€by€affidavit€orŠ ōD Štestimony€of€the€subscribing€witnesses,€that€the€will€was€executed€in€accordanceŠ h Šwith€all€legal€requisites.Š <Œ Šą  ąWe€disagree€with€the€trial€court€as€to€the€effect€of€the€missing€page€fourŠ `° Šof€the€copy€of€the€executed€will.€€The€copy€shows€Warren€Brownššs€signature€onŠ „ Ō Šeach€of€the€pages€filed.€€The€missing€page€four€was€proved€by€the€unsigned€copyŠ Ø"ų Šfrom€the€lawyerššs€file.׃ׯ ƒ#ĆŻņņŚ  Ś3Ś  ŚóóŻ  Ż×  ׀€There€is€no€requirement€that€a€testator€sign€each€andŠ Ģ$  Ševery€page,€and€the€signature€of€the€testator€and€the€witnesses€on€the€last€pageŠ š&@"  Šis€sufficient€to€validate€the€will.Š )d$" Šą  ąThe€substance€and€contents€of€the€will€were€also€established.€€A€copyŠ 8+ˆ&$ Šof€all€but€one€page€of€the€signed€and€witnessed€will€was€admitted€into€evidence,Š \-¬(& Šand,€eventually,€a€complete,€unsigned€copy€was€admitted.€€Moreover,€a€numberŠ €/Š*( Šof€witnesses€testified€as€to€the€contents€of€the€will.€€ņņSee€Haven€v.€Wrinkle,€óó29Š ¤1ō,* ŠTenn.€App.€195,€213,€195€Ō‡ ¼* »»¼* ŌS.W.2dŌ#†¼* »» ¼* ėf#Ō€787,€793€(1945);€€ņņMorris€v.€Swaneyóó,€54€Tenn.Š Č3/, Š591,€599€(1872).€€€Our€cases€have€not€required€more.€€€Š ģ5<1. Šą@-źąII.ˆŠ ° Šą  ąThe€more€difficult€question€is€whether€the€third€element€wasŠ Ō$ Šsufficiently€proved:€€that€the€will€had€not€been€revoked€and€was€lost€or€destroyedŠ ųH Šor€could€not€be€found€after€a€due€and€proper€search.€€Generally,€when€a€will€Š  l Šknown€to€be€in€the€sole€custody€of€a€testator€or€testatrix€is€not€found€upon€thatŠ @  Šperson's€death,€a€presumption€arises€that€the€decedent€destroyed€the€will€in€orderŠ d“  Što€revoke€it.€€ņņSee€Shrumóó,€604€Ō‡ ¼* »»¼* ŌS.W.2dŌ#†¼* »» ¼* j#Ō€at€871;€ņņHavenóó,€29€Tenn.€App.€At€214,€195Š ˆŲ  ŠS.W.2d€at€793.€€The€trial€courtššs€finding€that€the€original€will€had€been€in€theŠ ¬ü Šdecedentššs€possession€since€its€execution€relates€to€this€presumption.€€ThisŠ Š  Špresumption€is€not€conclusive,€but€the€burden€of€rebutting€it€rests€upon€theŠ ōD Šproponent€of€the€will.€ņņSee€idóó.€€The€trial€court€made€no€additional€findings€of€factŠ h Šregarding€circumstances€which€might€rebut,€or€for€that€matter,€buttress€theŠ <Œ Špresumption.Š `° Šą  ąThe€presumption€may€be€rebutted€in€a€number€of€ways,€by€direct€orŠ „ Ō Šcircumstantial€evidence,€and€the€declarations€of€the€testator,€both€before€and€after€Š Ø"ų Šmaking€the€will,€are€admissible€to€support€or€destroy€the€presumption€ofŠ Ģ$  Šrevocation.€€ņņSee€Moore€v.€Williamsóó,€30€Tenn.€App.€479,€480,€207€Ō‡ ¼* »»¼* ŌS.W.2dŌ#†¼* »» ¼* n#Ō€590Š š&@"  Š(1947).Š )d$" Šą  ąOur€courts€have€long€relied€on€the€following€authority€regarding€lostŠ 8+ˆ&$ Šor€destroyed€wills.Š \-¬(& ŠÓÓą8  ąThe€presumption€that€the€will€was€destroyed€by€the€testator,Š €/Š*( Šņņanimo€revocandi,óó€may€be€rebutted,€and€its€loss€or€destructionŠ ’0ā+) Šby€other€means€may€be€shown,€by€circumstantial€as€well€asŠ ¤1ō,* Špositive€evidence,€as:€[1]€by€showing€that€the€testator€did€notŠ ¶2.