ÿWPC  …# VUNa %¯ 0(µU<Ýw@ 4Y m | 0§„ 0D+ 0Jo 0T¹ 0^ 0hk 0rÓ 0|E 0†Á 0G 1u× 0dLU>°B)îDC AMZU*§Ñá•ò D3‡v~ºvÓ8 0@  BK AOhÆ· 0D} D/Á Bð˜HP LaserJet 4Si/4SiMX PS 600dpiPSCRIPTÀäÌÀÀÌÀä0 (ÈhH  Z ‹6Times New Roman RegularX($¡¡-šBu Z‹$Arrus BT Roman <D=U>î?H@AIBHCHDÓ€NDÒ xâ3|xN(W(2GÒ$¤¤Ý ƒ!ÝÝ  ÝÒ°ÒÒ„°ÒÔ€X4QXXXÔà ` àòòÚ  Ú0Ú  Úóó(#Ã$òòÚ  Ú0Ú  Úóó2 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####7Border 1dd€-$Cþÿ << Gÿÿ< Œ 9p`(Arial Ý ƒ!ÝÑ  ÑÑ#€d#ÑÔ€"ÔÝ  ÝÔ€&ÔÔ€&ÔÓ  Óò òÔ YYY ÔFILEDÔ€&XÔÌÌOctober€18,€1996ÌÌCecil€W.€CrowsonÌAppellate€Court€ClerkÔ  Ôó ó Ý ƒ!ÝÑ#€d#ÑÔ€"ÔÝ  ÝÝ ƒ $ÝÒ  ÒÒ „ ÒÔ€Ôà àòòÚ  ÚÚ  ÚóóÝ  ÝThe€record€reflects€that€a€later€trial€date€of€October€4,€1995,€was€set.Ì ‹Ý ƒ!ÝÑ#€d#ÑÔ€"ÔÝ  ÝÝ ƒ $ÝÒ  ÒÒ „ ÒÔ€Ôà àòòÚ  ÚÚ  ÚóóÝ  ÝSince€1991,€proceedings€to€establish€a€lost€will€can€be€maintained€in€a€court€ofÏrecord€having€probate€jurisdiction.€€T.C.A.€€ðð€32„3„109€(1995€Supp.)€€This€applies€to€theÏDavidson€County€Probate€Court.ÌKKKK'ÿÿdxdPtPtHPð€ÿÜÿìô”(üHPð€P € €'Styl{WP}01•ÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃà Ãà Ãà Ãà Ãà ÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÐ ÐÐHHÐÐ  ÐÐ2ÐÐÿÿ¸æ$ÿÐÐHHÐÐÐÐÐÐÐÐ  ÐÐ ÐÐ ÐÑÑÑGenevaÑÑ ÑÑ € ÑÑ<Px–ÈÑÒÒÒ443!#4ÒÒ$ *$ÒÒ$*$ÒÒ ÿKK ÒÒ  Geneva ÒÒ  Geneva ÒÓ.,ÓÓÓÓ6ÓÓ ÓßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßÑGenevaÑÑ ÑÒ  BA Op Geneva ÒÒ  BA Op Geneva Ò("ÿÿ$££Ò  ÒÒ  Ò d€-‚ƒCþÿ<< CÿÿƒLevel 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5($$””ò òÚ  Ú1Ú  Úó ó„„'÷ÿ dxdüÿP PdÝ ƒ!ÝÔ . ÔÔ€"ÔÝ  ÝÑ7€uXXdìdÈ7ÑÑ  ÑÔ€ÔÓ  ÓÑ  ÑÑ\R AØ'\ÑÒ  ÒÒ „ Òà@ àIN€THE€COURT€OF€APPEALS€OF€TENNESSEEÌà@ àWESTERN€SECTION€AT€NASHVILLEÌà àà à€€€________________________________________________ÌÌò òIN€RE:€ESTATE€OF€ROBERT€E.€YATES,€ÌDECEASED,€ÌÌFRED€MAYO,€JR.,€ó óÌÌà àPlaintiff„Appellant,€Ìà àà àà àà àà àà àà àDavidson€Probate€No.€94P1218ÌVs.à àà àà àà àà àà àà àC.A.€No.€01A01„9603„PB„00093ÌÙ€€ÙßL€%'$;+'h| ÿf` ç `€€LßÌò òARCHIE€N.€SPAIN,€NATIONSBANK,€ÌINC.,€Executor€of€the€Estate€of€RobertÌE.€Yates,€Deceased,€and€TREVECCAÌNAZARENE€COLLEGE,€INC.,€ó óÌÌà àDefendants„Appellees.Ì___________________________________________________________________________ÌÌà@ àFROM€THE€PROBATE€COURT€OF€DAVIDSON€COUNTYÌà@ àTHE€HONORABLE€JAMES€R.€EVERETT,€JR.,€JUDGEÌÌÌà@ àV.€Michael€Fox;€Bruce,€Weathers,€Corley,€Dughman€&€LyleÌà@ àof€Nashville,€for€AppellantÌÌà@ àJ.€Robin€McKinney,€Jr.€and€Thomas€T.€OvertonÌà@ àof€Nashville,€for€Appellee,€SpainÌÌà@ àT.€Richard€Travis;€Manier,€Herod,€Hollabaugh€&€SmithÌà@ àof€Nashville,€for€Appellee,€NationsbankÌÌÌÌà@ àò òòòVACATED€AND€REMANDEDó óóóÌÌà@ àOpinion€filed:€ÌÌÌÌÌÌà àà àà àà àà àà àà àò òW.