Bethany Presbyterian Church v. Wiarda

HAYDEN, Judge.

The Bethany Presbyterian Church, located in Grundy Center, and the First Congregational United Church of Christ, located in Iowa Falls, filed a petition in probate seeking to establish and have admitted to probate a lost will of Bernard Wiarda. Dean Wiarda, Bernard’s brother, had been granted letters of appointment as administrator and had already commenced intestate proceedings.

This action involves Bernard’s 1986 will. The Grundy Center and Iowa Falls churches are the beneficiaries in Bernard’s 1986 will. A thorough search failed to disclose an executed will. An unsigned copy…