+ Šhave€the€custody€and€control€of€the€instrument€after€itsŠ Č3/, Šexecution;€[2]€that€he€had€lost€his€testamentary€capacity€forŠ Ś4*0- Ša€period€before€his€death€and€that€the€will€was€in€existence€atŠ ģ5<1. Šthe€time€the€mental€alienation€occurred;€and€the€like.€€TheŠ ž6N2/ Šdeclarations€of€the€testator,€before€or€after€making€the€will,Š 8`30 Šare€admissible€in€evidence€to€support€or€destroy€theŠ "9r41 Špresumption€of€revocation.Š° Š  Š  ŠĢņņÓÓPritchardóó,€Ō‡ ¼* »»¼* ŌššŌ#†¼* »» ¼* Šr#Ō€51,€p.€83€(citations€omitted).€Š Ō$ Šą  ąThe€two€methods€of€overcoming€the€presumption€specified€in€theŠ ųH Šquotation€above€have€been€relied€on€in€refusing€to€find€or€š šset€upšš€a€lost€orŠ  l Šdestroyed€will.€€In€ņņIn€Re€Estate€of€Westóó,€729€S.W.2d€at€676,€the€testator€executedŠ @  Ša€will€in€1981€making€his€wifeššs€nephew€his€heir€if€his€wife€predeceased€him.€Š d“  ŠIn€1984,€shortly€after€his€wifeššs€death,€the€testator€executed€a€new€will€leavingŠ ˆŲ  Šhis€estate€to€his€niece.€€The€testator€used€the€same€attorney€to€draft€both€willsŠ ¬ü Šand,€at€the€execution€of€the€later€will,€was€advised€by€his€attorney€to€destroy€theŠ Š  Šearlier€one.€€At€the€testatorššs€death€later€that€year,€the€earlier€will€could€not€beŠ ōD Šfound.€€This€court€upheld€the€trial€courtššs€finding€that€the€nephew€had€failed€toŠ h Šovercome€the€presumption€that€the€testator€had€destroyed€the€earlier€will.€€Thus,Š <Œ Šalthough€the€court€implied€in€its€opinion€that€the€failure€to€overcome€theŠ `° Špresumption€was€based€on€a€failure€to€prove€that€the€testator€did€not€haveŠ „ Ō Šcustody€or€control€of€the€prior€will€or€that€he€lacked€testamentary€capacity,€theŠ Ø"ų Šfacts€in€that€case€clearly€supported€the€presumption€of€revocation.€€Š Ģ$  Šą  ąWe€are€not€of€the€opinion€that€those€are€the€only€two€methods€by€whichŠ š&@"  Šthe€presumption€can€be€overcome.€€A€review€of€the€cases€involving€proof€of€aŠ )d$" Šlost€or€destroyed€will€convinces€us€that€the€presumption€that€the€testatorŠ 8+ˆ&$ Šdestroyed€the€will€can€be€overcome€by€the€circumstances€of€the€case.Š \-¬(& Šą  ąIn€ņņWolfe€v.€Williamsóó,€1€Tenn.€App.€441€(1925),€the€appellate€courtŠ €/Š*( Šupheld€a€jury€verdict€establishing€a€lost€or€destroyed€will.€€The€execution€andŠ ¤1ō,* Šsubstance€of€the€will€were€not€disputed,€and€the€primary€issue€was€whether€theŠ Č3/, Špresumption€that€the€testator€had€destroyed€the€will€had€been€overcome.€€TheŠ ģ5<1. Ševidence€showed€that€the€testator€had€executed€a€will€leaving€some€property€toŠ 8`30 Šhis€siblings€but€the€bulk€of€his€estate€to€his€stepdaughter€who€had€lived€with€himŠ ° Šfrom€her€childhood.€€The€will€was€left€in€the€drawer€of€testatorššs€desk€at€hisŠ Ō$ Šhouse€in€Memphis.€€The€testator€and€his€stepdaughter€went€out€of€town€togetherŠ ųH Što€visit€relatives.