Order Michigan Supreme Court
Lansing, Michigan
September 29, 2017 Stephen J. Markman,
Chief Justice
Brian K. Zahra
Bridget M. McCormack
153980-1 David F. Viviano
Richard H. Bernstein
Joan L. Larsen
Kurtis T. Wilder,
Justices
_________________________________________
In re Estate of JAMES ERWIN, SR.
_________________________________________
BEATRICE KING, Individually and as Personal
Representative for the Estate of JAMES ERWIN,
SR.,
Appellant,
v SC: 153980
COA: 323387
Saginaw PC: 13-130558-DE
JACQUELINE E. NASH, BILLY J. ERWIN,
DEMARKIUS ERWIN, MAGGIE ERWIN, and
STACY ERWIN OAKES,
Appellees.
_________________________________________/
In re Estate of JAMES ERWIN, SR.
_________________________________________
BEATRICE KING,
Appellant,
v SC: 153981
COA: 329264
Saginaw PC: 13-130558-DE
JACQUELINE E. NASH, BILLY J. ERWIN,
DEMARKIUS ERWIN, MAGGIE ERWIN,
STACY ERWIN OAKES, and DOUGLAS
TAYLOR,
Appellees.
_________________________________________/
2
On order of the Court, the application for leave to appeal the May 10, 2016
judgment of the Court of Appeals is considered, and it is GRANTED. The parties shall
address: (1) whether the “willfully absent” provision in MCL 700.2801(2)(e)(i) is
defined exclusively by physical separation, or whether it includes consideration of the
emotional bonds and connections between spouses, compare In re Estate of Erwin,
unpublished opinion per curiam of the Court of Appeals, issued May 10, 2016 (Docket
Nos. 323387, 329264), at 5, with In re Peterson Estate, 315 Mich App 423, 432 (2016);
and (2) whether MCL 700.2801(2)(e)(i) requires proof that a spouse intends to abandon
his or her marital rights, compare Matter of Estate of Harris, 151 Mich App 780, 786
(1986), with In re Peterson Estate, 315 Mich App at 433.
The time allowed for oral argument shall be 20 minutes for each side. MCR
7.314(B)(1).
Persons or groups interested in the determination of the issues presented in this
case may move the Court for permission to file briefs amicus curiae.
I, Larry S. Royster, Clerk of the Michigan Supreme Court, certify that the
foregoing is a true and complete copy of the order entered at the direction of the Court.
September 29, 2017
s0926
Clerk