The South Dakota Supreme Court issued an opinion January 14 in a contested estate matter involving the late Martin Allen Webb, resolving a dispute between his widow and a family member over the distribution of his assets.
Martin Allen Webb, known as "Butch" and age 57, married Stephanie Eagleberger, age 29, on October 11, 2013, after dating for nearly a year. The couple had planned to wed following a brief courtship, with Webb being described as a successful businessman and rancher in South Dakota, while Eagleberger co-owned and operated a high-end horse breeding business in Colorado.
The case centers on a prenuptial agreement that Webb's attorney, Eric Bogue, drafted at Webb's request before the marriage. The proposed agreement contained provisions that would waive Stephanie's right to claim any share of Webb's estate after his death. According to court documents, Webb presented the prenuptial agreement to Stephanie the day before their planned civil wedding ceremony, which was scheduled to take place at Bogue's law office.
The parties signed the prenuptial agreement shortly before the wedding ceremony began on October 11, 2013. The timing of the agreement's presentation and execution - occurring the day before and moments before the wedding - would later become a central issue in the estate dispute.
Webb died approximately eight years after the marriage. Following his death, Stephanie, now going by Stephanie Webb, petitioned the circuit court seeking an elective share of her late husband's estate under South Dakota Codified Laws 29A-2-201, as well as a family allowance. These legal provisions typically allow surviving spouses to claim a portion of a deceased spouse's estate, even when a will directs otherwise.
The estate matter was initially heard in the Circuit Court of the Fourth Judicial Circuit in Dewey County, South Dakota, with the Honorable Michelle K. Comer presiding as judge. The circuit court's decision was subsequently appealed to the South Dakota Supreme Court.
The appeal involves Stephanie Webb as the appellant, represented by attorneys Jeffery D. Collins and Meghann M. Joyce of Lynn Jackson Shultz & Lebrun, P.C., with offices in Rapid City and Sioux Falls, South Dakota. The appellee in the case is Dee Haugen, represented by Eric John Nies of Nies, Karras & Skjoldal, P.C. in Spearfish, South Dakota.
The case was considered on briefs by the South Dakota Supreme Court on October 7, 2025, before the opinion was filed on January 14, 2026. Retired Justice Kern authored the opinion in the matter, which carries the citation 2026 S.D. 2.
The legal dispute highlights common issues that arise in estate planning, particularly regarding the validity and enforceability of prenuptial agreements. Questions often emerge about whether such agreements were entered into voluntarily, with full disclosure of assets, and with adequate time for consideration. The timing of the agreement's presentation in this case - the day before the wedding - may have been a factor in the legal challenge.
South Dakota's elective share statute, SDCL 29A-2-201, generally provides surviving spouses with the right to claim a portion of a deceased spouse's estate, regardless of what the will provides. However, this right can be waived through valid prenuptial or postnuptial agreements, provided certain legal requirements are met.
The family allowance provision that Stephanie Webb also sought is designed to provide immediate financial support to surviving family members during the estate administration process. This allowance typically covers reasonable living expenses for a specified period and has priority over other estate distributions.
The involvement of Dee Haugen as appellee suggests that other family members or beneficiaries had interests in the estate that conflicted with Stephanie Webb's claims. Such disputes often arise when blended families are involved or when significant assets are at stake.
The case reflects broader trends in estate litigation, where prenuptial agreements are increasingly scrutinized by courts, particularly when they involve significant wealth disparities between spouses or when the circumstances of their execution raise questions about fairness or duress.
While the specific outcome of the South Dakota Supreme Court's ruling is not detailed in the available case caption and preliminary information, the decision will likely provide guidance for future estate disputes involving prenuptial agreements in South Dakota.
The case serves as a reminder of the importance of careful estate planning and the potential complications that can arise when prenuptial agreements intersect with state laws protecting surviving spouses. Legal experts often recommend that such agreements be presented well in advance of wedding dates and that both parties have independent legal counsel to avoid later challenges.
The South Dakota Supreme Court's opinion in *Estate of Webb* will become part of the state's legal precedent governing prenuptial agreements and spousal elective share rights, potentially influencing how similar cases are resolved in the future.