WPC$ i\^̓q3659iF<0Zve\4n."=%uRAyG5.24i#4M#$.(Z}(ڀdn=ֆ( ~X3ԙ!A2r~6]AocXN~e6HP(3maXZU4&f rk4.!V|a ɡ"887>[6Bb#\ % U@# 0c UN 0 D9 } zZ  w  ,l Q\NYZE84:N] m_>vU@^ b 0  B 0 D5 D- 0K!! ASi!! 0" 0D&# Aj#HP LaserJet 8000 Series PS0(hH  Z(Times New Roman (`$.8dd8    ("  Z6Times New Roman Regular(#$  0   R$      1  $   _WifespetitionisbasedonTenn.Code.Ann.302101,102,and314101. C:\PROGRA~1\COREL\WORDPE~1\TEMPLATE\CUSTOM~1\REVISE~1.WPTC:\Program Files\Corel\WordPerfect Office 2000\Template\Custom WP Templates\revised standard opinion.wpt R$      3  $   _Avideotapeofthismeetingwasviewedbythetrialcourt. " R$      5  $   _ThePowerofAttorneyprovidesDaughterwiththepowerto$  $ executeandperformallandeveryotheractand  acts,thingorthingsinlawneedfulandnecessarytobedoneinandaboutthepremisesandtoconductallofmypersonal x andbusinessaffairsthatsameasIcoulddoif_acting_Ԁpersonallyanddoandperformallactsnecessarytocarryonsaid @ personalorbusinessaffairsasfully,completelyandamply,toallintentsandpurposesasImyselfmightorcoulddo X ifactingpersonally...#$  $#  R$      2  $   _WenotethattwoofHusbandsgrandchildrenwereallowedtointerveneintheactionbasedontheirclaimthat  HusbandhadintendedtocreateaTottentrustinfavorofallhisheirs.Thegrandchildrensclaimwaslaterdismissed x bythetrialcourtandwasnotappealed.Accordingly,thisclaimwillnotbeaddressed.Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5 R R$      4  $   _Tenn.CodeAnn.346108providesinrelevantpart:  (c)Nothingcontainedinthissectionand34-6-109shallbeconstruedtovestanattorneyinfactwith,orauthorizean x attorneyinfacttoexercise,anyofthefollowingpowers: @   (1)Makegifts,grants,orothertransferswithoutconsideration,exceptinfulfillmentofcharitablepledgesmade X bytheprincipalwhilecompetent;     (6)Change,addordeleteanyrightofsurvivorshipdesignationonanyproperty,realorpersonal,towhichthe  principalholdstitle,aloneorwithothers; `     O R$      6  $   _$  $Tenn.CodeAnn.364108(b)providesinrelevantpart:    Nothingcontainedinthissectionand34-6-109shallbeconstruedtolimitthepoweroftheprincipaleither x to: @   (1)Grantanyadditionalpowerstotheattorneyinfact,includinganypowersotherwiseexcludedunder X subsection(c)#$  $~#  R$      7  $   _Tenn.Code.Ann.$  $31-1-105provides:Anyconveyancesmadefraudulentlytochildrenorothers,withan  intenttodefeatthesurvivingspouseofhisdistributiveorelectiveshare,isvoidableattheelectionofthesurviving x spouse.#$  $#B ):i+003|xU 4 R$      8  $   _JackDaviswassubstitutedastheappellantbythisCourtsorderdatedFebruary28,2000inasmuchasthe  originalappellant,JuliaMaeRiggs,isnowdeceased.(I Z(Times New Roman  |) - -(|G2$ !.8I d d 8         0  , d(|3$ !.8I d d 8     VVVV)!dxdx)!dxdx( $ Figure  1  ^_X`YE<<CLevel 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5(|3$ !.8I d d 8     ($$   1  X[Z&OLE 2.0 Box <=8C HKKKK !.8[d d8     PC  PCPC88XXdd 8  @ \PCINTHECOURTOFAPPEALSOFTENNESSEE  @%ATJACKSON#PC\#Ԉ &   FEBRUARY2000Session L XXPC #PCXX#INRE:ESTATEOFBERNIEF.RIGGS(DECEASED)XXPC  J @@ ADirectAppealfromtheChanceryCourtforDyerCounty  J @@No.95P83;TheHonorableLeeMoore,Chancellor  6 @@*AV) ` dE<` A   @@TTNo.W199901905COAR3CVFiledAugust10,2000   AV) ` dE<|` A }     ThisappealarisesfromadisputeoverthedispositionoftheassetsofBernieF.Riggs( Husband). x  PlaintiffJuliaMaeRiggs( Wife)filedsuit,allegingthatDefendantCampbell( Daughter)had d usedundueinfluenceandhadimproperlydisposedofHusbandsassetsthroughapowerofattorney. P ThetrialcourtfoundinfavorofDaughter,holdingthatalltransactionswerevalidandinaccordance < withHusbandswishes.Wifeappeals.