KAPSNER, Justice.
[¶ 1] Dean Olsen, Susan ("Sue") Olsen, Bobby Olsen, Clee Raye Olsen, and Marion Bergquist ("the appellants") appeal a district court judgment invalidating transfers of money and real property from Clarence Erickson to the appellants and invalidating Clarence Erickson's will on the bases of lack of capacity and undue influence. The appellants also appeal a district court order denying the appellants' N.D.R.Civ.P. 52(b) motion to amend the district court's findings and judgment. Because the district court findings were not clearly erroneous, we affirm the district court judgment. The appellants' appeal of the district court's Rule 52(b) order is dismissed.
[¶ 2] Clarence Erickson had four natural children from a first marriage: Curtis Erickson, Carol Wolf, Craig Erickson, and Colin Erickson. Clarence Erickson and his first wife divorced, and Clarence Erickson married Clara Olsen. Clara Olsen had six children from a previous marriage: Ardis Menager, Marion Bergquist, Larry Olsen, Martin Olsen, Dean Olsen, and Bobby Olsen. Clarence Erickson and Clara Olsen were married for 28 years until Clara Olsen's death, and all of the children and stepchildren were living at the time of both Clara Olsen and Clarence Erickson's deaths.
[¶ 3] Clara Olsen and Clarence Erickson lived on a farm outside Bowman, North Dakota. Bobby Olsen lived approximately two and a half miles away, and Dean Olsen lived approximately three miles away. Bobby Olsen saw Clarence Erickson at least every other day, and Dean Olsen saw Clarence Erickson daily. Dean Olsen sharecropped on a portion of Clarence Erickson's land. Three of Clarence Erickson's children lived out of state; Curtis Erickson lived in Minnesota and later moved to Bismarck, North Dakota.
[¶ 4] Clarence Erickson retired from farming in 1985. He discontinued his livestock operation in 2003. Since 2006, Curtis Erickson had noticed Clarence Erickson had gaps in memory and difficulty doing simple mathematical calculations. Sometime prior to Clara Olsen's death in 2009, Clarence Erickson stopped driving. Clarence Erickson's eyesight began deteriorating in 2009.
[¶ 5] In 2008, Clarence Erickson and Clara Olsen gave Dean and Sue Olsen a cashier's check for over $42,000 to cover the cost of Dean Olsen's hip replacement. While Clara Olsen was still living, Dean Olsen's wife, Sue Olsen, began assisting Clarence Erickson by filling out checks to pay bills. After Clara Olsen's death in 2009, Clarence Erickson continued to live at the farm. Sue Olsen saw Clarence Erickson daily and wrote all of his checks. During this time, Sue Olsen wrote two checks to herself, totaling $9,000. According to Sue Olsen, Clarence Erickson gave her the money as a token of appreciation for her help.
[¶ 6] Curtis Erickson noticed that, on the day of Clara Olsen's funeral in 2009, Clarence Erickson had no emotion or response. In November 2009, Curtis Erickson became concerned that Clarence Erickson should not be living alone, and Clarence Erickson moved in with Dean and Sue Olsen. However, Dean Olsen did not think Clarence Erickson needed constant supervision at that time.
[¶ 7] In November 2009, January 2010, and February 2010, while Clarence Erickson was living with Dean and Sue Olsen, Sue Olsen wrote a third check to herself
[¶ 8] Around February 2010, Bobby Olsen took Clarence Erickson to a law office in Bowman to have a will drafted. In March 2010, Clarence Erickson signed two warranty deeds transferring all of his real property in two parcels — one to Bobby Olsen and one to Dean Olsen — for $200 per acre, despite the estimated value of the land being at least $400 per acre. According to Bobby Olsen, Clarence Erickson sold the land for half of what it was worth because Clarence Erickson felt half of the land should be considered to have belonged to the stepchildren's mother, Clara Olsen.
[¶ 9] Two days after the land sale, Clarence Erickson was moved to Bismarck to live with Marion Bergquist. While Marion Bergquist was at work, her son and his fiancé would stop by her apartment to check on Clarence Erickson. During the time Clarence Erickson lived with Marion Bergquist, Clarence Erickson's brother died. At the funeral, Clarence Erickson could not recognize one of his sisters. Curtis Erickson and Clarence Erickson's other children became aware of the land sale around June 2010. When asked, Clarence Erickson could not remember any specifics of the transactions.
[¶ 10] In September 2010, Marion Bergquist took Clarence Erickson to Bowman to sign his will. She and Bobby Olsen also took Clarence Erickson to Wells Fargo Bank in Bowman, where his accounts were closed. New accounts were opened in Clarence Erickson's name at Dakota Community Bank, where Bobby Olsen had accounts.
[¶ 11] In October 2010, due to concerns for Clarence Erickson's mental health, Curtis Erickson sought and was granted temporary guardianship of Clarence Erickson. After being granted temporary guardianship, Curtis Erickson learned of the change to Clarence Erickson's bank accounts and the checks written to Dean and Sue Olsen in 2009 and 2010. When asked, Clarence Erickson was unable to provide any explanation for the transactions and had no clear memory of the events or details surrounding the transactions.
