Shuk Fan Cheung Lum v. Lum

Section 4 — 3 of the Probate Act of 1975 (755 ILCS 5/4 — 3 (West 1992)) requires that a will must be “attested” by two credible witnesses to be valid. In this case, Yua Kee Lum, decedent, dictated and signed a hand-written will on May 27, 1996, providing for the disposition of all his property upon his death. The will was never signed by any witnesses, although decedent had the will notarized by Wol Ju Mendoza the next day. Decedent later died on June 15, 1996.

On May 15, 1997, almost a year after the will was made, Lisa Lum, decedent’s daughter, prepared an affidavit claiming that she was…