Johnson v. Estate of Zent

LEVINE, Justice.

Ann Johnson appeals from a county court judgment disallowing her claim against the estate of John A. Zent. We reverse and remand.

Ann and John met in Mandan in late 1979 and developed a personal relationship which lasted until his death in 1988. Marriage was discussed but not accomplished. Throughout their close association, Ann and John maintained separate residences but spent considerable amounts of time together, six to ten hours a day almost every day.

As Ann characterizes the relationship, it had two stages. The first stage was social and involved going out to movies and…