ÿWPCñ /# ¢UN­ %û 0(b)w@14q…” 0Jœ 0Tæ 0^: 0h˜ 0r 0|r 0†î 0t 1u 0dyU>ÝB) AQD Æ• 0D[ 0@Ÿ 0Dß DC# D/f B• B² D3Ï AM U*O 'y v~  vÓ˜HP LaserJet 4SiHPPCL5MS,ü,,,,,ü0nLhÎ(ÖÃ9 Z ‹6Times New Roman RegularX($¡¡- ù- Ù/Ú/UÛ/EÜ/EÝ/ Þ/Uß/à/Dá/Ó€ë/ê‚_#3|xë/2 ÿÿ0Indent1Ô2ÔÔ3  Ô2" ÿÿ0Indent2à0 àÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô2, ÿÿ0Indent3à0 àà0 àÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô26 ÿÿ0Indent4à0 àà0 àà0 àÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô2@ ÿÿ0Indent5à0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô2J ÿÿ0Indent6à0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô2T ÿÿ0Indent7à0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô2^ ÿÿ0Indent8à0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô ÿÿ?AGMSYaioIndent0I.A.1.a.(1)(a)i)a)P ÿÿ8Mac DefaultMac DefaultÓ ` °šXÓ< Œ 9p`(&Times New Roman% Line 7 d!"#$&Cþÿ<< CÿÿƒLevel 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5(3¯$¢¢Ý ƒ!ÝÝ  Ý("ÿÿ$££Ò  ÒÒ  Ò($$””ò òÚ  Ú1Ú  Úó ó7Border 1dd(('÷ÿ dxd düÿP Pd'''''ÿÿdxd!#%Cþÿ << Gÿÿ< Œ 9p`(Arial Ý ƒ!ÝÑ  ÑÑ#€d#ÑÔ€ÔÝ  ÝÝ ƒ""ÝÝ  ÝÔ€+ÔÔ€+ÔÓ  Óò òÔ YYY ÔFILEDÔ€+XÔÌÌApril€8,€1998ÌÌCecil€W.€CrowsonÌAppellate€Court€ClerkÔ  Ôó óPtPtHHÚ(ÿáÿáùEG(üHHØ(d'`Styl{WP}01•ÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃà Ãà Ãà Ãà Ãà ÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÐ ÐÐHHÐÐ  ÐÐ2ÐÐÿÿ¸æ$ÿÐÐHHÐÐÐÐÐÐÐÐ  ÐÐ ÐÐ ÐÑÑÑGenevaÑÑ ÑÑ € ÑÑ<Px–ÈÑÒÒÒ443!#4ÒÒ$ *$ÒÒ$*$ÒÒ ÿKK ÒÒ  Geneva ÒÒ  Geneva ÒÓ.,ÓÓÓÓ6ÓÓ ÓßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßÑGenevaÑÑ ÑÒ  ion-F Geneva ÒÒ  ion-F Geneva ÒÝ ƒ!ÝÔ . ÔÔ€ÔÝ  ÝÒ  ÒÒ „ ÒÑ  ÑÑ\R AØ'\ÑÑ€ÑÑ7€f/XXdìdÈ7ÑÑ  ÑÑ  Ñò ò›Þ ÞÌESTATE€OF€JOHN€B.€FERGUSON,€JR.,€)ÌDeceasedà àà àà àà àà à)Ìà àà àà àà àà àà à)à àDavidson€ProbateÌJOHN€and€PATRICIA€SYLAWA,à àà à)à àNo.€94P„736Ìà àà àà àà àà àà à)ÌÙ€!ÙœßR€*,%A1-j|½?` ç `€€@ÿRß›à àContestants/Appellees,à àà à)à àÌà àà àà àà àà àà à)à àÌVS.à àà àà àà àà àà à)Ìà àà àà àà àà àà à)à àÌFIRST€AMERICAN€TRUST€CO.,€N.A.,à à)à àAppeal€No.ÌExecutor,à àà àà àà àà à)à à01A01„9707„PB„00313Ìà àà àà àà àà àà à)Ìà àProponent/Appellant.à àà à)ÌÌÌà@ àIN€THE€COURT€OF€APPEALS€OF€TENNESSEEÌà@ àAT€NASHVILLEÌÌÌà@ àAPPEAL€FROM€THE€PROBATE€COURT€OF€DAVIDSON€COUNTYÌà@ àAT€NASHVILLE,€TENNESSEEÌÌÓ  ÓHONORABLE€FRANK€G.€CLEMENT,€JR.,€JUDGEÌÓ  Óó óÌÌÌÌFred€W.€Beesley,€Jr.,€BPR€#9892ÌMalcolm€L.€McCune,€BPR€#2660ÌCourt€Square€BuildingÌ300€James€Robertson€ParkwayÌNashville,€TN€37201ÌATTORNEYS€FOR€œCONTESTANTS/APPELLEES›ÌÌÌWilliam€L.€Harbison,€BPR€#7012ÌAndree€S.€Blumstein,€BPR€#9357Ì424€Church€StreetÌNashville,€TN€37219ÌATTORNEYS€FOR€œPROPONENT/APPELLANT›ÌÌÌÓ  Óò òREVERSED€AND€REMANDEDó ó.ÌÓ  ÓÌÌà àà àà àà àà àà àHENRY€F.