McLendon v. Priest

Bell, Justice.

This appeal concerns the validity of an oral contract to make a will. The appellants are relatives of Raymond and Mattie Cook. Raymond and Mattie were married for many years, and they accumulated substantial wealth before Raymond’s death in 1966. Mattie died testate in 1986, leaving much of her estate to the appellees, who had been her attorney and bookkeeper during her later years.

The appellants then brought this suit, alleging that before Raymond died he and Mattie entered into an oral agreement providing that if he predeceased Mattie, he would leave her all or most of his…