€FRANK€CRAWFORD,ÌÌà àà àà àà àà àà àà àPRESIDING€JUDGE,€W.S.ÌCONCUR:ÌÌALAN€E.€HIGHERS,€JUDGEÌÌHOLLY€KIRBY€LILLARD,€JUDGEó óÌÌ›Ñ7€uXXdìXXdì7ÑÑ  ÑÓÓà àThis€appeal€involves€a€œdispute€concerning›€œthe€purported›€wills€œof€Robert€E.€Yates,›Ïdeceased.€€The€record€on€appeal,€which€consists€only€of€the€technical€record,€reflects€aÏmost€bizarre€series€of€œproceedings.€€›Ìà àThe€record€indicates€that€Robert€E.€œYates›€died€on€July€22,€1994.€€On€August€11,Ï1994,€Nationsbank€filed€a€petition€in€the€Probate€Court€of€Davidson€County€to€probateÏthe€will€of€the€decedent,€dated€July€13,€1994,€in€common€form,€and€to€be€appointedÏexecutor€of€the€estate€as€designated€in€the€will.€€An€order€was€entered€on€August€11,Ï1994,€signed€by€R.€H.€Bradshaw,€Jr.,€Probate€Master,€that€œadmits›€said€will€to€probate€andÏappoints€Nationsbank€as€executor€of€the€estate.€€œÌà àOn€December€6,€1994,€Fred€Mayo,€Jr.,€filed€a€ð ðPetition€for€Will€Contestðð€in€theÏprobate€court€in€which€he€alleges€that€he€is€a€beneficiary€under€two€previous€wills€of€theÍdecedent,€and€that€the€will€dated€July€13,€1994,€probated€in€this€cause,€was€the€result€ofÏundue€influence€at€a€time€when›€the€decedent€lacked€proper€mental€capacity€to€execute€aÏwill.€€On€the€same€date,€December€6,€1994,€Fred€Mayo,€Jr.,€filed€œa›€ð ðPetition€for€ProbateÏof€Will€in€Solemn€Form€and€Granting€of€Letters€œTestamentaryðð€in€the€same€cause.›€€TheÏpetition€alleges,€òòinter€alia,óó€that€the€œpetitioner€›€has€filed€a€will€contest€concerning€the€JulyÏ13,€1994€will,€and€that€the€petitioner€presents€for€probate€in€solemn€form€the€will€of€theÏdecedent€dated€August€21,€1992.€€A€cursory€review€of€the€petition€and€supportingÏdocuments€indicates€that€the€petitioner€has€complied€with€the€procedure€for€probate€inÏsolemn€form.€€ò òòòSee€generallyó óóó€ò òPritchard€on€Wills€and€Administration€of€Estatesó ó,€5th€ed.,€Ïðð€341,€òòet€seq.óó.€€On€January€5,€1995,€Archie€N.€Spain,€a€beneficiary€under€the€1992€will€andÏthe€1994€will,€filed€an€ð ðObjection€to€Petition€for€Probate€of€Will€in€Solemn€Formðð€inÏwhich€he€alleges€that€the€petition€to€probate€the€1992€will€is€premature€because€thereÏhas€been€no€adjudication€on€the€merits€of€the€will€contest€to€the€1994€will.€€TheÏobjection€further€avers€that€the€will€shown€as€an€exhibit€to€the€petition€is€not€theÏoriginal€and€that€ð ðvoidðð€is€handwritten€across€the€face€of€the€will.€€€Ïà àœà àà àNationsbank,›€the€œexecutor€named€in€the€1994›€will,€is€also€theÏexecutor€named€in€the€1992€will.€€On€January€18,€1995,€Nationsbank€filed€a€answer€toÏthe€petition€for€the€will€contest,€which€in€œgeneral›€joined€issue€on€the€allegations€therein.