€TODDÌà àà àà àà àà àà àPRESIDING€JUDGE,€MIDDLE€SECTIONÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌCONCUR:ÌÌBEN€H.€CANTRELL,€JUDGEÌWILLIAM€C.€KOCH,€JR.,€JUDGEÌÌò òESTATE€OF€JOHN€B.€FERGUSON,€JR.,€)ÌDeceasedà àà àà àà àà à)Ìà àà àà àà àà àà à)à àDavidson€ProbateÌJOHN€and€PATRICIA€SYLAWA,à àà à)à àNo.€94P„736Ìà àà àà àà àà àà à)Ìà àContestants/Appellees,à àà à)à àÌà àà àà àà àà àà à)à àÌVS.à àà àà àà àà àà à)Ìà àà àà àà àà àà à)à àÌFIRST€AMERICAN€TRUST€CO.,€N.A.,à à)à àAppeal€No.ÌExecutor,à àà àà àà àà à)à à01A01„9707„PB„00313Ìà àà àà àà àà àà à)Ìà àProponent/Appellant.à àà à)Ìó óÌÌà@ àòòò òÔ€„ÔO€P€I€N€I€O€NÔ€XÔó óóóÌÓ  ÓÓÓÌà àThis€is€a€will€contest€case€involving€a€succession€of€œwills,€disputes›€as€to€theÏtestamentary€capacity€of€the€testator€at€the€time€of€the€making€of€each€of€the€wills,€and€theÏstanding€of€the€contestants.€€At€the€present€stage€of€the€proceedings,€the€contestants€are€in€theÏposition€of€plaintiffs,€because€they€initiated€the€contest.ÌÌà àOn€May€11,€1994,€a€will€made€by€deceased€on€May€2,€1991,€and€a€codicil€made€by€himÏon€May€8,€1991,€were€probated€in€the€Probate€Court€in€common€form.ÌÌà àOn€November€17,€1994,€John€and€Patricia€Sylawa€filed€in€the€same€probate€proceedingÏa€document€entitled:ÌÒ ¸ ÒÒ ` ÒÓ  ÓÓÓò òPetition€to€Contest€WillÌof€John€B.€Ferguson,€Jr.,ÌTo€seek€return€of€assets€from€trusts€and€otherÏentities,€and,€to€hear€concurrently€with€both,Ïseparately„filed€related€claim€against€the€estate€ofÏMabel€H.€FergusonÌÒ  ÒÒ „ ÒÓ  ÓÓÓó óÌà àœAllegations›€of€the€petition€œmaterial€to€this€appeal€were,›€in€substance:̛̜à à7.à àDeceased€lacked€testamentary€capacity€on€May€2,€and€8,€1991,€when€heÏexecuted€the€above€mentioned€will€and€codicil.ÌÌà à8.à àOn€July€22,€1986,€when€he€possessed€testamentary€capacity,€deceased€executedÏa€will€which€is€his€true€last€will€and€testament€and€which€provided€a€œlimited›€annual€income€toÏthe€Sylawas€for€life.ÌÓ  ÓÌÓ  Óà àA€copy,€but€not€the€original,€of€the€July€22,€1986,€will€was€exhibited€to€the€petition.ÌÌà àOn€the€same€date,€November€23,€1994,€the€Sylawasðð€filed€a€ð ðcomplaintðð€virtuallyÏidentical€to€their€ð ðPetition,ðð€except€that€they€prayed€that€they€be€allowed€to€contest€the€May€2,Ï1991,€œwill,€and,€in€addition,€alleged€an€additional€will€dated€August€14,€1991.›ÌÌà àAttached€to€the€complaint€was€an€affidavit€of€Robert€Lee€Perry,€Jr.,€attorney,€that€heÏprepared€and€saw€the€due€execution€of€an€August€14,€1986€will€of€John€B.€Ferguson€whichÏgave€the€entire€residue€of€his€estate€to€the€Sylawas€if€his€wife€predeceased€him.€(The€wife€didÏpredecease€the€œtestator.)