The Art Newspaper

Brooke Astor probate proceedings may resume

Fate of the philanthropist's will remains in limbo

By Martha Lufkin. Web only
Published online: 25 November 2009

new york. In December, proceedings over the probate of the disputed will of the late philanthropist Brooke Astor, a trustee emeritus of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, are expected to resume, with a status conference scheduled for December 7 before Justice Anthony Scarpino, Jr of the Westchester County Surrogate’s Court in White Plains, New York. The fate of the Astor will remains in limbo after a New York jury convicted Mrs Astor’s son, Anthony Marshall, of inducing her to sign codicils to her will for his own benefit when she was mentally incapacitated. The codicils diverted funds to Marshall, changing Astor’s longstanding plan to leave her residuary estate to charities including the Metropolitan Museum. It will be up to Justice Scarpino to decide which document was Mrs Astor’s last valid will, which depends on his determination as to when she last had the requisite mental capacity to make or change a will.