[¶ 12] After becoming temporary guardian, Curtis Erickson moved his father into his home, where he noticed that his father would become confused, especially in the evenings, and had difficulty staying asleep. Clarence Erickson also frequently got up in the middle of the night and began getting ready for the day.
[¶ 13] In November 2010, in preparation for a permanent guardianship hearing, Clarence Erickson was evaluated by Dr. David Brooks. Dr. Brooks found Clarence Erickson suffered from neurological impairment, was not competent to make decisions, and required 24-hour supervision. His pattern of performance was consistent with probable dementia of the Alzheimer's type. Dr. Brooks opined it was very likely Clarence Erickson would have been impaired a month or two before the evaluation, maybe even a few months before, but Dr. Brooks could not come to a conclusion about whether impairment existed earlier in time. Although Dr. Brooks had no contact with Clarence Erickson prior to the evaluation, the doctor indicated that one symptom of later-stage dementia is inability to remember the names of family members.
[¶ 15] On September 21, 2011, Curtis Erickson filed a petition to rescind transactions and to deem decedent's will invalid, arguing undue influence, duress, misrepresentation, and incompetence. A one-day bench trial was held in January 2013. Following trial, the district court entered a judgment concluding that undue influence was exerted over Clarence Erickson when executing his will and while transferring real and personal property to the appellants, that Clarence Erickson lacked capacity to transfer the money and real property, and that Clarence Erickson lacked testamentary capacity to execute the challenged will.
[¶ 16] The appellants moved to amend the district court findings and judgment pursuant to N.D.R.Civ.P. 52(b), arguing there was insufficient evidence in the record to support the findings that undue influence had been exerted and that Clarence Erickson lacked capacity to execute his will and to transfer money and real property. The district court denied the appellants' Rule 52(b) motion. The appellants then moved to correct the district court judgment pursuant to N.D.R.Civ.P. 60(a), arguing that the district court should account for the repayment of the purchase prices paid by the appellants for the real property transfers invalidated by the district court judgment.
[¶ 17] Before the district court ruled on the appellants' Rule 60(a) motion, the appellants filed a notice of appeal, appealing both the district court judgment and the order denying the appellants' Rule 52(b) motion. The appellants then filed a motion with this Court to remand the case to the district court for consideration of their pending Rule 60(a) motion, and this Court temporarily remanded the case. Following a hearing, the district court granted the appellants' Rule 60(a) motion and filed an amended judgment which included reimbursements to the appellants for the consideration paid for the invalidated real property transfers. The case then returned to this Court. No appeal was taken from the amended judgment.
[¶ 18] On appeal, the appellants argue the district court erred in concluding undue influence was exerted over Clarence Erickson when executing his will and while transferring real and personal property to the appellants. The appellants also argue the district court erred in concluding that Clarence Erickson lacked capacity to transfer real and personal property on the dates in question. Finally, the appellants argue the district court erred in concluding that Clarence Erickson lacked testamentary capacity to execute a will.
[¶ 19] A determination of mental capacity, including testamentary capacity, is a question of fact that this Court will set aside on appeal only when clearly erroneous. Estate of Wenzel-Mosset by Gaukler v. Nickels, 1998 ND 16, ¶ 14, 575 N.W.2d 425; Matter of Estate of Wagner, 551 N.W.2d 292, 295 (N.D.1996). The determination of whether undue influence occurred is also a question of fact subject to the clearly erroneous standard of review.
[¶ 20] The appellants argue the district court's finding that Clarence Erickson lacked testamentary capacity to execute his will is clearly erroneous. This Court often quotes a passage from Stormon v. Weiss, 65 N.W.2d 475, 504-05 (N.D.1954), to explain testamentary capacity:
See, e.g., Estate of Dion, 2001 ND 53, ¶ 39, 623 N.W.2d 720. "A will contestant has the burden of proving testamentary incapacity by a preponderance of the evidence." Id. at ¶ 40 (citing Matter of Estate of Wagner, 551 N.W.2d at 296).
[¶ 21] In this case, the district court found:
The district court therefore determined that Clarence Erickson "did not have `sufficient strength and clearness of mind and memory' to understand his actions when he executed his will on September 16, 2010."
[¶ 22] The appellants argue the district court's findings that Clarence Erickson lacked the mental capacity to transfer money and real property are clearly erroneous. Rescission of a contract on the ground of mental incapacity is authorized by N.D.C.C. § 14-01-02. "A conveyance or other contract of a person of unsound mind, but not entirely without understanding, made before the person's incapacity has been determined judicially upon application for the appointment of a guardian is subject to rescission as provided by the laws of this state." N.D.C.C. § 14-01-02. "Before a court may set aside a transaction on the ground of mental incapacity, the party attacking the validity of the transaction must show the grantor, at the time of the transaction, was so weak mentally as not to be able to comprehend and understand the nature and effect of the transaction." Estate of Nelson, 553 N.W.2d at 773 (citations omitted). "Old age alone does not render a person incompetent, even if the mind is weak or impaired or even if capacity to transact general business may be lacking." Estate of Wenzel-Mosset by Gaukler, 1998 ND 16, ¶ 13, 575 N.W.2d 425 (citing Slorby v. Johnson, 530 N.W.2d 307, 309 (N.D. 1995)).