ÌÌà àIt€appears€that€the€Sylawas€did€not€attempt€to€establish€the€July€22,€1986,€will,€but€thatÏthey€devoted€all€of€their€efforts€and€proof€to€the€August€14,€1986,€will.›ÌÌà àœOn€December›€12,€1994,€the€executor/proponent€moved€to€dismiss€the€petition€andÏcomplaint€of€the€Sylawas€for€lack€of€standing€or,€in€the€alternative€that€the€contest€be€certifiedÏto€the€circuit€court€for€trial€before€a€jury.ÌÌà àOn€January€20,€1995,€the€Sylawas€filed€an€amended€complaint€requesting€that€the€ð ðlostÏwillðð€of€August€14,€1986,€be€probated€based€upon€a€copy€and€affidavits.ÌÌà àCounsel€for€œ›€the€œparties›€filed€a€stipulation€reading€as€follows:€à àÌÒ ¸ ÒÒ ` ÒÓÓà àThe€Court€has€ordered€that€a€hearing€be€held€onÏDecember€17,€1996,€for€the€purpose€of€determining€whetherÏthe€plaintiffs,€John€and€Patricia€Sylawa,€have€standing€toÏmaintain€the€will€contest€that€they€seek€to€bring€in€thisÏmatter.€€For€purposes€of€the€standing€hearing€to€be€held€onÏDecember€17,€1996,€and€òòonlyóó€for€purposes€of€that€hearingÏand€not€for€any€other€purpose,€the€parties€have€agreed,€asÏevidenced€by€the€signatures€of€their€respective€counsel,€thatÏcertain€facts€may€be€assumed€by€the€Court€in€making€itsÏdetermination€on€the€issue€of€standing.€€The€facts€to€whichÏthe€parties€stipulate€for€purposes€of€the€standing€hearing€areÏas€follows:ÌÌ1.à àOn€August€14,€1986,€John€B.€Ferguson,€Jr.,Ïproperly€executed€a€will€drafted€by€Robert€Perry.€€AnÏunexecuted€copy€of€that€August€14,€1996,€will€is€attachedÏhereby€as€Exhibit€A.ÌÌ2.à àOn€August€14,€1986,€John€B.€Ferguson,€Jr.,€wasÏmentally€competent€to€make€a€will.ÌÌ3.à àThe€unexecuted€copy€of€Mr.€Fergusonððs€August€14,Ï1986,€will€in€Exhibit€A€represents€accurately€the€contents€ofÏthat€will€as€executed€by€Mr.€FergusonÌÌ4.à àJohn€B.€Ferguson,€Jr.,€made€and€executed€theÏAugust€14,€1986,€will€in€accordance€with€the€forms€andÏrequirements€of€law.ÌÌ5.à àThe€original€of€the€will€executed€by€Mr.€Ferguson€onÏAugust€14,€1986,€cannot€be€found€even€after€due€and€properÏsearch.ÌÌ6.à àFrom€and€after€October€1990,€John€B.€FergusonÏlacked€the€mental€capacity€legally€necessary€to€revoke€a€will.ÌÌ7.à àJohn€B.€Ferguson,€Jr.,€died€on€April€21,€1994.€€TheÏwill€and€codicil€that€Mr.€Ferguson€executed,€respectively,€onÏMay€2,€and€May€8,€1991,€have€been€probated€in€this€Court.ÌÌà àThe€parties€further€acknowledge€and€agree€that€theÏissue€of€standing€is,€under€Tennessee€law,€a€separate€matterÏfrom€the€will€contest€itself€and€that€a€judgment€on€the€issueÏof€standing€is€appealable€as€of€right.€€Each€party€understandsÏand€agrees€that€the€other€party€will€appeal€any€adverse€rulingÏon€the€standing€issue€and€that€neither€party€will€claim€onÏappeal€that€the€other€party€has€waived€the€right€to€raise€anÏargument€on€appeal€simply€because€that€party€may€haveÏagreed€to€a€certain€procedure€for€the€purpose€of€facilitatingÏthe€hearing.