WOO V. SMART
442 S.E.2d 690 (1994)
NATURE OF THE CASE: This was a dispute over the disposition of an estate.
FACTS: William and Hing Woo met in connection with the operation of a restaurant
established by her father. William was 51 when he died and Hing Woo was 39 and just
finishing college. William became the manager in the restaurant and she assisted him in the
operation. The couple was never married but maintained a close relationship that lasted for
19 years. In 1985, William was diagnosed with coronary heart disease. William had brothers
and sisters in Hong Kong, Canada, and New York some of whom he was estranged from. Feeling
bad two days before his death, William gave Hing Woo checks for $42,700 and $80,000. Feeling
bad the next day he gave Hing Woo another $1,900 under the proviso that she would be
provided for. William told Hing Woo that he wanted her to have the money. William died. Hing
Woo cashed the checks after his death. The check for $80,000 was never presented as it
represented funds in a savings account and there were insufficient funds in the checking
account to cover it. The administrator of William's estate sought a declaration that the
three checks were not effective gifts because they were not presented for payment and paid
prior to William's death. Woo claimed that the checks were valid gifts causa mortis. The
chancellor ruled that no gift was made and Woo appealed.
ISSUE:
RULE OF LAW:
HOLDING AND DECISION:
LEGAL ANALYSIS:
Get
free access to the entire content for Mac, PC or Online
for 2-3 days and free samples
of all kinds of products.
for 2-3 days and free samples of all kinds of products.
https://bsmsphd.com
© 2007-2016 Abn Study Partner
No comments:
Post a Comment