€€While€on€this€trip€the€testator€died,€and€the€stepdaughterŠ  l Štelegraphed€his€relatives€to€that€effect.€€When€she€returned€to€Memphis,€the€willŠ @  Šcould€not€be€found.€€In€review€of€the€juryššs€decision,€this€court€stated:Š d“  ŠÓÓą8  ąą8@  Š  Š ąThis€evidence€.€.€.€shows€the€close€and€affectionateŠ ˆŲ  Šrelationship€between€C.€S.€Williams€and€Margaret€unbrokenŠ šź  Šand€undisturbed,€€.€.€.€he€made€this€will€mainly€for€her€benefitŠ ¬ü Šin€1920;€his€feelings€toward€her€remained€the€same€down€toŠ ¾ Šthe€time€of€his€death.€€It€seems€incredible€that€he€would€haveŠ Š  Šdestroyed€this€will€for€the€purpose€of€cutting€her€offŠ ā2 Šabsolutely.€€If€he€died€intestate,€she,€not€being€related€inŠ ōD Šblood€to€him,€would€take€nothing€from€his€estate.€€This€beingŠ V Šso,€we€can€well€see€how€the€jury€would€find€it€more€difficultŠ h Što€believe€that€he€destroyed€this€will€than€that€it€was€lost€orŠ *z Šdestroyed€in€some€other€way.€€We€can€well€imagine€the€juryŠ <Œ Šapplying€the€language€of€the€chancellorššs€charge€and€saying:€Š Nž Šš šWe€do€not€believe,€we€cannot€believe,€he€destroyed€thisŠ `° Šwill,€or€that€he€intended€for€it€to€be€destroyed;€the€evidenceŠ rĀ Šis€clear,€cogent,€and€convincing€to€us€that€he€did€not€destroyŠ „ Ō Šit.ššŠ–!ę Š  Š  ŠĢą8  ąą8@  Š  Š ąIf€the€execution€of€the€will€being€established€beyond€controversy€and€the€proofŠ ŗ#  Šand€circumstances€convince€the€mind€that€the€decedent€could€not€have€destroyedŠ Ģ$  Šit,€is€not€this€sufficient€to€overcome€the€natural€presumption€which€ordinarilyŠ Ž%.! Šobtains€that€he,€rather€than€some€one€else,€did€destroy€the€will?Š š&@"  ŠĢą@YY,źą.€.€.ˆŠ )d$" Šą8  ąIf€the€evidence€creates€a€situation€which€convinces€the€juryŠ &*v%# Šthat€is€impossible€to€believe€that€C.€S.€Williams€destroyed€theŠ 8+ˆ&$ Šwill€or€intended€to€revoke€it,€and€that€it€is€possible€to€believeŠ J,š'% Šthat€he€did€not€revoke€it,€notwithstanding€the€presumption€toŠ \-¬(& Šthe€contrary,€then€the€burden€is€met€and€the€verdict€mustŠ n.¾)' Šstand.Š€/Š*( Š  Š  ŠĢņņWolfeóó,€1€Tenn.€App.€at€447„448.Š ¤1ō,* ŠĢÓÓą  ąSimilarly,€ņņMorris€v.€Swaneyóó,€54€Tenn.€at€591,€involved€review€of€a€juryŠ Č3/, Šverdict€finding€a€lost€or€destroyed€will.€€Most€of€the€opinion€discussed€the€issueŠ ģ5<1. Šof€the€type€of€evidence€needed€to€prove€the€existence€and€contents€of€the€will.€Š 8`30 ŠOn€the€issue€of€the€validity€of€the€juryššs€verdict€regarding€the€presumption€ofŠ ° Štestator€revocation,€the€court€held:Š Ō$ ŠÓÓą8  ąą8@  Š  Š ąWe€can€not€say€that€the€jury€were€wrong€in€giving€credenceŠ ųH Što€the€testimony€upon€which€their€verdict€is€founded.€€TheŠ  Z Šjury€were€told€that€if€the€will€was€proven€to€have€been€in€theŠ  l Špossession€of€Swaney€the€testator,€the€law€presumes,€as€itŠ . ~ Šwas€not€found€after€his€death,€that€it€was€revoked;€but€that€ifŠ @  Šthe€facts€and€circumstances€satisfied€them€that€it€was€notŠ R¢  Šrevoked,€they€would€so€find.