A Mississippi court recently affirmed the validity of a 2003 will belonging to the late Lamar DeLoach, rejecting claims by his brother, Frank DeLoach, that a later will existed. The decision impacts the distribution of Lamar's estate, which is now set to follow the terms of the 2003 document.

The Court of Appeals of Mississippi ruled on November 10, 2026, in the case of In The Matter of The Estate of Lamar DeLoach, Deceased: Frank DeLoach v. Larry DeLoach and Rodney DeLoach (docket number 2025-CA-00371-COA). The court's decision confirms that the 2003 will remains valid and enforceable, effectively dismissing Frank's claims regarding a purported 2012 will.

The dispute began after Lamar DeLoach passed away on January 23, 2023. Following his death, his cousins, Larry and Rodney DeLoach, filed a petition to probate Lamar's 2003 will on February 28, 2023. The 2003 will named them as co-executors and outlined specific distributions of Lamar's estate. Frank DeLoach, Lamar's brother, contested this will, claiming that Lamar had revoked it in favor of a later will created in 2012. Frank argued that this later will was destroyed, which would mean Lamar died without a will, making Frank the sole heir to the estate.

The case moved through the legal system, and on March 22, 2024, Larry and Rodney filed a motion for summary judgment. They contended that Frank could not prove the validity of the 2012 will, which he claimed revoked the 2003 will. The chancellor agreed, stating that Frank failed to provide adequate evidence to support his claims about the later will. The court ruled that the question of whether the 2012 will existed was moot since Frank did not demonstrate that it was legally valid.

In its ruling, the court stated, "Frank failed to produce a valid subsequent will revoking Lamar’s 2003 will." The judges emphasized that the 2003 will met all legal requirements, including proper execution and witness signatures. The court noted that Frank's evidence, including affidavits from individuals claiming to have seen the later will, did not satisfy the necessary legal standards for proving the existence of a valid will.

The court's decision is significant for several reasons. First, it upholds the original intentions of Lamar DeLoach as expressed in his 2003 will. The ruling reinforces the importance of adhering to legal formalities in will execution and revocation. It clarifies that mere assertions about a later will are insufficient to challenge a previously executed and valid will without proper evidence.

This ruling affects not only the DeLoach family but also sets a precedent for similar cases in Mississippi. It underscores the necessity for individuals contesting wills to provide clear and convincing evidence when claiming that a later will exists or that a prior will has been revoked. The decision may deter future challenges to valid wills based solely on unproven claims.

Looking ahead, there is the possibility of an appeal, although the court did not specify whether Frank DeLoach intends to pursue that route. The court's ruling could potentially influence other pending cases involving will contests and estate disputes in Mississippi. As of now, the estate of Lamar DeLoach will proceed according to the terms laid out in the 2003 will, with Larry and Rodney DeLoach serving as co-executors.