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On February 25, 1982, decedent executed a new will (1982
will). The 1982 will revoked all prior wills and codicils. The
1982 will was virtually identical to the 1980 will, except, in
pertinent part, the fifth article of the 1982 will provided that
Bar, instead of Charles J. Aronson, should have use of the Little
House.
The 1980 will and the 1982 will were drawn by a law firm in
Buffalo, New York. Decedent remarked that his experience with
this law firm was “less than successful”, and he eventually fired
those attorneys.
Robert C. Newman has been an attorney since 1981. He first
met with decedent in February 1988 after decedent contacted him
via a letter dated February 6, 1988. Decedent contacted Mr.
Newman because decedent knew Mr. Newman’s parents and decedent
was dissatisfied with his then-current attorneys at the law firm
in Buffalo, New York.2 Most of decedent’s communications with
Mr. Newman, and vice versa, were in writing.
At first, Mr. Newman thought decedent was seeking tax
advice; however, it quickly became clear to Mr. Newman that
decedent did what decedent wanted to do. Furthermore, decedent
stated to Mr. Newman that he (decedent) would rather pay estate
taxes than draw up his will in a way other than what he wanted.
2 Additionally, because decedent and Jo were recluses,
decedent wanted someone close by who could come to Hundred Acres.
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Last modified: May 25, 2011