€€In€contemplation€of€appeal,€the€parties€alsoÏagree€that,€with€the€permission€of€the€Court,€the€presentlyÏscheduled€trial€date€of€February€10,€1997,€should€beÏpostponed€pending€the€completion€of€the€appeals€process€onÏthe€standing€issue.ÌÒ  ÒÒ „ ÒÓÓÌà àOn€December€13,€1996,€the€Probate€Judge€entered€the€following€order:ÌÒ ¸ ÒÒ ` ÒÓÓà àòòò òORDER€OF€PARTIAL€SUMMARYÏJUDGMENTó óóóÌÌà àPlaintiffs€have€moved€the€Court€for€an€Order€ofÏPartial€Summary€Judgment€establishing€for€the€purpose€ofÏthis€litigation€that€John€B.€Ferguson,€Jr.€has€testamentaryÏcapacity€at€all€times€up€to€and€including€August€14,€1986.€ÏThis€Motion€was€not€opposed.€€After€examination€ofÏPlaintiffððs€Memorandum€and€Exhibits€and€the€record€as€aÏwhole,€the€Court€finds€the€Motion€is€well„taken,€therefore,ÌÌà àIT€IS€ORDERED€ADJUDGED€AND€DECREED€forÏthe€purpose€of€this€litigation€that€John€B.€Ferguson,€Jr.€hadÏtestamentary€capacity€at€all€times€up€to€and€including€AugustÏ14,€1986.ÌÒ  ÒÒ „ ÒÓÓÌà àOn€February€24,€1997,€the€Probate€Judge€entered€the€following€order:ÌÓ  Óòòò òAGREED€ORDER€AMENDING€THE€ORDER€OF€12/23/96ó óóóÌÒ ¸ ÒÒ ` ÒÓ  ÓÓÓà àThis€matter€came€to€be€heard€on€the€17th€day€ofÏJanuary,€1997,€before€the€Honorable€Frank€G.€Clement,ÏProbate€Judge,€upon€the€motion€of€First€American€TrustÏCompany€to€alter€or€amend€the€order€entered€December€23,Ï1996,€on€the€issue€of€standing.€€It€appearing€that€there€is€noÏopposition€to€the€motion€and€that€proper€notice€has€beenÏgiven€to€all€parties,€this€Court€is€of€the€opinion€that€theÏmotion€is€well€taken€and€should€be€granted.ÌÌà àIt€is€accordingly€ORDERED€that€the€motion€of€FirstÏAmerican€Trust€Company€to€alter€or€amend€the€order€enteredÏDecember€23,€1996,€on€the€issue€of€standing€is€herebyÏgranted€and€that€this€Courtððs€Order€of€December€23,€1996,€isÏamended€to€read€in€its€entirety€as€follows:ÌÌà àOn€motion€by€the€Defendant€for€this€Court€to€hearÏevidence€and€determine€whether€Plaintiffs€possess€standingÏto€bring€a€will€contest,€this€matter€came€on€to€be€heard€onÏTuesday,€December€17,€1996.€€Upon€the€CourtððsÏconsideration€of€the€partiesðð€Memoranda€of€Law,€theÏStipulations€filed€by€the€parties,€the€testimony€of€witnesses,Ïthe€Plaintiffsðð€designated€portions€of€certain€depositions€ofÏwitnesses,€the€argument€of€counsel€and€the€record€as€aÏwhole,€this€Court€finds€that€Plaintiffs€have€standing€to€bringÏa€will€contest€and,€therefore,ÌÌà àIt€is€ORDERED,€ADJUDGED,€and€DECREED€thatÏPlaintiffs€have€established€their€standing€and€may€proceedÏwith€their€will€contest.€€This€order€is€final€and€appealable€asÏof€right.