Sec. 17.5. (a) The court, in its discretion and upon application of any party instituting an action under section 16 or 17 of this chapter, may permit the contest of two (2) or more wills if there is prima facie evidence that:
(1) the decedent suffered from an irreversible medical or psychiatric condition that predated the earliest will to be challenged; or
(2) a party beneficially interested in one (1) or more challenged wills had a direct and active nexus with the preparation or execution process for each will to be challenged on the basis of undue influence.
The prima facie preliminary evidentiary showing under subdivision (1) shall be made by an affidavit of the decedent's treating physician or through the records of a health care provider obtained during discovery and tendered to the court under Rule 803(6) of the Indiana Rules of Evidence.
(b) If the court exercises its discretion to permit the challenge to two (2) or more wills in one (1) proceeding, a challenger is eligible to request attorney's fees under IC 29-1-10-14 if the challenger stands to directly benefit from a successful suit. The court shall review the attorney's fee claims at the conclusion of the will contest. The award and allocation of attorney's fees paid from the estate shall be solely at the discretion of the court.
As added by P.L.231-2019, SEC.9.
Structure Indiana Code
Chapter 7. Probate and Grant of Administration
29-1-7-0.1. Application of Certain Amendments to Chapter
29-1-7-1. Venue; Transfer of Proceedings
29-1-7-2. One Proceeding in Rem
29-1-7-3. Produce Will in Court; Contempt; Damages
29-1-7-6. Notice of Hearing; Request; Provision of Relevant Materials by Personal Representative
29-1-7-7. Notice of Administration
29-1-7-8. Death in Doubt; Search for Alleged Decedent
29-1-7-9. Admission to Probate; Proof of Will
29-1-7-10. Absence of Competent Witnesses; Handwriting; Proof
29-1-7-12. Nuncupative Wills; Proof
29-1-7-13. Admission to Probate; Petitions; Self-Proved Wills; Signature Requirement Presumptions
29-1-7-14. Certificate of Probate; Evidence
29-1-7-15.2. Sale of Real Property; Permitted Use of Proceeds
29-1-7-16. Objections to Probate
29-1-7-17. Contest of Wills; Requisites; Grounds
29-1-7-17.5. Contest of Two or More Wills
29-1-7-18. Contest of Wills; Notice and Service Requirements
29-1-7-19. Contest of Wills; Bond of Plaintiff
29-1-7-20. Contest of Wills; Burden of Proof
29-1-7-21. Contest of Wills; Burden of Proof
29-1-7-22. Revocation of Probate
29-1-7-23. Real and Personal Property; Devolution; Prima Facie Evidence
29-1-7-24. Probate of Will; Necessity to Prove Title to Property
29-1-7-25. Foreign Wills; Receipt and Recording Authorized
29-1-7-26. Foreign Wills; Certification
29-1-7-27. Foreign Wills; Filing and Recording
29-1-7-28. Executed in Indiana; Allowed in Foreign State or Country