![\"Illustration](\"https:\/\/bartbaggett.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/howard-hughes-mormon-will-forgery-main.jpg\")
What Was in the “Mormon Will”?<\/h2>\n
The document split Hughes’ estate into sixteen shares. One share went to the LDS Church. Another went to a man named “Melvin DuMar” (often spelled Dummar in records). DuMar was a gas station operator in Box Elder County, Utah\u2014hardly the sort of person you\u2019d expect to find in a billionaire\u2019s will.<\/p>\n
DuMar\u2019s story was as improbable as the will\u2019s appearance. He claimed that in 1967, he found an old man lying in the Nevada desert, drove him to Las Vegas, and gave him a quarter for a pay phone. The man, he said, was Howard Hughes. Years later, DuMar\u2019s name appeared in the mysterious will.<\/p>\n
The Envelope, the Thumbprint, and the Changing Story<\/h2>\n
At first, DuMar said he had no idea how the will ended up at the church. But when the FBI examined the envelope, they found his thumbprint on it. DuMar then changed his story, claiming a stranger had dropped the envelope at his gas station, that he\u2019d steamed it open, read it, and delivered it himself to Salt Lake City.<\/p>\n
Investigators also discovered that DuMar\u2019s wife worked at a magazine that circulated among the wealthy, where she reportedly had access to Hughes\u2019 memos and signature. She denied any involvement, but the coincidence raised eyebrows.<\/p>\n
The Trial in Las Vegas<\/h2>\n
The will was filed for probate in Clark County, Nevada, on April 29, 1976. The case drew national attention. The so-called “Mormon Will” was at the center of a legal battle that would last for years. Handwriting experts testified for both sides, each offering their opinion on whether the will was genuine or a clever forgery.<\/p>\n
On June 8, 1978, after about eleven hours of deliberation, the Clark County jury reached its decision: the will was a forgery. No criminal charges were ever filed. The estate was distributed according to existing law, and Melvin DuMar did not receive a share.<\/p>\n
The story didn\u2019t end there. Hollywood took notice, and the saga became the basis for the 1980 film Melvin and Howard<\/em>. DuMar, for his part, spent the rest of his life insisting he had told the truth.<\/p>\n Cases like the Hughes “Mormon Will” are a reminder of just how much can ride on a few pages of handwriting. When a document\u2019s authenticity is questioned, forensic document examiners look at much more than just the signature. They examine the letterforms, the pressure and speed of the pen, the rhythm of the writing, and the type of paper and ink used. They compare the questioned writing to known samples from the supposed author, looking for both similarities and differences.<\/p>\n Natural variation\u2014the small, unconscious differences in anyone\u2019s handwriting\u2014is a key part of the analysis. Too much consistency can be a red flag for tracing or forgery. Examiners also pay attention to the story behind the document: how it surfaced, who handled it, and whether the physical evidence (like a thumbprint on an envelope) lines up with the narrative.<\/p>\n One thing I\u2019ve learned after testifying in courtrooms across the country: it\u2019s not the famous name or the dramatic backstory that decides a case. It\u2019s whether the examiner can clearly show the jury, in plain language, why the document fits\u2014or doesn\u2019t fit\u2014the person it\u2019s attributed to.<\/p>\n If you ever find yourself facing a will, signature, or document that doesn\u2019t seem right, there are a few steps to take. First, keep the original document safe\u2014don\u2019t write on it, staple it, or try to “fix” anything. The condition of the original is critical for examination. Second, reach out to a qualified forensic document examiner early in the process. The sooner an expert can look at the document, the better your chances of understanding what\u2019s really on the page.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n After Howard Hughes died in 1976, a handwritten will surfaced at the LDS Church headquarters, naming sixteen heirs including Melvin DuMar and the church. The will was contested in court.<\/p>\n Howard Hughes died in April 1976. The will surfaced three weeks later and was filed for probate on April 29, 1976. The jury delivered its verdict on June 8, 1978.<\/p>\n A Las Vegas jury found the will was a forgery after about eleven hours of deliberation. No criminal charges were filed, and the estate was not distributed according to the will.<\/p>\n Yes, the handwriting on the will was questioned. Handwriting experts testified for both sides during the probate trial, and their analysis was part of the evidence considered by the jury.<\/p>\n Examiners compare letterforms, pen pressure, writing rhythm, and materials to known samples, looking for natural variation and signs of forgery.<\/p>\n Keep the original document safe and unaltered, and consult a qualified forensic document examiner as soon as possible.<\/p>\n Melvin DuMar was a Utah gas station operator whose name appeared as a beneficiary in the handwritten will, and who claimed to have once helped Hughes in the Nevada desert.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n If you\u2019re dealing with a questioned will, signature, or document, Handwriting Experts Inc. can help. Visit HandwritingExpertUSA.com<\/a> or call 1-800-980-9030<\/a>.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" When Howard Hughes died in 1976, a handwritten will appeared out of nowhere, splitting his fortune in unexpected ways. A Las Vegas jury called it a forgery after a dramatic trial.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":853,"featured_media":4985,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_inpost_head_script":[],"footnotes":""},"categories":[143,34],"tags":[31,220,49,10,276,307,275],"class_list":["post-4987","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-articles","category-forensic-document-examination","tag-bart-baggett","tag-forensic-document-examiner","tag-forgery","tag-handwriting-expert","tag-howard-hughes","tag-melvin-dumar","tag-mormon-will"],"blocksy_meta":{"styles_descriptor":{"styles":{"desktop":"","tablet":"","mobile":""},"google_fonts":[],"version":7}},"yoast_head":"\nHow Document Examiners Approach Cases Like This<\/h2>\n
What Should You Do If You Face a Questioned Will?<\/h2>\n
Frequently Asked Questions<\/h2>\n
What happened in the Howard Hughes ‘Mormon Will’ case?<\/h3>\n
When did the Howard Hughes ‘Mormon Will’ case happen?<\/h3>\n
What was the outcome of the Howard Hughes ‘Mormon Will’ case?<\/h3>\n
Was the handwriting or document ever questioned, and what role did document examination play in the Howard Hughes ‘Mormon Will’ case?<\/h3>\n
How do forensic document examiners analyze a questioned will like the Howard Hughes case?<\/h3>\n
What should I do if I suspect a will or document is forged?<\/h3>\n
Who was Melvin DuMar in the Howard Hughes will case?<\/h3>\n