McGraw v. Smith

Judge Harold R. Banke.

The underlying case centers on the terms of the will of Jeff Smith which left the bulk of his estate of about 137 acres, including timber, to one child, Clarence Smith, and also named him executor. To his many other children, the will left primarily only $4,000 each. Clarence Smith’s sister, Margaret Rankowitz, and other siblings, filed a caveat to the will. The caveators contended that Jeff Smith intended for his property to be equally divided among his children, that the signature on the will had been obtained by fraud or was not authentic, and that the purported will…