#PCXXv#XXPC (x  Tenn.R.App.P.3;AppealasofRight;JudgmentoftheChanceryCourtAffirmed  P   #PCX#XX.PCAlanE.Highers,J.,deliveredtheopinionofthecourt,inwhichCrawford,P.J.,andLillard, ( J.,joined.  EarlF.Johnson,JohnW.Palmer,Dyersburg,AttorneysforAppellant  ThomasE.Weakley,Dyersburg,AttorneyforAppellees,thesevensurvivingchildrenofBernieF. t Riggs ` WilliamT.Jordan,Jr.,Dyersburg,AttorneyforAppellee,JoyceCampbell,ExecutrixoftheEstate 8!  ofBernieF.Riggs $"t!  OPINION #PCXX#XXPC #L# #PCXX8 #XXPC  FollowingthedeathofHusband,WifefiledaNoticeandPetitionforStatutoryProperty,Years %$!% Support,andElectiveShare. #  1      ׀Wifelaterfiledtwoamendedpetitions,allegingthatpartofHusbands &"& assetshadbeenimproperlydisposedofbyDaughter.WifeallegedthatDaughterlackedproper '"' authorityandexertedundueinfluenceonHusbandinconductingseveralmonetarytransactionsprior (#( toHusbandsdeath.Inparticular,WifeclaimedthatatwothousanddollarcheckwrittentoDaughter )$) andtwocertificatesofdeposits(CDs)wereproperlypartofthemaritalestate. p*%*  \+&+   AhearingontheseissueswasheldonJune30,1998.  #  2      ׀Inadditiontotestimonyofferedby  theparties,thetrialcourtviewedavideoofHusbandinwhichhetalkedaboutthedesireddisposition  ofhisestate.Followingthetrial,bothpartiessubmittedsupplementalmemorandum.Thetrialcourt  foundinfavorofDaughter,holdingthattherewasnoundueinfluenceandthatthetransactionswere t validandinaccordancewithHusbandswishes.Thetrialcourtdid,however,grantWifeheryears ` support.Wifeappealsbasedonthefollowingfacts.   L    HusbandandWifeweremarriedonJuly2,1960.AlthoughHusbandandWifedidnothave $ t childrentogether,bothpartieshadchildrenfrompreviousmarriages.Throughoutthecourseofthe  ` marriage,thecouplemaintainedtheirseparateassets,witheachpartypayinghalfofthecouples  L  sharedlivingexpenses.OnJuly17,1991,Husbandexecutedhislastwillandtestament,devising  8  allcertificatesofdepositandhischeckingaccounttohislivingchildren.Atthattime,Husbandhad $  CDsinsurvivorshipaccountsprovidingforpayoutoffifteenthousanddollarstoeachofhiseight   childrenuponhisdeath.     Duetothecouplesageandinfirmity,Daughterassumedtheprimaryresponsibilityofcaring   forthedaytodayneedsofHusbandandWifeintheyearspriortoHusbandsdeath.Inthefallof p 1994,Husbandwasdiagnosedwithterminalcancerandgivenalifeexpectancyofaboutthree \ months.ShortlyafterHusbandwasdiagnosed,HusbandschildrengatheredtohearHusbands H wishesregardinghisestate.  #  3      ׀Atthismeeting,Husbandexpressedhisdesirethatthemajorityofhis 4 assets,includinghisCDsandcheckingaccounts,bedividedamonghischildren.AllofHusbands  p desireswereconsistentwithhispreviouslyexecutedwill.  \   HusbandappointedDaughterthroughageneralpowerofattorneyonApril26,1995.Atthe 4 timeofappointment,thepurposeofthepowerofattorneywastoallowDaughtertotakecareofa   legalmatterregardingsomeofHusbandsrentalproperty.OneofHusbandschildrenpredeceased   himonMay28,1995.OnJune1,1995,Daughter,actingunderHusbandsinstructionandpursuant  toherpowerofattorney,tookthedeceasedchildsnameoffoftheCDs.Daughterdiscoveredthat  thenamesofsomeofHusbandsotherchildrenhadbeeninadvertentlyleftofftheCDs.Daughter  addedthesenamestotheCDspursuanttoHusbandswishes. l   DaughtercreatedanadditionalCDinthenameofthreeofhersiblingsunderHusbands D! direction.InordertofundthisCD,DaughterwroteacheckfromoneofHusbandschecking 0"  accounts.Daughterwasanauthorizedsignatoryonthischeckingaccount.ThisnewCDin #l! combinationwiththepreviousCDs,wouldprovideanequalpayoutofaroundtwentythousand $X" dollarstoeachofHusbandssevensurvivingchildrenuponhisdeath. $D #  %0!