Farmers & Merchants National Bank v. Superior Court

The question presented by the application of The Farmers and Merchants Bank of Los Angeles, as executor of the estate of Jacob Kahan, for a writ of mandate concerns the jurisdiction of the probate court to proceed with the administration of his estate in the absence of proof that notice of the hearing of the petition for probate of his will was given to certain devisees residing in Ukraine, Russia. At the time the will was filed Ukraine was occupied by the armed forces of Germany, and postal and other communications with persons in that state were prohibited by the Trading with the Enemy Act…