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Decedent received financial and tax advice from C.P.A.s at
the accounting firm of Seidman & Seidman. Mr. Newman never had
any contact with accountants at Seidman & Seidman.
Decedent prepared a will dated February 6, 1988 (1988
proposed will). Decedent mailed a copy of the 1988 proposed will
to Mr. Newman. In the letter to Mr. Newman accompanying the 1988
proposed will, decedent informed Mr. Newman that it was a serious
mistake to underestimate his abilities and that what he wanted
was an attorney who could sign the following statement: “I have
closely examined this Will and have found it to be a legal
document that should have no difficulty in probate.”3 Decedent
would have considered changes to the 1988 proposed will if it had
meant Mr. Newman would sign the aforementioned statement.
Decedent, however, was “not looking for any changes at all,
frankly, but if there is a glaring error, we’ll want that
corrected.” Decedent also wrote: “I do not expect you to know
everything but I do expect you to know where to find out whatever
we need to know to do the job better than it has ever been done
before.”
The 1988 proposed will revoked all former wills and codicils
and provided, in relevant parts, as follows:
3 Decedent included this language at the end of the 1988
proposed will along with a space underneath it for Mr. Newman to
sign.
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Last modified: May 25, 2011