01-1470 Steinle v. Steinle, et al.

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Ruby Reinhardt and her husband, Christopher Reinhardt, appeal a judgment which determined that several living trust documents and a will prepared by Christopher Reinhardt and executed by Ruby’s brother, Chris Steinle, were invalid due to undue influence. Assuming that the estate planning documents were otherwise valid, the Reinhardts further claim that a certificate of deposit at the First Bank of Oconomowoc should have gone to Ruby according to the terms of one of the living trusts executed by Steinle, despite the fact that the certificate of deposit was titled as joint property with Steinle’s wife, LaVern, at the time it was purportedly transferred into the trust as Steinle’s individual property. The Reinhardts claim there was insufficient evidence to support the undue influence determination and that Steinle had the authority to unilaterally transfer the entire certificate of deposit into the living trust benefiting his sister.

For the reasons discussed below, we affirm the trial court’s determination that the estate planning documents were invalid on the basis of undue influence, and we do not reach the alternate arguments regarding the certificate of deposit.

This opinion will not be published.

Dist IV, Jefferson County, Erwin, J., Per Curiam

Attorneys:

For Appellant: Thomas W. LaFave, Milwaukee

For Respondent: Patrick A. Arpin, Watertown