Supreme Court of Louisiana

Succession of John Wallace Frabbiele

December 13, 2024

Summary

The court held that a notarial will is absolutely null when the testator signs his full name only on the final page and places initials on the other pages. Because the governing statute mandates that the testator sign his name at the end and on each separate page, initials do not satisfy the requirement and substantial compliance is insufficient. The court reversed the lower courts' rulings validating the will.