Mills v. Mest

OPINION

SCOTT BRISTER, Chief Justice.

In May of 1986, Henry Mest (age 74) and Ann Mills (a few years younger) began living together. They were ceremonially married in 1995. Ann died in 1997; Henry died three months later, leaving an estate worth several million dollars. In the ensuing probate proceedings, Ann’s children (appellants Joseph H. Mills and Rachel Humphries) alleged a common-law marriage dating back to 1986, while Henry’s son and grandchildren (appellees Richard Mest, Christine Mest, and Brian Mest) dated the marriage (and thus the inception of community property) from the ceremony…