Woods v. Neissen

Theodore N. Woods, Sr., decedent, executed a will less than six months before his death. A declaratory judgment action was filed by his executor and the heirs-at-law. The plaintiffs-appellants, Theodore N. Woods, Jr., et al., sought an interpretation of the decedent’s will with regard to the bequest to the charitable beneficiaries and the applicable law. Specifically, the plaintiffs sought a declaration whereby the charitable beneficiaries would be limited to receive twenty-five percent of the net probate estate (under R.C. 2107.06); that the balance of the estate remaining after the payments…