€€Without€reviewing€theŠ d“  Ševidence€upon€the€subject,€it€will€be€sufficient€to€say,€thatŠ vĘ  Šthere€are€circumstances€sufficient€to€sustain€the€finding€of€theŠ ˆŲ  Šjury€in€this€respect.Ššź  Š  Š  ŠĢņņMorris,€óó54€Tenn.€at€603.Š ¾ ŠĢÓÓą  ąThe€circumstances€proved€in€that€case€were€the€testatorššs€frequentŠ ā2 Šstatements€that€he€had€made€a€will€which€would€take€care€of€š šEliza,šš€the€motherŠ V Šof€his€children,€whom€he€had€not€married,€testimony€from€people€who€had€hadŠ *z Šthe€will€read€to€them,€and€statements€by€testator€that€he€intended€Elizaššs€childrenŠ Nž Što€live€on€the€land€devised.Š rĀ Šą  ąIn€ņņSanders€v.€McClanahanóó,€59€Tenn.€App.€590,€442€S.W.2d€664Š –!ę Š(1969),€this€court€reversed€a€trial€courtššs€decision€setting€up€a€lost€or€destroyedŠ ŗ#  Šwill.€€This€court€specifically€found€that€the€complainants€had€failed€to€proveŠ Ž%.! Šeither€the€execution€or€the€contents€of€a€valid€will.€€In€discussing€the€additionalŠ (R#! Šfailure€to€overcome€the€presumption€that€the€testator€destroyed€the€will,€the€courtŠ &*v%# Šfound€it€significant€that€no€one€had€seen€the€purported€will€for€at€least€six€monthsŠ J,š'% Šbefore€the€decedentššs€death,€stating,€š šthis€fact€alone€would€not€justify€aŠ n.¾)' Šconclusion€the€testator€did€not€within€the€remaining€months€of€his€lifetimeŠ ’0ā+) Šdestroy€the€will€with€the€intention€of€revoking€it.šš€€ņņMcClanahanóó,€59€Tenn.€App.Š ¶2.+ Šat€599.€€The€court€further€stated:Š Ś4*0- ŠÓÓą8  ąą8@  Š  Š ąWithout€some€evidence€tending€to€show€that€the€will€wasŠ ž6N2/ Šactually€lost€or€fraudulently€or€accidentally€destroyed€againstŠ 8`30 Šand€not€in€accord€with€the€testatorššs€wishes€and€intentions,Š "9r41 Šthe€presumption€stands€and€the€will€must€fail.Š° Š  Š  ŠĢņņId.Š Ō$ ŠĢÓÓą  ąHaven€v.€Wrinkleóó,€29€Tenn.€App.€at€195,€S.W.2d€at€787€is€often€citedŠ ųH Šas€authority€for€the€rules€regarding€proof€of€a€lost€or€destroyed€will.€€That€caseŠ  l Šincluded€testimony€that€the€testatrix€knowingly€and€purposely€destroyed€the€willŠ @  Šat€issue€in€order€to€reinstate€an€earlier€will.€€The€court€relied€in€part€on€theŠ d“  ŠņņPritchardóó€section€quoted€above,€as€well€as€the€sentence€preceding€the€earlierŠ ˆŲ  Šquoted€portion,€š šHe€[who€seeks€to€establish€a€lost€or€destroyed€will]€must€goŠ ¬ü Šfurther€and€show€by€facts€and€circumstances€that€the€will€was€actuallyŠ Š  Šfraudulently€or€accidently€lost€or€destroyed,€against€and€not€in€accordance€with,Š ōD Šthe€wishes€and€intention€of€the€testator.šš€€ņņHavenóó,€29€Tenn.€App.€at€213,€195Š h ŠS.W.2d€at€794.Š <Œ Šą  ąIn€ņņMoore€v.€Williams,óó€this€court€again€focused€on€the€circumstances€ofŠ `° Šthe€case€and€found€that€š š€Under€the€facts€and€circumstances€of€this€case€we€areŠ „ Ō Šsatisfied€that€Ida€Mai€Moore€did€not€revoke€her€will.