Franklin v. Chavis

Justice MOORE:

We accepted this case in our original jurisdiction to consider whether respondent Ernest Chavis’s involvement in drafting a will and other documents for decedent Annie Belle Weiss constituted the unauthorized practice of law.

FACTS

Petitioners, who are Ms. Weiss’s grandnieces, commenced the underlying action 1 contesting her will on grounds of undue influence and lack of capacity. Ms. Weiss was ninety-one years old and in the hospital when she signed this will on July 31, 2004. Petitioners claim Michael Lehman, Ms. Weiss’s nephew by marriage, took advantage of her condition to…