€ÍAnother€beneficiary€under€the€1992€and€1994€wills,€Trevecca€œNazarene›€College,€Inc.,Ïfiled€an€answer€to€the€petition€for€will€contest€on€January€19,€1995,€in€which€it€joinedÏissue€on€the€material€allegations€of€the€petition.€€Archie€Spain,€a€beneficiary€under€theÏ1994€will€and€also€the€1992€will,€filed€an€answer€to€the€petition€for€will€contest€onÏJanuary€20,€1995,€also€joining€issue€on€the€material€allegations.€€Additionally,€SpainððsÏanswer€avers€that€the€1992€will€exhibited€with€the€petition€for€probate€in€solemn€formÏwas€not€the€original€will€and€demands€strict€proof€of€the€existence€of€the€original€will.€ÏSubsequently,€on€January€15,€1995,€both€Archie€Spain€and€Nationsbank€joined€in€filing€aÏmotion€to€dismiss€the€will€contest€petition€for€lack€of€capacity€to€sue.€€The€motionÏalleges€that€the€plaintiff,€Mayo,€is€not€an€heir€at€law€of€the€decedent,€and€that€he€has€notÏestablished€a€prior€will€in€which€he€would€take€a€share€of€the€decedentððs€estate€if€theÏprobated€will€were€set€aside.Ìà àAn€agreed€order€was€entered€on€April€12,€1995,€setting€a€trial€date€of€April€18,Ï1995,€for€the€proceeding€to€probate€the€1992€will€in€solemn€form.€€The€next€order€toÏappear€in€the€record€was€entered€August€17,€1995,€and€states€as€follows:ÌÓÓà8 àà8 àThis€cause€came€to€be€heard€on€the€28th€day€of€April,€1995,Ïbefore€the€Honorable€James€R.€Everett,€Jr.,€Judge€of€theÏProbate€Court€for€Davidson€County,€Tennessee,€upon€theÏdefendants€Nationsbank,€Inc.€and€Archie€N.€Spainððs€MotionÏto€Dismiss€for€Lack€of€Capacity€to€Sue.€€After€dueÏconsideration€of€the€Memorandums€of€Law€filed€herein€andÍupon€argument€of€Counsel,€it€appears€to€the€Court€that€theÏMotion€is€well€taken.ÌÌà8 àà8 àIT€IS€THEREFORE€ORDERED,€ADJUDGED€ANDÏDECREED€that€this€cause€of€action€be€dismissed€withÏprejudice€for€lack€of€plaintiffððs€capacity€to€sue.ÌÌà8 àà8 àIT€IS€FURTHER€ORDERED,€ADJUDGED€ANDÏDECREED€that€the€attorney€for€defendant€Nationsbank,ÏInc.,€T.€Richard€Travis,€is€entitled€to€œattorneyððs›€fees€andÏexpenses€of€$4,318.00,€and€the€attorney€for€defendantÏArchie€N.€Spain,€James€S.€Bramell,€is€entitled€to€attorneyððsÏfees€and€expenses€of€$4,291.65,€and€that€all€costs€of€thisÏaction€shall€be€assessed€against€the€plaintiff,€€[for]€all€ofÏwhich€execution€may€issue€if€necessary.ÌÌà8 àà8 àENTER€this€the€15th€day€of€August,€1995.ÌÌÓÓà àOn€September€6,€1995,€Mr.€Mayo€filed€a€motion€to€set€aside€the€above€order€ofÏdismissal.€€The€motion€states€that€the€parties€agreed€on€April€28,€1995,€that€if€either€ofÏthe€earlier€dated€wills€of€the€decedent€are€admitted€to€probate,€then€defendantsðð€motionÏto€dismiss€Mayoððs€petition€to€contest€the€will€would€be€denied,€but€that€if€neither€of€theÏprior€dated€wills€are€admitted€to€probate,€Mayo€would€have€no€standing€to€contest€theÏprobate€of€the€1994€will.