šš€€ņņSee€Mooreóó,€207€Ō‡ ¼* »»¼* ŌS.W.2dŌ#†¼* »» ¼* ™#ŌŠ Ø"ų Šat€591„592.€€In€ņņMooreóó,€the€testatrix€had€€devised€a€life€estate€to€her€survivingŠ Ģ$  Šhusband€with€the€remainder€to€her€step„daughter,€an€adoptive€son,€and€adoptiveŠ š&@"  Šgrandchild.€€Over€the€years,€the€testatrix€had€had€little€contact€with€her€siblings,Š )d$" Šwho€contended€that€the€testatrix€never€made€a€will€or,€if€she€had,€destroyed€it.€Š 8+ˆ&$ ŠņņId.óó€at€591.€€The€testatrix€and€her€husband€had€executed€wills€at€the€same€time.Š \-¬(& ŠHer€husband€had€given€his€will€and€her€will€to€the€testatrix€for€safekeeping€andŠ €/Š*( Šlater€saw€those€documents,€other€important€documents,€and€money€in€a€drawer.Š ¤1ō,* ŠWhen€the€testatrixššs€will,€her€husbandššs€will,€and€some€money€could€not€beŠ Č3/, Šfound,€the€trial€court€declined€to€make€a€finding€of€intestacy.€€€Instead,€it€foundŠ ģ5<1. Šthat€the€presumption€that€the€testatrix€had€destroyed€the€will€was€weakened€byŠ 8`30 Šseveral€facts€and€circumstances.€€After€taking€into€consideration€the€quality€ofŠ ° Šthe€relationship€between€the€parties€and€the€testatrix,€the€trial€court€stated€that€itŠ Ō$ Šwas€inclined€to€believe€that€the€testatrix€was€aware€of€the€consequences€of€dyingŠ ųH Šintestate.€€As€the€court€noted:Š  l ŠÓÓą8  ąThe€relationship€is€devoid€of€anything€which€would€cause€theŠ @  ŠCourt€to€think€that€her€brothers€and€sisters€were€the€object€ofŠ R¢  Šher€bounty,€or€that€she€ever€entertained€a€desire€that€theyŠ d“  Šshould€inherit€her€property.ŠvĘ  Š  Š  ŠĢņņÓÓId.€€€óóIn€addition,€the€court€considered€the€fact€that€both€the€testatrixššs€will€and€herŠ šź  Šhusbandššs€nearly€identical€will,€and€some€money€disappeared€at€the€same€time.€Š ¾ Š€Because€the€testatrix€was€much€younger€than€her€husband,€and€his€will€€left€herŠ ā2 Ša€life€estate,€the€court€found€it€implausible€that€she€had€destroyed€her€husbandššsŠ V Šwill.€€The€trial€court€concluded€that€it€š šfound€it€impossible€to€believe€that€theŠ *z Štestatrix€destroyed€the€will.šš€€ņņId.óó€at€593.€€Finding€that€the€will€was€š šaccessible€toŠ Nž Šanyone€bent€on€an€unlawful€mission,€and€it€is€not€necessary,€under€the€law,€forŠ rĀ Šthe€Court€to€determine€who€did€destroy,€or€make€away€with€these€papers,€exceptŠ –!ę Što€find€that€it€was€not€done€by,€or€at€the€instance€of€the€testatrix,šš€the€courtŠ ŗ#  Šdeclined€to€apply€the€presumption€that€the€testatrix€had€destroyed€the€will.€€TheŠ Ž%.! Šcourt€reasoned€that:Š (R#! ŠÓÓą8  ą[i]t€is€inconceivable€that€this€woman€who€thought€of€herselfŠ &*v%# Šas€a€mother€and€grandparent,€would€have€destroyed€the€veryŠ 8+ˆ&$ Šinstrument€which€she€had€previously€made€for€the€purpose€ofŠ J,š'% Šbestowing€upon€the€natural€objects€of€her€bounty,€all€herŠ \-¬(& Šearthly€possessions.€€To€conclude€from€the€record€in€thisŠ n.