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What if You Can’t Talk or Sign a Will?

Generally, for a will to be valid, one has to communicate their wishes in a will and the will has to be signed.  This begs the question as to how someone who cannot speak or sign a will can execute a valid will.  

The court addressed this in Estate of Luce, No. 02-17-00097-CV (Tex. App.-Ft. Worth 2018), a court case involving a will executed by an estate planning attorney for his quadriplegic client who could not speak or sign the will.

Facts & Procedural History

The decedent was in an ATV accident that left him quadriplegic.  While in the hospital he went into respiratory failure and was intubated, leaving him unable to speak.  He was still alert and oriented as to person, place, and time.

The court describes the facts surrounding the will as follows:

Later that day, attorney Kevin Ferrier came to the hospital’s intensive-care unit to meet with Michael—who was still intubated and unable to speak—about making a will. Ferrier met with Michael alone and determined Michael’s wishes through a series of leading questions that Michael answered by blinking his eyes to indicate “yes” or “no.” Through this system, Ferrier was able to determine that Michael wanted to revoke all prior wills and wanted to leave his entire estate to Melissa and Brandy. Ferrier then went back to his office, drafted the will in accordance with Michael’s wishes, and returned to the hospital. He read the will to Michael privately and then read the will to Michael again in front of a notary and two witnesses. In the presence of Ferrier and the witnesses, the notary signed the will for Michael because he was physically unable to sign or make his mark. Then, while still in Michael’s presence, the witnesses signed the will and the notary notarized their signatures. Throughout the entire execution process, only Michael, Ferrier, the two witnesses, and the notary were in the hospital room.

The decedent died a month later. Just prior to the ATV accident, the decedent had a divorce proceeding against his estranged wife, which was still pending when the accident happened.

The estranged wife filed an application to probate an older will.  The decedent’s sister filed an application to probate the new will that was executed just before death. 

A jury trial was conducted to resolve the will contest.

Relevant Texas Law

The Signature Requirement

Texas law requires a will to be signed by the decedent or another person on his behalf.  If done on behalf of another, the signature must be done in the decedent’s presence and under his direction.

The jury, in this case, concluded that the estate planning attorney signed the will on Michael’s behalf, in his presence, and under his direction.  Thus, the jury concluded that the new will was signed with testamentary intent and executed in accordance with the statutory signature requirements.

The estranged wife filed an appeal, arguing that the evidence is legally and factually insufficient to support the jury’s finding that Michael directed the attorney to sign the 2015 will.

The Blinking System

The evidence presented in court included the estate planning attorney’s testimony:

It is undisputed that Michael was unable to speak at the time the 2015 will was executed and that because of his quadriplegia, he could not sign his name or make his mark. Ferrier testified that when he arrived at the hospital, a nurse told him that Michael was able to communicate by blinking, so Ferrier and Michael established a “signal system” in which Michael would blink once to answer “yes” and twice to answer “no,” or vice versa. Even though Ferrier could not remember at trial which system he and Michael had established, Ferrier testified that he was able to communicate with Michael based on Michael’s blinked responses to a series of leading questions. Through these questions and Michael’s blinked responses, Ferrier established an attorney-client relationship with Michael and determined that Michael wanted to make a new will that revoked any earlier ones.

For the signature requirement, the attorney also included the following under the signature block where the attorney signed:

Signature affixed by notary in the presence of ____________ (insert name of disinterested witness), a disinterested witness, under section 406.0165 of the Texas Government Code.

The witness and notary to the will testified that the blinking system was explained to them and that the decedent used it to convey that he wanted to execute the will.

The Evidentiary Problem with the Blinking System

The basis of the estranged wife’s appeal was that the witnesses could not remember whether one blink was for “yes” or for “no.” However, the appeals court was only asked to review the jury’s findings and not the validity of the will.

The court noted that they would have reached a different conclusion if the jury refused to admit the will.  In that case, the court would have to apply Texas law which could view the lack of certainty as to the “yes” or “no” system as fatal for the validity of the will. Ultimately, the court concluded that the new will was signed with testamentary intent and executed in accordance with the statutory signature requirements.

The Takeaway

This case provides insight into how a will can be validly executed in the absence of the decedent’s ability to speak or sign the will. It demonstrates the evolving nature of estate planning and the need for flexibility in accommodating unique circumstances. It also underscores the importance of seeking legal guidance to navigate complex situations where the traditional methods of executing a will are not feasible. By doing so, individuals can ensure that their testamentary wishes are accurately recorded, and their estate is distributed according to their intentions.

Our Houston Probate Attorneys provide a full range of probate services to our clients. Affordable rates, fixed fees, and payment plans are available. We provide step-by-step instructions, guidance, checklists, and more for completing the probate process. We have years of combined experience we can use to support and guide you with probate and estate matters. Call us today for a FREE attorney consultation.

Disclaimer 

The content of this website is for informational purposes only and should not be construed as legal advice. The information presented may not apply to your situation and should not be acted upon without consulting a qualified probate attorney. We encourage you to seek the advice of a competent attorney with any legal questions you may have.

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