$   InJulyof1995,underHusbandsinstruction,Daughterwroteacheckfortwothousand  dollarstoherselffromoneofHusbandsaccounts.AccordingtoDaughter,thismoneywasa  birthdaypresentforDaughterandherhusbandandpaymentforsomeoftheexpensesDaughterhad  incurred.Wifewaspresentwhenthisincidenttookplace. t   HusbandpassedawayonAugust7,1995.TheCDsandcontentsofHusbandschecking L  accountpassedtoHusbandschildrenbyrightofsurvivorship.ThereafterHusbandswillwas 8  admittedtoprobate,andDaughterwasappointedexecutrixoftheestatepursuanttothewill $ t provisions.Daughterkeptdetailedrecordsofheractionsasexecutrixandprovidedthorough  ` accountingstothecourt.  L    Shortlythereafter,Wifeinitiatedtheactionfromwhichthisappealstems.Onappeal,Wife $  assertsthatthetrialcourterredinfindingthatDaughterdidnotexertundueinfluenceonHusband.   Inaddition,WifeassertsthatthecourterredinexcludingpartofHusbandsassetsfromthemarital   estate.      ANALYSIS        Asapreliminarymatter,wenotethattheactionscomplainedofbyWifewerenotperformed \ byDaughterinherroleasexecutrixofHusbandsestate.Boththewritingofthetwothousanddollar H checkandtheCDtransactionstookplacepriortoHusbandsdeath.Theactionscomplainedof 4 occurredwhileDaughterwasservingasattorneyinfactforHusband,pursuanttothepowerof  p attorney.Withthisinmind,wenowturntotheissueonappeal.  \   Itiswidelyrecognizedthatapersonauthorizedtoactonbehalfofanotherbyvirtueofa 4 powerofattorneyhasaconfidentialrelationshipwiththepersonwhoexecutedthepowerof   attorney.SeeMitchellv.Smith,779S.W.2d384,at389(Tenn.Ct.App.1989)citingInreElam's   Estate,738S.W.2d169,173(Tenn.1987).Theexistenceofaconfidentialrelationshipbetween  partiestogetherwithatransactionbywhichthedominantpartyobtainsabenefitfromtheother  party,givesrisetoapresumptionofundueinfluence.Thepresumptionofundueinfluenceis  rebuttablebyproofofthefairnessofthetransactionestablishedbyclearandconvincingevidence. l Matlockv.Simpson,902S.W.2d384,at386(Tenn.1985). X    Inorderforthepresumptionofundueinfluencetoarise,thedominantpartymustbe 0"  obtainingabenefitfromthepartybestowingthepowerofattorney.Intheory,thedominantparty, #l! throughtheexertionofundueinfluence,isforcingthesubmissivepartytotakeactiontobenefitthe $X" dominantparty.Thefactsinthiscasearenotanalogoustotheexamplegivenabove.Inthecaseat $D # bar,DaughterdidnotcoerceFatherintotakingactionregardingtheCDsandtwothousanddollar %0!$ check.Instead,DaughtertookactiononbehalfofFatherathisrequest.Therefore,weare &"% unpersuadedthatDaughtersactionsaregovernedbytheundueinfluenceanalysis.Theonlyaction '#& thatcouldconceivablybesubjecttoanundueinfluenceanalysisisFathersinitialactioningranting (#' Daughterapowerofattorney.Sincenopartyhasraisedthisissueinregardtoundueinfluence,we )$( finditunnecessarytoaddressit. |*%)  h+&*   Fromourreviewoftherecord,itseemsclearthatFatherintendedthathischildrenreceive  allofthemoneyheldinhisCDs.ThisintentionwasexpressedbothinFatherswillandthe  videotapeddiscussionwithhisfamily.Furthermore,wefinditunlikelythatDaughteracted  improperlyinreceivingthetwothousanddollargiftfromFather.Daughterhadprovidednumerous t servicesforFatherandWifeinthemonthspriortothegift.Daughterwroteoutthecheckandsigned ` itunderFathersdirectioninthepresenceofWife.Accordingly,wefindnoevidencethatDaughter L  inanywaycoercedFatherregardingthesetransactions. 