In Re: Estate of Clifford Franklin Baker, et al. v. Lee King, et al.

This appeal involves a challenge to the validity of an antenuptial agreement. Executors under the decedent’s Will filed a petition in the General Sessions Court of Madison County, Probate Division, to have Will admitted to probate. Decedent’s wife then filed a notice and petition for elective share, for specific property, year’s support, homestead, and expedited hearing. The Executors, also beneficiaries under decedent’s Will, opposed the petition based on an antenuptial agreement the wife had entered into with the decedent prior to their marriage, and the wife challenged the enforceability of the antenuptial agreement. Following a hearing, the court upheld the validity of the antenuptial agreement, finding that the wife entered into the agreement knowledgeably and that the doctrine of equitable estoppel prohibited the wife from contesting the antenuptial agreement. Wife appeals. The dispositive question before this Court is whether the evidence preponderates against the trial court’s finding that the antenuptial agreement was valid and enforceable. We conclude that the record and applicable law do not support the trial court’s decision to enforce the antenuptial agreement. We reverse and remand this case to the probate court for further proceedings consistent with this Opinion.