In re Estate of Murphy
In Re Estate of Murphy , 184 So.3d 1221 (Fla. 2d DCA 2016) For anyone looking for a refresher on the doctrine of dependent relative revocation, this decision is a good read. In this case, after 9 years of litigation, the Court ultimately determined that the probate court's failure to apply the doctrine of dependent relative revocation incorrectly resulted in the distribution of an estate worth $12 million to the decedent's intestate heirs rather than to the beneficiary of one of her prior wills. The decedent had executed a series of wills prior to her death. Each of those wills, while slightly varied, left a bequest to the Northwestern University (Go Wildcats!!) medical school, to the decedent's second cousin, to her attorney, to her attorney's assistant, and to her accountant. The decedent's second cousin challenged the decedent's last will (which divided her residuary among the attorney, assistant and accountant, and not her), alleging undue influenc...