[¶ 23] In this case, the district court found:
The district court determined Clarence Erickson "lacked the mental capacity to comprehend the meaning and effect of the transfer of his real property to Bobby and Dean." The district court also found Clarence Erickson was "not capable of understanding the nature and effect of the sale of his real property and monetary transfers to Dean and Sue."
[¶ 24] The appellants argue the district court's findings of undue influence with respect to the execution of Clarence Erickson's will are clearly erroneous.
Estate of Vestre, 2011 ND 144, ¶ 21, 799 N.W.2d 379 (citations and internal quotation marks omitted). This Court has noted "undue influence must be proven by the person contesting the will and ... mere suspicion is not enough." In re Estate of Stave, 2007 ND 53, ¶ 13, 729 N.W.2d 706 (citing Matter of Estate of Ostby, 479 N.W.2d 866, 871 (N.D.1992)). Further, "Evidence which merely shows that a party who benefitted by the will had both motive and opportunity to exert influence over the testator is not sufficient to invalidate a will where there is no evidence that such influence was actually exerted." Matter of Estate of Polda, 349 N.W.2d 11, 14 (N.D.1984) (citation omitted). However, "Undue influence is seldom exercised
[¶ 25] In this case, the district court found:
The district court determined the September 2010 will executed by Clarence Erickson resulted from undue influence.
[¶ 26] The appellants argue the district court's findings of undue influence with respect to Clarence Erickson's transfers of money and real property are clearly erroneous. Analysis of an undue influence claim regarding a nontestamentary transaction differs slightly from analysis of an undue influence claim in the context of a challenge to the probate of a will. In cases involving nontestamentary transactions, this Court has defined undue influence as "improper influence [] exercised over the grantor ... in such a way and to such an extent as to destroy his free agency or his voluntary action by substituting for his will the will of another." Johnson v. Johnson, 85 N.W.2d 211, 221 (N.D.1957). In nontestamentary cases, this Court has held "[a] finding of undue influence ... requires that three factors be established: (1) A person who can be influenced; (2) The fact of improper influence exerted; and (3) Submission to the overmastering effect of such unlawful conduct." Sulsky v. Horob, 357 N.W.2d 243, 248 (N.D.1984) (citing Kronebusch v. Lettenmaier, 311 N.W.2d 32, 35 (N.D. 1981)).
[¶ 27] In this case, the district court found:
The district court therefore determined that "the warranty deeds and checks were created and signed as a result of undue influence."
[¶ 28] This case largely consisted of "he said, she said" evidence which told two, very different stories. Curtis Erickson's testimony painted Clarence Erickson as an individual who had been experiencing mental deficiencies for several years and who had been entirely dependent on family members during the period of time that the transactions and will execution occurred. Bobby Olsen, Sue Olsen, Dean Olsen, and Marion Bergquist all testified that they never saw any decline in Clarence Erickson's mental health at any point before his death and that Clarence Erickson favored them in the monetary and real estate transactions and in his will because of their excellent relationships with him. The only opinion offered by a non-party was the deposition of Dr. Brooks, who opined that it was very likely Clarence Erickson would have been impaired up to a few months before the evaluation, who would not speculate beyond that time frame, but who testified that the indicia relied upon by the district court are signs of impairment.
[¶ 29] In its findings of fact, conclusions of law, and order for judgment, the district court correctly applied the relevant law to each of the four issues and clearly articulated the bases for its findings. While this Court may have viewed the facts differently had we been sitting as the trier of fact, our standard of review on appeal is clearly erroneous. There is evidentiary support for the district court's findings. The district court chose to view the evidence in a light that favored Curtis Erickson's case. That view was permissible based on the record before the district court, and we will not substitute our judgment for that of the district court. We hold the district court's findings of fact are not clearly erroneous.
[¶ 30] The appellants' notice of appeal indicates that they are, in part, appealing the district court's order on their Rule 52(b) motion to amend the district court's findings and judgment. However, this Court has held that orders on Rule 52(b) motions are not appealable. Alliance Pipeline L.P. v. Smith, 2013 ND 117, ¶ 9, 833 N.W.2d 464. Therefore, to the extent the appellants' appeal is based on the district court's Rule 52(b) order, that portion of the appellants' appeal is dismissed.
[¶ 31] The district court's findings that undue influence was exerted over Clarence Erickson when executing his will, that Clarence Erickson lacked testamentary capacity
[¶ 32] GERALD W. VANDE WALLE, C.J., LISA FAIR McEVERS, DANIEL J. CROTHERS, and DALE V. SANDSTROM, JJ.