Legal Question in Wills and Trusts in New York
wills
If a sibling is the executor and knows the intent of a will, but upon reading the will (after the persons death) the wrong middle initial is discovered to be typed in the will leaving two items to one individual and none to another individual (due to the error in the will of the wrong middle initial) how can this be corrected to comply with the intent of the will?
2 Answers from Attorneys
Re: wills
This is more common than you might think. The established procedure is a 'construction proceeding'. If the one who received 2 agrees to the change, then there will be no problem.
On the other hand, if nhe does not agree, then there is a proof problem. Is the lawyer available? The witnesses? Did the deceased state openly his true intention?
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Re: wills
It will be necessary to bring a construction proceding in Surrogate's court. A bigger problem will be who can adequately testify as to the testator's intent.
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