Chapter 8 - THE FIRST COURT ORDERThe probate court did not declare a winner the week after the funeral.
It preserved things.
That was more important.
My attorney, Grace Hanley, filed objections to the late codicil.
Richard filed a petition seeking recognition of it.
Martin asked the court for instructions and disclosed his concerns.
The judge temporarily ordered:
No transfer of Samuel’s Vale shares.
No exercise of disputed proxy authority under the codicil.
Preservation of all original testamentary documents.
Preservation of family-office emails and device records.
Independent custody of the questioned codicil.
No destruction of DNA materials or lab records.
The existing 2022 estate plan remained the operational reference point only for administrative matters not affected by the dispute.
No final distribution.
Richard told reporters the order was:
“Routine.”
It was.
He also told relatives:
“Ethan lost nothing because he had nothing yet.”
Technically true.
Cruel.
I was recovering from an amputation, burying my father, and contesting a will.
May you like
Richard treated temporary possession as victory.
That was his favorite error.
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