Opinion
May 11, 1954
Jacob W. Friedman for proponent.
Saul L. Harris for contestants.
In this contested probate proceeding, the court determines that the propounded instrument was not executed as required by section 21 of the Decedent Estate Law. This statute requires by subdivision 2 thereof, that decedent's subscription of the instrument shall be made in the presence of each of the attesting witnesses or shall be acknowledged by him to have been so made to each of such witnesses. By subdivision 3 thereof, the statute requires the decedent to declare that the instrument subscribed by him was his last will and testament. Compliance with only one of these requirements may not be urged to constitute compliance with the other. Since decedent did not subscribe her name in the presence of the witness, Glackman, it was necessary that she acknowledge such signature to this witness. This she did not do. The fact that decedent may have declared the instrument to be her will, as required by subdivision 3, does not serve as a compliance with subdivision 2 ( Matter of Banta, 204 Misc. 985). This is especially so where, as here, the appended signature is in a foreign language which the witness cannot read (1 Davids on New York Law of Wills, § 301).
The court finds that decedent did not subscribe the instrument in the presence of the two attesting witnesses and did not acknowledge such subscription to be her signature to said witnesses as required by the statute.
The objections are sustained and probate is denied.
Proceed accordingly.