Ball v. Nichols

36 Fla. Supp. 91
CourtCircuit Court of the 4th Judicial Circuit of Florida, Duval County
DecidedDecember 31, 1971
DocketNo. 71-7001
StatusPublished

This text of 36 Fla. Supp. 91 (Ball v. Nichols) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Circuit Court of the 4th Judicial Circuit of Florida, Duval County primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Ball v. Nichols, 36 Fla. Supp. 91 (Fla. Super. Ct. 1971).

Opinion

MARION W. GOODING, Circuit Judge.

Final judgment: This case is before the court upon application of the parties for the entry of a final decree. The court has considered the factual and legal issues raised by the pleadings, the oral testimony, the documentary evidence, memorandum briefs and arguments submitted by counsel. From such consideration, the court has concluded that the equities of the case are with the [93]*93petitioners and that they are entitled to the relief prayed for in their petition.

I. INTRODUCTION

The action is brought under the provisions of the common law and further under the provisions of the Trust Accounting Law (chapter 737, Florida Statutes) and the Declaratory Judgments Act (chapter 86, Florida Statutes) of the state of Florida, and the Florida Charitable Trust Act of 1971 (chapter 71-256, Laws of Florida).

II. JURISDICTION AND VENUE

Jurisdiction of this court is established by the common law and confirmed by the statutory law of the state of Florida. In Florida, equity has inherent jurisdiction to carry into effect and supervise the charitable bequests and devises of a testator. The Statute of Charitable Uses defined the subjects of charity, but the jurisdiction of the English courts of chancery over charitable trusts did not arise by reason of this statute, as such jurisdiction had existed long prior thereto. Consequently, if it becomes necessary to construe the terms of a will which has created a charitable trust or to supervise the trust in any manner, application for such construction or supervision may be made to equity. The validity of a charitable bequest is determined according to the law of the state of the testator’s domicile. I Redfearn, Wills and Administration in Florida, 396.

The Trust Accounting Law, chapter 737, Florida Statutes, provides that jurisdiction over testamentary trusts is vested in the circuit court in which the decedent was domiciled. The pleadings and evidence establish that Alfred I. duPont died on April 29, 1935, a resident and citizen of Duval County, Florida.

The Declaratory Judgments Act, chapter 86, Florida Statutes, also grants exclusive jurisdiction to the circuit court.

The Florida Charitable Trust Act of 1971, chapter 71-256, Laws of Florida, also grants exclusive jurisdiction to the circuit courts and sets venue in the circuit court having original jurisdiction of a trust if a proceeding under the Florida Trust Accounting Law has been instituted with respect to such trust.

The trustees of Mr. duPont’s estate have complied with the Trust Accounting Law by qualifying as trustees and filing reports with this circuit court.

Therefore, the court finds that it has jurisdiction over the subject matter of this suit and that venue is properly laid in Duval County, Florida.

[94]*94III. PARTIES

The petitioners are the present trustees under the trusts created by the last will and testament and codicils thereto of Alfred I. duPont, deceased, and the Nemours Foundation, which is a corporation not for profit and is the charitable organization which will receive the entire residual income from the trust created by Mr. duPont’s will. They are the proper parties-plaintiff in this action.

The defendant is the state attorney in and for the fourth judicial circuit of the state of Florida which circuit includes Duval County. §737.251, Florida Statutes, which is a part of the Trust Accounting Law, provides that in all proceedings under that chapter involving charitable trusts with unknown or unascertainable beneficiaries, the state attorney for the judicial circuit having original jurisdiction of said trust shall be deemed to be the representative of such beneficiaries for all purposes of such chapter.

§2 of chapter 71-256, Laws of Florida, known as the Charitable Trust Act of 1971, provides that responsibility for protection of the public interest in such a case shall rest with the state attorney for the judicial circuit having original jurisdiction of the trust if a proceeding under the Florida Trust Accounting Law has been instituted with respect to such trust.

The state attorney has admitted that he is the proper party-defendant and the court so finds.

IV. PROVISIONS OF THE WILL AND CODICILS OF ALFRED I. duPONT AND CREATION OF THE NEMOURS FOUNDATION

In determining the intention of the testator the governing language is that used in the will and codicils executed by the maker of such documents. The last will and codicils of Mr. duPont are composed of forty printed pages and are very explicit in their terms and meaning. The true intent of Mr. duPont is perhaps best ex-preseed in item 4 of his second codicil. It is there stated that —

My said Will . . . provides that “The Nemours Foundation”, a corporation to be organized for charitable purposes is ultimately, through my Trustees, to become one of my substantial beneficiaries ... Its ultimate interest in my estate largely motivates my continued diligent attention to my financial affairs . . . the creation of this “Foundation” has been and is entirely my own idea, formulated many years ago, for the reason that it has been my firm conviction throughout life that it is the duty of everyone in this world to do what is within his power to alleviate human suffering and I have sedulously striven to that end. It is, therefore, natural that I should desire, after having made proper [95]*95provision for the immediate members of my family and the others whom I have seen fit to remember, that the remaining portion of my estate should be utilized for charitable needs.

The entire residuary estate of Mr. duPont was placed in trust and Mrs. duPont was the sole life beneficiary of the income thereof. Upon his death, the trustees were instructed to —

. . . cause to be incorporated a corporation for charitable purposes, to be designated and known as “The Nemours Foundation” . . . and my Trustees are hereby directed to pay over, at convenient intervals, to the said corporation, the net income of my said estate, subject to the annuities and legacies hereinabove mentioned for the purpose of maintaining the said Estate of “Nemours” as a charitable institution for the care and treatment of crippled children, but not of incurables, or the care of old men or old women, and particularly old couples, first consideration, in each instance, being given to beneficiaries who are residents of Delaware...

While neither the trustees nor Mrs. duPont were required to utilize the following authority prior to the death of Mrs. duPont, Mr. duPont’s will further provided in item 9 that —

(A) In case after my death my said wife, Jessie Ball duPont, shall desire to create a charitable corporation or institution for the purposes and objects covered by the directions herein given for the creation of the said “The Nemours Foundation,” then my said Trustees shall pay over to the said “The Nemours Foundation,” out of the principal of my said estate, any sum or sums not exceeding One Million Dollars . . . which my said wife during her lifetime may direct, and transfer to said corporation said “Nemours” Estate or any portion thereof for the use of said corporation, if my said wife shall so direct . . .

Following the death of Mr. duPont in April of 1935, Mrs.

Free access — add to your briefcase to read the full text and ask questions with AI

Related

Porter v. Baynard Porter v. Union Trust Co.
28 So. 2d 890 (Supreme Court of Florida, 1946)
In re the Construction of the Will of Lane
203 Misc. 661 (New York Surrogate's Court, 1953)

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
36 Fla. Supp. 91, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/ball-v-nichols-flacirct4duv-1971.