Stroughton v. McGowan’s Empirical Analysis

Citation profile

49 state decisions

Most-quoted passages

The sentences later courts lift from this opinion, ranked by how many decisions quote each — the parts of the opinion doing the work. These counts are smaller than the citation total above because most of the 49 citing decisions cite the case generally; a passage count includes only decisions quoting that exact language verbatim.

1. “While in the instant case, the testatrix was in feeble health, suffering from disease, aged and infirm, these facts are not sufficient of themselves to establish testamentary incapacity unless it be shown by a preponderance of the evidence that her condition of mind and body at the time of the execution of the will was such that she was unable to understand the nature and situation of her property and the disposing of it intelligently. In other words, it must be shown that her weakened and enfeebled condition had a direct influence upon the testamentary act. Section 20 of the Probate Code empowers every person of sound mind, over the age of 18 years, to dispose of his separate property by will. And the property being his to dispose of as he wills, he is not called upon to consult or satisfy the wishes or views of juries or courts. The presumption is always that a person was of 'sound mind' at the time of execution of his will, and the burden therefore always rests upon the contestants to show affirmatively and by a preponderance of the evidence, the incapacity of the testator and the further fact that, because of the mental or bodily infirmities with which the testator was afflicted, he devised or bequeathed his property in a way which, except for the existence of the aforesaid infirmities, he would not have done.”

   2 later decisions quote this exact passage
   e.g. Syster v. Martin · 83 Cal. App. 2d 534 - Llewellyn v. Cheesewright

2. ““Its admission to probate necessarily established prima facie for all the purposes of the contest, that it was duly executed in the manner required by law by a testator who was competent, free from undue influence, etc. The burden of proof was on the contestants to establish its invalidity." See also Estate of Russell, 80 Cal.App.2d 711, 714 [1] [ 182 P.2d 318 ] ; Estate of Lauth, 180 Cal.App.2d 313, 317 [1] [ 4 Cal.Rptr. 764 ].”

   2 later decisions quote this exact passage
   e.g. 198 Cal. App. 2d 238 - Schertzinger v. Williams · 208 Cal. App. 2d 505 - Estate of Locknane

3. “before the law will permit judges or juries to make disposition of a decedent's property irrespective of his or her desires, substantial evidence is required to show lack of testamentary capacity at the time of the execution of the will.”

   2 later decisions quote this exact passage
   e.g. 89 Cal. App. 2d 563 - Pohlmann v. Naschel · 92 Cal. App. 2d 420 - Estate of Leonard