{
  "id": "nexus-ext-1-0005-372149",
  "citation": "Res. 02547-2024 Sala Segunda de la Corte",
  "section": "nexus_decisions",
  "doc_type": "court_decision",
  "title_es": "Nulidad de testamento por incapacidad mental del testador",
  "title_en": "Annulment of Will Due to Testator's Mental Incapacity",
  "summary_es": "La Sala Segunda de la Corte Suprema de Justicia resolvió un recurso de casación interpuesto dentro de un proceso ordinario de nulidad de testamento. El tribunal anuló el testamento otorgado por el causante, al determinar que sufría un deterioro neurocognitivo mayor, probablemente asociado a Alzheimer, que le privaba de la capacidad volitiva y cognoscitiva necesaria para comprender y decidir sobre la disposición de sus bienes. La prueba pericial psiquiátrica y los testimonios acreditaron ese estado de vulnerabilidad. Adicionalmente, la Sala valoró que la beneficiaria del testamento mantenía una relación de cercanía y acompañamiento con el testador, lo que incrementaba el riesgo de manipulación y reforzaba la invalidez del acto testamentario.",
  "summary_en": "The Second Chamber of the Supreme Court granted the appeal and annulled a will on the grounds that, at the time of its execution, the testator lacked the volitional and cognitive capacity to dispose of his assets. Expert psychiatric evidence and witness testimony established that the testator suffered from a major neurocognitive disorder, likely Alzheimer's disease, that impaired his ability to understand and decide on the distribution of his estate. The Court also considered that the beneficiary under the will played a close supporting role that heightened the risk of undue influence.",
  "court_or_agency": "Sala Segunda de la Corte",
  "date": "2024",
  "year": "2024",
  "topic_ids": [
    "_off-topic"
  ],
  "primary_topic_id": "_off-topic",
  "es_concept_hints": [
    "capacidad volitiva y cognoscitiva",
    "deterioro neurocognitivo mayor",
    "otorgamiento del testamento",
    "manifestación de voluntad",
    "causante",
    "Sala Segunda de la Corte"
  ],
  "concept_anchors": [
    {
      "article": "Art. 587",
      "law": "Código Civil"
    },
    {
      "article": "Art. 590",
      "law": "Código Civil"
    },
    {
      "article": "Art. 835",
      "law": "Código Civil"
    },
    {
      "article": "Art. 61",
      "law": "Ley Integral para la Persona Adulta Mayor"
    },
    {
      "article": "Art. 62",
      "law": "Ley Integral para la Persona Adulta Mayor"
    },
    {
      "article": "Art. 69",
      "law": "Código Procesal Civil"
    }
  ],
  "keywords_es": [
    "testamento",
    "nulidad",
    "incapacidad mental",
    "Alzheimer",
    "deterioro neurocognitivo",
    "capacidad volitiva",
    "vulnerabilidad",
    "influencia indebida",
    "Sala Segunda",
    "casación",
    "prueba pericial psiquiátrica",
    "otorgamiento"
  ],
  "keywords_en": [
    "will",
    "annulment",
    "mental incapacity",
    "Alzheimer",
    "neurocognitive disorder",
    "testamentary capacity",
    "undue influence",
    "vulnerability",
    "Court of Cassation",
    "expert evidence",
    "volition",
    "probate"
  ],
  "excerpt_es": "La Sala acogió el recurso y anuló el testamento por falta de capacidad volitiva y cognoscitiva del testador al momento de su otorgamiento. Se determinó, a partir de la prueba pericial psiquiátrica y los testimonios rendidos, que el causante padecía un deterioro neurocognitivo mayor, probablemente asociado a Alzheimer, lo que comprometía su capacidad para comprender y decidir sobre la disposición de sus bienes. La Sala concluyó que la enfermedad del testador generaba un estado de vulnerabilidad, y que no contaba con las facultades necesarias para emitir una manifestación de voluntad válida en el acto de otorgamiento del testamento. Además, consideró que la beneficiaria del testamento tenía un rol de acompañamiento y cercanía que podría haber influido en su contenido, lo que incrementaba el riesgo de manipulación.",
  "excerpt_en": "The Chamber granted the appeal and annulled the will due to the testator's lack of volitional and cognitive capacity at the time of its execution. It was determined, based on expert psychiatric evidence and witness testimony, that the deceased suffered from a major neurocognitive disorder, probably associated with Alzheimer's disease, which compromised his ability to understand and decide on the distribution of his assets. The Chamber concluded that the testator's illness placed him in a state of vulnerability and that he lacked the faculties necessary to issue a valid expression of will at the time the will was executed. It further considered that the beneficiary of the will had a supportive and close relationship with the testator that could have influenced the will's contents, increasing the risk of manipulation.",
  "outcome": {
    "label_en": "Granted",
    "label_es": "Con lugar",
    "summary_en": "The appeal was granted and the will was annulled due to the testator's mental incapacity at the time of its execution.",
    "summary_es": "Se acogió el recurso de casación y se anuló el testamento por incapacidad mental del testador al momento de su otorgamiento."
