143 So. 2d 693

In re ESTATE of William T. KOOP, Deceased. June Ellen NASH, Appellant, v. LITTLE RIVER BANK AND TRUST COMPANY, Appellee.

No. 62-13.

District Court of Appeal of Florida. Third District.

July 31, 1962.

Rehearing Denied Sept. 5, 1962.

Truett & Watkins and Harold Pleller and Elias Soren, Miami, for appellant.

Comer R. Hall, Miami, for appellee.

Before PEARSON, TILLMAN, C. J., and HORTON and BARKDULL, JJ.

BARKDULL, Judge.

In this appeal, the appellant [who was the petitioner in the county judge’s court] seeks review of an order denying a petition to declare the bequest of a decedent null and void as being contrary to the provisions of § 731.07(5), Fla.Stat., F.S.A.

It appears, from the undisputed facts in this cause, that at the time the deceased executed his will two officers and an employee of the appellee-bank were the subscribing and attesting witnesses. Two of said witnesses were stockholders in the bank. The Last Will and Testament of the deceased named the bank as trustee, and it is the contention of the appellant that the lower court erred in failing to adjudicate the bequest to the hank, as trustee, null and *694void in view of the provisions of § 731.07(5), Fla.Stat., F.S.A.1

Under such circumstances, it would have been a better practice if the hank had used subscribing and attesting witnesses who were not its officers, employees or stockholders, and then there could be no question of impropriety. However, it does not appear that the bank, as trustee, actually received any beneficial interest from the estate. The order of the county judge was correct, in light of the principles announced in In re Roger’s Estate, 15 N.J.Super. 189, 83 A.2d 268; Leonard v. Stanton, 93 N.H. 113, 36 A.2d 271; Vol. 2, Page on Wills (Bowe-Parks Revised), § 19.94. Therefore, the order under review is hereby affirmed.

Affirmed.

Nash v. Little River Bank & Trust Co.
143 So. 2d 693

Case Details

Name
Nash v. Little River Bank & Trust Co.
Decision Date
Jul 31, 1962
Citations

143 So. 2d 693

Jurisdiction
Florida

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