On Friday, the New Jersey Superior Court Appellate Division ruled that a 2016 will excluding two sons from the estate of a mother who died in 2024 remains valid.
The original 1996 will had divided the mother’s assets equally among her four children and named one son and one daughter to administer the estate. In 1996, Deborah, the daughter who would later become the mother’s sole caregiver, took over the home and began watching over her mother. The relationship between the mother and her sons deteriorated over the years, leading to a 2015 altercation that strained ties further.
Following that dispute, the mother signed a new will in 2016 that omitted both sons and designated Deborah as the sole executor. No family member was present when the document was signed, and the mother’s medical records at the time showed no cognitive decline.
In 2024, the mother’s death prompted the brothers to file a challenge, arguing that Deborah’s caregiving role and the sisters’ close bond had unduly influenced the mother. They asked the court to compel the sisters to prove that no coercion had occurred.
The appellate court found no evidence of coercion, noting that the mother’s strained relationship with the sons predated the 2016 will and that the will was consistent with her later estate decisions. It also rejected the argument that a caregiver automatically has control over a patient’s financial choices, citing the lack of medical proof of incapacity.
With the appeal denied, the brothers have no further recourse, and the estate will be distributed according to the 2016 will.