€€Pritchard€on€Wills,€5th€ed.,€ðð354.€€Trial€of€the€willÏcontest€is€presently€set€for€February€10,€1997.€€Since€theÏparties€agreed€in€their€stipulations,€filed€on€December€12,Ï1996,€that€the€issue€of€standing€is,€under€Tennessee€law,€aÏseparate€matter€from€the€will€contest€itself€and€that€aÏjudgment€on€the€issue€of€standing€is€appealable€as€of€rightÏand€that€the€non„prevailing€party€will€appeal€from€thisÏCourtððs€order€on€the€standing€controversy,€it€is€furtherÏORDERED€that€the€trial€of€the€will€contest€presently€set€toÏbegin€on€February€10,€1997,€is€postponed€pending€theÏcompletion€of€the€appeals€process€on€the€standingÏcontroversy.ÌÌà àMoreover,€the€Court€expressly€finds€and€determinesÏthat€it€is€appropriate€to€direct€the€entry€of€a€final€judgment€asÏto€the€standing€issue€because,€for€the€reasons€set€forthÏbelow,€there€is€no€just€reason€for€delay.€€Accordingly,€it€isÏfurther€ORDERED,€ADJUDGED,€and€DECREED€that,€thereÏbeing€no€just€reason€for€delay,€this€Courtððs€œorder›€that€theÏPlaintiffs€have€established€standing€to€maintain€a€will€contestÏis€final,€and€the€Court€hereby€directs€the€entry€of€a€finalÏjudgment€on€that€issue.ÌÌÒ ½ ÒÒ ` Òà àÌà àFrom€the€quoted€order,€the€executor€has€prosecuted€this€appeal.ÌÌÓÓÌà àThe€Chancery€Court€has€exclusive€jurisdiction€to€set€up€a€will€whichÏhas€been€lost,€destroyed€or€suppressed.€€òòWall€v.€Millsapsóó,€199€Tenn.€241,Ï286€S.W.2d€343€(1956).€€òòWarmath€v.€Smithóó,€198€Tenn.€257,€279€S.W.2dÏ257.ÌÌà àThe€Probate€Court€of€Davidson€County,€Tennessee€has€all€theÏpowers€of€a€chancery€court€in€respect€to€wills€and€estates.€€Chapter€366,€Sec.Ï2€Private€Acts€of€1974.ÌÌà àWill€contests€filed€in€Probate€Court€are€tried€in€Circuit€Court€asÏprovided€by€TCA€ðð€32„4„101.€œHowever,›€its€chancery€powers€includeÏjurisdiction€to€establish€lost€wills.ÌÌà àBefore€a€œcontest›€can€be€certified€to€the€circuit€court,€the€Probate€CourtÏmust€find€that€the€contestant€has€standing€to€pursue€the€contest.€€That€is€theÏcontestant(s)€must€show€that€he€or€they€would€take€a€share€(or€larger€share)Ïof€decedentððs€estate€if€the€contest€is€successful;€but€if€standing€rests€upon€aÍprior€will€which€is€lost,€the€prior€will€must€be€established€in€chancery€courtÏbefore€a€legatee€under€the€prior€will€has€standing€to€contest€the€later€will.€€ItÏwould€not€be€proper€to€œcertify›€€both€wills€to€circuit€court€beforeÏestablishment€of€œtheÌÌlost›€will€in€chancery.€€In€Re€Estate€of€West,€Tenn.€App.€1987,€729€S.W.2dÏ676.ÌÌà àIn€order€to€establish€a€lost€will€in€chancery,€the€following€facts€mustÏbe€established€by€clear€and€convincing€evidence:Ìà à(1)à àThe€instrument€was€duly€executed.€€(This€was€stipulated.)