¾)' Šcase,€and€to€say€that€she€did€such€an€act€in€order€to€permit€herŠ €/Š*( Škin,€who€had€become€distantly€removed€in€humanŠ ’0ā+) Šrelationship,€to€inherit,€would€be€to€overturn€and€renderŠ ¤1ō,* Šimpotent€the€natural€love,€affection€and€devotion€of€a€womanŠ ¶2.+ Šfor€her€husband€and€children.€€This€the€Court€is€not€willingŠ Č3/, Što€do.ŠŚ4*0- Š  Š  ŠņņÓÓId.ó󀀀Š ģ5<1. Šą  ąThe€Court€of€Appeals€found€that€the€trial€court€š šwas€fully€justified€inŠ 8`30 Šhis€finding€of€facts€and€conclusions€therefrom€and€we€concur€therein.€In€ņņMooreóó,€Š ° Šall€the€facts€and€circumstances€led€to€the€logical€conclusion€that€the€testatrix€didŠ Ō$ Šnot€destroy€her€will.Š ųH Šą  ąSimilar€reasoning€applies€to€the€fact€and€circumstances€in€this€case.Š  l ŠThe€record€is€replete€with€evidence€that€the€Browns€viewed€Ms.€Mathis€as€aŠ @  Šdaughter€and€that€she€was€the€natural€object€of€their€bounty.€€Warren€BrownššsŠ d“  Šcomments€about€his€will€to€his€friends€and€family€show€he€€was€cognizant€of€theŠ ˆŲ  Šconsequences€of€dying€intestate.€€The€record€shows€that€Warren€and€Joe€BrownŠ ¬ü Šhad€little€contract€until€recent€years.€€While€Joe€Brown€certainly€assisted€hisŠ Š  Šbrother€during€the€last€two€years€of€his€life,€nothing€in€the€record€demonstratesŠ ōD Šthat€the€relationship€was€on€the€same€level€as€that€shared€by€Warren€Brown€andŠ h ŠMs.€Mathis.€€Therefore,€there€is€nothing€in€the€record€to€support€any€conclusionŠ <Œ Šthat€Warren€Brown€had€decided€to€disinherit€Ms.€Mathis€in€favor€of€his€brotherŠ `° Šor€other€siblings.€€€The€separate€disappearance€of€Polly€Brownššs€will,€afterŠ „ Ō ŠWarren€Brownššs€death€and€days€after€his€will€was€not€found€in€its€usual€place,Š Ø"ų Šweakens€the€presumption€that€he€destroyed€his€will.Š Ģ$  Šą  ąMr.€Brown€had€told€a€number€of€people€over€time€where€he€kept€hisŠ š&@"  Šwill€and€other€important€papers.€€He€knew€he€was€gravely€ill.€€His€conductŠ )d$" Šindicates€a€desire€that€his€will€be€found€and€followed.€€Mr.€Brown€had€his€willŠ 8+ˆ&$ Šin€a€box€in€its€customary€place€the€night€before€he€went€in€the€hospital.€€HeŠ \-¬(& Šindicated€then€his€intention€to€leave€it€in€that€place.€€He€voiced€this€intentionŠ €/Š*( Šexpressly€so€that€the€will€could€be€found€if€anything€happened€to€him.€€In€thisŠ ¤1ō,* Šsituation,€we€are€asked€to€apply€the€presumption€that€sometime€between€10:00Š Č3/, Šp.m.€on€that€Sunday€night€and€the€time€he€entered€the€hospital€the€next€morningŠ ģ5<1. ŠMr.€Brown€decided€to€destroy€the€will,€thereby€leaving€distribution€of€his€estateŠ 8`30 Što€the€laws€of€intestacy,€and€decided€not€to€mention€that€fact€to€anyone,€includingŠ ° Šhis€brother.€€Everything€in€the€record€about€Mr.€Brownššs€actions€and€statementsŠ Ō$ Šcontradict€such€a€presumption.€€The€loss€or€destruction€of€his€will€was€contraryŠ ųH Što,€and€not€in€accord€with,€his€often€and€recently€stated€wishes.