Man In California Arrested For Forging Signature Of Murdered Girlfriend On Bogus Will
The boyfriend of a woman who was killed by a former neighbor last year was arrested for allegedly forging his girlfriend’s signature on a bogus will in an attempt to inherit her entire estate.
According to prosecutors, Ed Blomfield is accused of forging his late girlfriend Beverly Graham’s will. Blomfield and her parents began fighting over her state almost immediately after her death because they couldn’t believe that she would leave her entire estate ($750,000 worth in possessions, money, and a condo) to Blomfield.
Graham had been murdered in her condo last January by former neighbor Jennifer San-Marco, who then went to her former workplace, Goleta Postal Distribution Center, where she shot and killed six other people before shooting herself.
Detectives say that evidence found in Graham’s apartment incriminates Blomfield in the forgery. A forensic document expert also confirms that the will was forged. Blomfield, his sister, and a friend are each being held on $500,000 bail in Santa Barbara County Jail on charges of burglary, forgery, financial elder abuse, and conspiracy.
The Superior Court of California in the County of Santa Clara provides the following information regarding when a will can be contested and by whom:
When can a Will be contested?
Most challenges to Wills are by potential heirs or beneficiaries who got little or nothing. Will contests must be filed in Probate court within a certain number of days after receiving notice of the death, or petition to admit the Will to probate, or issuance of Letters Testamentary to a personal representative.
Examples of reasons to challenge a Will are:
· there is a later Will which, if valid, would replace the earlier Will;
· the Will was made at a time the decedent was not mentally competent to make a Will;
· the Will was the result of fraud, mistake or "undue influence";
· the Will was not properly "executed" (signed by the decedent);
· the so-called Will is actually a forgery;
· for some other reason (such as a pre-existing contract) the Will is invalid.
Who can contest a Will?
Only a person with "standing" can contest a Will. This means the person must have a personal financial stake in the outcome.
Examples of people with standing to contest a Will are:
· a child or spouse who was cut out of the Will
· a child who receives one third of the estate if a sibling receives two thirds,
· children who feel that the local charity should not get all the parent’s assets,
· anyone who was treated more favorably in an earlier Will.
Sometimes, there is a Will contest because someone wants a different person, bank, or trust company to serve as personal representative for the estate, or as a trustee of trusts created by the Will.
Sagaria Law, P.C. represents clients who would like to contest a will made by a family member, a spouse, a parent, or close relative. We also help clients who would like to make a will and ensure that it is accurately and legally written. Many of our clients come from Monterey County, Santa Clara County, Alameda County, and the surrounding areas. For a free, no obligation consultation, contact Sagaria Law, P.C. today.
Man California Arrested For Forging Signature Of Dead Girlfriend On Bogus Will, KSBY.com, January 4, 2007
News briefs from California's Central Coast, Mercurynews.com/Associated Press, January 5, 2007
How to Probate a Decedent's Estate, Superior Court of California County of Santa Clara
Related Web Resource:
An Introduction To Wills, ABAnet.org
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