They also contained observations of her mental functioning during the period relevant to the will.
I understood their limitations.
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A person could be physically frail and still capable of making decisions.
A person could also have periods of confusion and remain capable at other times.
The question was not whether Nana had ever forgotten something.
The question was whether she understood the will when she made it, and whether anyone had improperly controlled her decision.
I organized the records around those questions.
Then I turned to my parents’ allegations about my professional competence.
Their complaint described me as chronically unemployed and unable to manage responsibility.
I stared at that paragraph for a long time.
Then I opened another folder.
I gathered my law degree, bar admission, military service records, appointment documents, and professional history.
I prepared a concise declaration explaining my background.
I wasn’t trying to suggest that being a lawyer automatically made me a trustworthy granddaughter.
