The Glasser Case — New York Times Report

Earlier on this blog, here, here, and here, I have been reporting on the case of Lillian Glasser and the battle to control her and her $25 million fortune.

The case is now receiving national attention triggered by a story which appears in today’s New York Times.

[T]he case highlights the checkerboard practices of local probate courts, which govern the transfer of property from people who die or are declared incompetent. The courts are not federally regulated, but in response to a growing number of interstate disputes, the National Conference of Commissioners on Uniform State Laws is drafting nationwide probate standards similar to those in the field of child custody.

Some states require residency, known as domicile, for a probate court to have jurisdiction. Other states, including Texas, require only physical presence. Experts say the lack of uniformity can be exploited by parties seeking legal venues where they enjoy an advantage.

Ralph Blumenthal, A Family Feud Sheds Light on Differences in Probate Practices From State to State, NY Times, Dec. 28, 2005.