€€The€motion€advises€the€court€that€a€trial€date€for€the€petitionÏto€probate€in€solemn€form€is€set€for€September€13,€1995.× ƒ( ××  ×€€Ìà àNationsbank€filed€a€response€to€the€motion€to€set€aside€the€order€of€dismissalÍwhich€purports€to€outline€the€procedural€history€of€the€proceedings.€€The€response€aversÏthat€the€petition€to€probate€the€1992€will€ð ðwas€heard€before€Special€Judge€Butler€who,Ïhaving€heard€the€evidence€and€argument€on€the€petition,€took€the€matter€underÏadvisement.ðð€€The€response€alleges€that€the€parties€advised€the€special€judge€€that€theÏmotion€to€dismiss€the€will€contest€was€scheduled€for€a€hearing€in€ten€days€and€that€theyÏhad€agreed€that€if€Special€Judge€Butler€denied€probate€of€the€1992€will€that€the€motionÏto€dismiss€the€will€contest€should€be€granted.€€The€response€then€goes€on€to€aver€thatÏwhen€Judge€Butler€had€not€ruled€by€April€28,€1995,€ð ðCounsel€for€the€ContestantÏappeared€at€Court€and€advised€Your€Honor€of€the€pending€ruling€by€Special€Judge€ButlerÏand€that€an€adverse€holding€by€Judge€Butler€would€resolve€the€standing€issue,€whereuponÏthe€Court€agreed€to€withhold€ruling€on€the€matter€pending€Special€Judge€ButlerððsÏRuling.ðð€€The€response€further€avers€that:ÌÓÓà8 àà8 à7.€€On€June€8,€1995€Special€Judge€Butler€advised€the€partiesÏthat€he€would€be€unable€to€render€a€decision€in€the€matterÏand€directed€that€the€matter€be€placed€back€on€the€œCourtððsÏ›docket.€€The€Contestant€did€not€Respond.ÌÌà8 àà8 à8.€€On€July€10,€1995,€Counsel€for€the€Primary€BeneficiaryÏrequested€that€the€Petition€be€placed€back€on€the€Docket.€ÏThe€Contestant€œdid€›not€respond.ÌÌà8 àà8 à9.€€On€August€1,€1995€the€Proponent€and€Archie€Spain,Ïthrough€counsel€submitted€the€Order€originally€prepared€forÏthe€April€28th€hearing€to€the€Clerk€of€this€Court€and€to€theÍContestant€by€letter€advising€of€this€action€in€order€to€getÏthe€matter€moving.€€The€contestant€did€not€respond.ÌÌà8 àà8 à10.€€On€August€17,€1995€the€Court€entered€the€Order€whichÏthe€Contestant€now€moves€to€set€aside.ÌÌÓÓà àDespite€the€averments€of€counsel,€there€is€nothing€in€the€record€to€reflect€that€aÏspecial€judge€was€appointed€to€consider€any€part€of€the€proceedings,€nor€is€thereÏanything€in€the€record€to€indicate€that€a€special€judge€heard€any€proof,€took€€anythingÏunder€advisement€or,€incredibly,€asked€that€the€matter€be€placed€back€on€the€courtððsÏdocket€because€he€could€not€reach€a€decision.