  },
  "pull_quotes": [
    {
      "context": "Considerandos",
      "quote_en": "It was determined, based on expert psychiatric evidence and witness testimony, that the deceased suffered from a major neurocognitive disorder, probably associated with Alzheimer's disease, which compromised his ability to understand and decide on the distribution of his assets.",
      "quote_es": "Se determinó, a partir de la prueba pericial psiquiátrica y los testimonios rendidos, que el causante padecía un deterioro neurocognitivo mayor, probablemente asociado a Alzheimer, lo que comprometía su capacidad para comprender y decidir sobre la disposición de sus bienes."
    }
  ],
  "cites": [],
  "cited_by": [],
  "references": {
    "internal": [],
    "external": []
  },
  "source_url": "https://nexuspj.poder-judicial.go.cr/document/ext-1-0005-372149",
  "tier": 2,
  "_editorial_citation_count": 0,
  "regulations_by_article": null,
  "amendments_by_article": null,
  "dictamen_by_article": null,
  "concordancias_by_article": null,
  "afectaciones_by_article": null,
  "resoluciones_by_article": null,
  "cited_by_votos": [],
  "cited_norms": [],
  "cited_norms_inverted": [
    {
      "doc_id": "norm-15437",
      "norm_num": "",
      "norm_name": "Código Civil de Costa Rica",
      "tipo_norma": "",
      "norm_fecha": ""
    },
    {
      "doc_id": "norm-42683",
      "norm_num": "7764",
      "norm_name": "Código Notarial",
      "tipo_norma": "Ley",
      "norm_fecha": "17/04/1998"
    },
    {
      "doc_id": "norm-43655",
      "norm_num": "7935",
      "norm_name": "Ley Integral para la Persona Adulta Mayor",
      "tipo_norma": "Ley",
      "norm_fecha": "25/10/1999"
    }
  ],
  "sentencias_relacionadas": [],
  "temas_y_subtemas": [],
  "cascade_only": false,
  "amendment_count": 0,
  "body_es_text": "NULIDAD DE TESTAMENTO POR INCAPACIDAD MENTAL DEL TESTADOR.\nLa Sala acogió el recurso y anuló el testamento por falta de\ncapacidad volitiva y cognoscitiva del testador al momento de su\notorgamiento. Se determinó, a partir de la prueba pericial\npsiquiátrica y los testimonios rendidos, que el causante padecía un\ndeterioro neurocognitivo mayor, probablemente asociado a Alzheimer,\nlo que comprometía su capacidad para comprender y decidir sobre la\ndisposición de sus bienes. La Sala concluyó que la enfermedad del\ntestador generaba un estado de vulnerabilidad, y que no contaba con\nlas facultades necesarias para emitir una manifestación de voluntad\nválida en el acto de otorgamiento del testamento. Además, consideró\nque la beneficiaria del testamento tenía un rol de acompañamiento y\ncercanía que podría haber influido en su contenido, lo que\nincrementaba el riesgo de manipulación. [2547-24]",
  "body_en_text": "NULLITY OF WILL DUE TO MENTAL INCAPACITY OF THE TESTATOR.\nThe Chamber granted the appeal and annulled the will due to the testator's lack of volitional and cognitive capacity at the time of its execution. Based on the psychiatric expert evidence and the testimony provided, it was determined that the decedent suffered from a major neurocognitive disorder, probably associated with Alzheimer's disease, which compromised his capacity to understand and decide on the disposition of his property. The Chamber concluded that the testator's illness created a state of vulnerability, and that he did not possess the necessary faculties to issue a valid manifestation of intent at the act of executing the will. Furthermore, it considered that the beneficiary of the will had a role of companionship and closeness that could have influenced its content, which increased the risk of manipulation. [2547-24]"
}