Š  l Šą  ąThe€guiding€principle€underlying€the€law€of€wills,€to€which€all€otherŠ @  Šrules€must€yield,€is€that€the€intent€of€the€testator€must€prevail.€€€ņņSee€Third€NatššlŠ d“  ŠBank€v.€Stevensóó,€755€Ō‡ ¼* »»¼* ŌS.W.2dŌ#†¼* »» ¼* [“#Ō€459,€462€(Tenn.€App.€1988).€€€Warren€Brownššs€ownŠ ˆŲ  Šwords€provide€persuasive€evidence€that€he€had€no€interest€in€destroying€the€will.€Š ¬ü Š€He€told€his€lawyer,€his€funeral€director,€his€maid,€his€sister„in„law,€his€niece,€andŠ Š  Šhis€friend€of€the€existence€of€his€will€or€of€his€desire€that€Ms.€Mathis€take€underŠ ōD Šhis€will.€€He€provided€Ms.€Mathis€with€a€copy,€albeit€incomplete,€€of€the€will.€Š h ŠThe€night€before€his€death,€his€thoughts€were€focused€on€the€will€and€assuringŠ <Œ Šthat€his€family€knew€of€its€location.€€The€thoroughness€with€which€he€instructedŠ `° Šhis€family€and€others€on€such€matters€appears€inconsistent€with€the€testimonyŠ „ Ō Šthat€Warren€Brown€never€mentioned€his€will€to€his€brother,€whom€he€chose€to€actŠ Ø"ų Šwith€his€power€of€attorney.€€In€any€event,€as€in€ņņMooreóó,€after€Mr.€Brown€enteredŠ Ģ$  Šthe€hospital,€the€will€was€š šaccessible€to€anyone€bent€upon€an€unlawful€missionššŠ š&@"  Šand€it€is€not€necessary€for€us€to€determine€what€actually€happened€to€the€will.Š )d$" Šą  ąThe€reasons€for€the€stringent€requirements€to€prove€a€lost€or€stolen€willŠ 8+ˆ&$ Šhave€been€stated€„€to€prevent€fraud.€€An€overly„mechanical€application€of€thoseŠ \-¬(& Šrequirements€could,€however,€have€the€opposite€effect.€€Where,€as€here,€a€copyŠ €/Š*( Šof€an€executed€will€exists€and€its€validity€of€execution€is€proved,€the€law€shouldŠ ¤1ō,* Šnot€make€it€impossible€for€the€beneficiary€to€have€the€testatorššs€wishes€enforced.€Š Č3/, ŠTo€apply€the€presumption€in€a€way€that€requires€a€beneficiary€to€proveŠ ģ5<1. Šabsolutely,€rather€than€circumstantially,€€that€the€testator€did€not€revoke€the€willŠ 8`30 Šwould€create€an€almost€impossible€barrier.Š ° Šą  ąHaving€reviewed€the€facts€and€circumstances€of€this€case,€we€find€thatŠ Ō$ Šthe€presumption€that€Warren€Brown€destroyed€his€will€was€rebutted.€€€Absent€theŠ ųH Šapplication€of€the€presumption,€the€evidence€showing€that€Warren€Brown€did€notŠ  l Šdestroy€his€will€is€clear€and€convincing.€€ņņSee€Shrumóó,€604€Ō‡ ¼* »»¼* ŌS.W.2dŌ#†¼* »» ¼* Ž#Ō€at€871.€€Š @  Šą  ąAccordingly,€the€judgment€of€the€trial€court€is€reversed€and€this€caseŠ d“  Šis€remanded€for€further€proceedings€consistent€with€this€opinion.€€Costs€of€thisŠ ˆŲ  Šappeal€shall€be€taxed€to€Appellee,€for€which€execution€may€issue€if€necessary.€€Š ¬ü ŠÓÓĢĢą0  ąą0¼ T$ T$ą_____________________________ŠōD¼T$¼T$ Šą  ąą ¼ ąPATRICIA€J.€COTTRELL,€JUDGEŠ V ŠĢCONCUR:Š *z ŠĢĢĢ________________________________________Š rĀ ŠBEN€H.€CANTRELL,Š „ Ō ŠPRESIDING€JUDGE,€€M.€S.Š –!ę ŠĢĢĢ________________________________________Š Ž%.! ŠWILLIAM€C.€KOCH,€JR.,€JUDGEŠ š&@"  ŠĢĢĢĢĢą  ąĢ