Ìà à(2)à àœThe›€instrument€cannot€be€found.€€(This€was€stipulated.)Ìà à(3)à àThe€substance€of€the€instrument.€€(This€was€stipulated.)Ìà à(4)à àThe€beneficiaries€of€the€will.€€(This€was€stipulated.)Ìà à(5)à àThe€will€has€not€been€revoked.€€(This€has€not€been€shown€byÏà àà àclear€and€convincing€evidence.)ÌòòœShrum›€v.€Powellóó,€Tenn.€App.€1980,€604€S.W.2d€869,€and€authorities€citedÏtherein.€€These€requirements€are€stringent.€€òòHaven€v.€Wrinkleóó,€29€Tenn.ÏApp.€1995,€1995€S.W.2d€787€(1945).̛̜œà àAbsent€evidence€of€possession€of€the€will€by€someone€other€than€theÏtestator,€it€must€be€presumed€that€it€was€in€his€possession€until€itsÏdisappearance.Ì›Ìà àIf€a€will€is€traced€into€the€hands€of€the€testator€and€cannot€be€foundÏafter€his€death,€there€is€a€presumption€that€the€testator€destroyed€the€will,Ïthereby€revoking€it.€€òòHickey€v.€Beeleróó,€180€Tenn.€31,€171€S.W.2d€277Ï(1942);€€òòAllen€v.€Jeteróó,€74€Tenn.€(6€Lea)€1881).€€The€burden€of€rebutting€thisÏpresumption€is€upon€the€person€seeking€to€establish€the€will.òò€€Sanders€v.ÏMcClanahanóó,€59€Tenn.€App.€590,€442€S.W.€668€(1969).̛̜à àThe€stipulated€fact€that€the€will€cannot€be€found€placed€the€burdenÏsquarely€upon€the€contestants/appellees€to€prove€by€ð ðstringent,€clear€andÏconvincing€evidenceðð€that€the€will€which€they€seek€to€establish€was€notÏrevoked€by€destruction€by€the€testator.ÌÌà àThe€contestants€have€not€satisfied€the€requirement€of€proving€byÏð ðstringent,€clear€and€convincing€evidenceðð€that€Mr.€Ferguson€did€not€revokeÏthe€œAugust€14,›€1986,€will€upon€which€the€contestants€rely€for€standing€andÏwhich€they€sought€to€establish€in€equity.ÌÌà àThe€Probate€Court€heard€the€evidence€without€a€jury€and€entered€aÏfinal€judgment€that€the€contestants€have€standing.€€This€Court€respectfullyÏdisagrees€for€the€reason€above€stated,€that€the€contestants€failed€to€offerÏð ðstringent,€clear€and€convincing€evidenceðð€that€the€lost€will€upon€which€theyÏrely€for€standing€was€òònotóó€revoked€by€the€testator.ÌÌà àThe€judgment€of€the€Probate€Court€is€reversed€and€vacated€and€theÏpetitionersðð€petition€to€contest€is€dismissed.€€Costs€of€this€appeal,€and€of€theÏproceedings€upon€the€petition€in€Probate€Court€are€taxed€against€theÏœcontestants.›€€The€cause€is€remanded€to€the€Probate€Court€for€entry€of€theÏjudgment€of€this€Court€and€for€further€appropriate€proceedings.ÌÌÒ ½ ÒÒ „ ÒÓ  Óò òREVERSED€AND€œREMANDEDó ó.ÌÓ  ÓÓÓ›ÌÒ  ÒÒ „ Òà àà àà àà àà àà à___________________________________Ìà àà àà àà àà àà àHENRY€F.€TODDÌà àà àà àà àà àà àPRESIDING€JUDGE,€MIDDLE€SECTIONÌÌÌÌCONCUR:ÌÌ____________________________ÌBEN€H.€CANTRELL,€JUDGEÌÌ____________________________ÌWILLIAM€C.€KOCH,€JR.,€JUDGE