Ìà àBy€order€entered€October€2,€1995,€Mayoððs€motion€to€set€aside€the€order€ofÏdismissal€was€denied,€and€this€appeal€ensued.€€The€appellant,€Mayo,€presents€one€issueÏfor€review€œwhich,€as›€stated€in€his€œbrief,€is:›ÌÓÓà8 àà8 àWhether€the€trial€court€erred€as€a€matter€of€law€in€grantingÏDefendants/Appelleesðð€motion€to€dismissÏPlaintiff/Appellantððs€will€contest€action€prior€to€theÏdetermination€of€Plaintiff/Appellantððs€standing€to€challengeÏthe€will€of€Robert€E.€Yates€that€was€admitted€to€probate€onÏAugust€11,€1994.ÌÌÓÓà àAppellant€is€apparently€asserting€that€he€was€denied€the€right€to€a€hearing€toÏestablish€his€standing€or€capacity€to€contest€the€1994€will.€€Ìà àIt€is€well€settled€that€ð ðonly€such€persons€as€would€be€entitled€to€share€in€the€realÏand€personal€estate€of€decedent,€if€there€were€no€will,€or€if€the€will€was€set€aside,€areÍentitled€to€impeach€its€validity.€ò òPritchard€on€Willsó ó,€Sec.€339;€ò òòòWynne€v.€Spiersó óóó,€26€Tenn.Ï394.ðð€€ò òòòWarmath€v.€Smithó óóó,€198€Tenn.€(2€McCanless)€257,€259,€279€S.W.2d€257,€258Ï(1955).€€Thus,€since€the€plaintiff,€as€a€former€brother„in„law€of€the€decedent,€would€notÏtake€under€the€laws€of€intestate€succession€should€the€decedentððs€will€be€declared€invalid,ÏT.C.A.€ðð€31„2„104€(1984),€he€only€has€capacity€to€contest€the€probated€will€if€he€provesÏthe€existence€of€a€valid€will€under€which€he€is€a€beneficiary.€ò òòòWarmathó óóó,€198€Tenn.€at€259,Ï279€S.W.2d€at€258.€€If€the€contestant€is€not€able€to€produce€the€will,€he€or€she€mustÏestablish€the€lost€will€by€proving:€ÌÓÓà8 àà8 à(1)€that€the€testator€made€and€executed€a€valid€will€inÏaccordance€with€the€forms€of€law€and€the€death€of€theÏtestator;€(2)€that€the€will€had€not€been€revoked€and€is€lostÏor€destroyed€or€cannot€be€found€after€due€and€properÏsearch;€and€(3)€the€substance€and€contents€of€the€will.€Vol.1,ÏPhillipsðð€Pritchard€Law€of€Wills,€Sec.€50;€ò òòòMorris€v.€Swaneyó óóó,Ï54€Tenn.€591€[(1872)];€ò òòòMoore€et€al.€v.€Williams€et€al.ó óóó,€30ÏœTenn.€›App.€479,€207€S.W.2d€590€[(1947)];€ò òòòHaven€v.ÏWrinkleó óóó,€29€Tenn.€App.€195,€195€S.W.2d€787€[(1945)].ÌÌÓÓ€ò òòòShrum€v.€Powelló óóó,€604€S.W.2d€869,€871€(Tenn.€App.€1980).€€€€Whether€a€lost€will€existedÏmust€be€established€by€ð ðclear,€cogent€and€convincing€proof.ðð€òòò òIdó óóó.€(citing€ò òòòWolfe€v.ÏWilliamsó óóó,€1€Tenn.€App.€441,€450€(1925)).€Ìà àœIn€ò òòòIn›€re€Estate€of€Westó óóó,€729€S.W.2d€676€(Tenn.€App.€1987),€the€testator€executedÏtwo€wills,€one€on€December€8,€1981,€and€a€second€on€February€1,€1984.€€Appellant,€whoÍwould€have€been€a€beneficiary€under€the€1981€will€but€not€under€the€1984€will,€filed€aÏpetition€to€contest€the€later€will€on€the€grounds€of€incompetency€and€undue€influence.