“No.”
“Did I provide instructions regarding who should receive her property?”
“No.”
I paused.
“Did my grandmother explain her reasons for naming me as the primary beneficiary?”
“Yes.”
“Did she appear to understand the nature of her property?”
“She did.”
“Did she understand the family relationships involved?”
“Yes.”
“Did you discuss the effect of her decision?”
“At length.”
“And did she understand that the distribution she selected could disappoint or anger members of her family?”
Mr. Bennett looked toward my parents.
“She was very aware of that possibility.”
My mother lowered her head.
I continued.
“Did you observe anyone pressuring her during those meetings?”
“No.”
“Did she appear uncertain about what she wanted?”
“No.”
“What did you do to satisfy yourself that these were her independent instructions?”
Mr. Bennett explained his private meetings with Nana.
He described discussing her assets, her family, and the consequences of the proposed distribution.
He explained that the will was prepared according to her expressed wishes and executed with the required formalities.