8    Daughtersactionsare,however,subjecttotheTennesseeUniformDurablePowerof  ` AttorneyAct,pursuantto364108and364109oftheTennesseeCode.Thesestatutory  L  provisionsprovideagenerallistingofactsapersonmayormaynotdowhenactingpursuanttoa  8  powerofattorney.WifearguesthatDaughterviolated346108(C)(1)and(6),whichlimit,among $  otherthings,theattorneyinfactfrommakinggiftsorgrantsorchangingarightofsurvivorship. #  4      ׀   However,WifefailstoconsiderthatthedocumentgrantingDaughterpowerofattorneyexpressly   providedthatDaughterhadpowertocarryoutallofFatherspersonalbusiness.  #  5      ׀#PCXX # PCԀ#PC ۧ3#XXPCPursuantto   34-6-108(b),thepersongrantingthepowerofattorneycanbroadenorlimitthepowersofattorney   infact.H  #  6      ׀Aspreviouslynoted,allofDaughtersactionspursuanttothepowerofattorneywere p consistentwithFathersintentions.Accordingly,DaughtersactionsdidnotviolatetheTennessee \ UniformDurablePowerofAttorneyAct. H   4   Asafinalissue,wefinditappropriatetoaddressWifespositionassurvivingspousein  relationtoTennesseeCodeAnnotated311105. #  7      ׀Pursuanttothisstatute,afraudulentconveyance   madeforthepurposeoflesseningthesurvivingspousessharecanbevoidedbythesurviving  spouse.Inordertodeterminewhetherthedonor-spousehadafraudulentintent,allofthefactsand t circumstancessurroundingthetransfersmustbeconsidered.McClurev.Stegall,729S.W.2d263, ` at265(Tenn.Ct.App.1987)citingWarrenv.Compton,626S.W.2d12,17(Tenn.Ct.App.1981). L  Inparticular,thecourtmustconsiderthefollowingfactors:whetherthetransferwasmadewithout 8  consideration;thesizeofthetransferinrelationtothedecedent'stotalassets;thetimebetweenthe $ t transferandthedecedent'sdeath;relationswhichexistedbetweendecedentandsurvivingspouse  ` atthetimeofthetransfer;andthesourcefromwhichthepropertycame.Sherrillv.Mallicote,57  L  Tenn.App.241,417S.W.2d798(1967).  8    Inthecaseatbar,wearepersuadedthatFatherhadnointenttodefraudWifeofhershareof   theestate.AlthoughthetransfersoftheCDsweremadewithoutconsideration,thesetransfersdo   notreflectHusbandsintenttodefraudWife.Instead,theyreflectonlyHusbandswishthatthe   majorityofhisestatebedividedamonghischildren.Fromallaccounts,itseemsthatHusbandand   Wifeenjoyedastablerelationship.WifewasawareofthecontentsofHusbandswillandwas p presentwhenHusbandstatedhiswishesatthefamilymeeting.Wifewasalsopresentwhen \ HusbandprovidedDaughterwiththegiftcheckoftwothousanddollars.Theseactionsdidnot H reflectanintenttodefraudWife.Inaddition,Wifeownedandmaintainherownpropertyaswell 4 asreceivingpropertyfromHusbandathisdeath.SeeFinleyv.Finley,726S.W.2d923(Tenn.Ct.  p App.1986)(Evidencesupportedfindingthathusband'sestablishmentofjointbankaccountwithhis  \ childrenfromapriormarriagewasnotmadefraudulently,withanintenttodefeatpresentspouse's H electiveshareofestate;therefore,jointbankaccountwasnotvoid.) 4   Afteracarefulexaminationoftherecord,applyingtheaboveprinciples,wefindthatthere   isnoevidenceofanyintentbytheHusbandtodefraudWifebythetransferofanyassets.  Accordingly,thetrialcourtsdecisionastotheseassetsiscorrect.     '#& CONCLUSION      Fortheforegoingreasons,thejudgmentofthetrialcourtisherebyaffirmed.Costsof  appealaretaxedtoAppellant,JackDavis #  8      ,forwhichexecutionmayissueifnecessary.  t    . $ t #PCXX3#XXPC   `     h     ___________________________________      `     h     ALANE.HIGHERS,JUDGE_