€Ïò òòòIdó óóó.,€729€S.W.2d€at€677.€€After€appellee€filed€a€motion€to€dismiss€the€will€contest€for€lackÏof€standing,€appellant€amended€his€petition€to€show€the€existence€of€the€former€will,Ïattaching€an€unsigned€copy€of€the€former€will€to€the€amended€petition.€€The€courtÏdenied€appelleeððs€motion€to€dismiss€and€heard€proof€on€appellantððs€petition.€€After€theÏevidentiary€hearing,€the€trial€court€dismissed€appellantððs€will€contest,€holding€thatÏappellant€failed€to€overcome€the€presumption€that€the€testator€destroyed€the€1981€willÏand€thus,€without€proof€€that€he€had€an€interest€in€the€estate€under€that€will,€appellantÏdid€not€have€standing€to€contest€the€1984€will.€€ò òòòIdó óóó.,€729€S.W.2d€at€677.€Ìà àOn€appeal,€appellant€argued€that€he€did€not€have€to€prove€all€of€the€elements€of€aÏlost€will;€rather,€that€he€only€had€to€òòcommence€óóan€action€to€establish€the€lost€or€destroyedÏinstrument.€€ò òòòIdó óóó.,€729€S.W.2d€at€678.€€The€Middle€Section€of€this€Court€found€to€theÏcontrary,€holding€as€follows:ÌÓÓà8 àà8 à[W]e€think€the€rule€is€that€the€lost€will€must€first€beÏestablished€in€chancery€before€a€legatee€under€that€will€hasÏstanding€to€contest€a€later€probated€will.€€Then€both€willsÏmay€be€certified€to€the€circuit€court€for€determination€ofÏwhich€is€the€will€of€the€deceased.ÌÌÓÓò òòòIdó óóó.,€729€S.W.2d€at€678.× ƒ) ××  ×Ìà àIt€appears€from€the€record€before€us€that€appellant€was€not€afforded€a€hearing€inÏwhich€he€could€produce€the€will.€€If€he€is€unable€to€produce€the€will€for€probate,€he€mayÏseek€to€amend€his€pleading€in€order€to€establish€a€lost€will,€which€motion€to€amend€mayÏor€may€not€be€allowed.€€In€any€event,€the€status€of€the€case€as€reflected€by€the€recordÏindicates€an€œorder›€of€probate€for€the€1994€will,€the€will€contest€of€the€1994€will,€and€aÏpetition€to€probate€a€1992€will.€€If€appellant€is€a€beneficiary€in€a€will€executed€prior€toÏthe€1994€will,€he€has€standing€to€contest€the€1994€will.€€An€evidentiary€hearing€isÏnecessary€to€make€this€determination.€€Ìà àAccordingly,€the€order€of€the€trial€court€appealed€herein€is€vacated,€and€this€caseÏis€remanded€to€the€trial€court€for€œfurther›€proceedings€consistent€with€this€œopinion.›€ÏCosts€of€this€appeal€are€assessed€one„half€to€the€appellant€and€one„half€to€the€œappellee.€€›ÌÓÓà àà àà àà àà àà àà à_________________________________Ìà àà àà àà àà àà àà àò òW.€FRANK€CRAWFORD,Ìà àà àà àà àà àà àà àPRESIDING€JUDGE,€W.S.ó óÌò òCONCUR:ÌÌó ó_________________________________Ìò òALAN€E.€HIGHERS,€JUDGEó óÌÌ_________________________________Ìò òHOLLY€KIRBY€LILLARD,€JUDGEó óÌœ