Beyer v. Beyer

106 N.E.2d 247, 122 Ind. App. 649, 1952 Ind. App. LEXIS 188
CourtIndiana Court of Appeals
DecidedJune 5, 1952
DocketNo. 18,203
StatusPublished

This text of 106 N.E.2d 247 (Beyer v. Beyer) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Indiana Court of Appeals primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Beyer v. Beyer, 106 N.E.2d 247, 122 Ind. App. 649, 1952 Ind. App. LEXIS 188 (Ind. Ct. App. 1952).

Opinion

Royse, P. J.

This litigation arose out of a family dispute as to the ownership of certain real estate in Kosciusko County, Indiana. In order to properly understand the question presented to us it is necessary that we summarize the facts as disclosed by the record.

For many years prior to April, 1931, John F. Beyer and his wife lived in Kosciusko County. (Hereinafter they' will be designated as father and mother.) They owned approximately two thousand acres of farm land in that county. They also owned a large amount of city property in the city of Warsaw. Some of this property was owned by them as tenants by the entirety; some was owned by each individually. On said last mentioned date they had three children, Mae E. Beyer, a daughter who never married and lived in the home of her parents. She died intestate June 15, 1940. Carl F. Beyer, who was married to appellee Mabel C. Beyer (hereinafter unless otherwise indicated the term appellee will refer to her), lived in Warsaw most of his life. He had no children and died testate February 23, 1943. The third child was the appellant Harold R. Beyer (hereinafter, unless otherwise indicated, the term appellant will apply to him). He was married to appellant Zelpha G. Beyer. They had four children. For several years prior to 1938 they lived in Goodells, Mich. John F. Beyer died intestate August 9, 1936, leaving surviving him his widow and three children. Anna M. Beyer died testate February 15,' 1947.

On April 9, 1931 the father and mother executed to Carl F. Beyer, Trustee, a deed conveying a large part of the real estate owned by them and each of them, which deed was duly recorded. This deed contained the following • provision:

[652]*652“The grantee, Trustee,' has full power to sell, lease, convey, vacate or plat lots and encumber by mortgage all, or any, part of said premises, and the purchaser is under no obligation to inquire as to application of proceeds, the beneficiaries, looking solely to the Trustee in relation thereto.”

Concurrently with the execution of this deed, the said Carl F. Beyer executed a written declaration of trust setting out the terms and conditions of the trust, which declaration was approved in writing by the father and mother. This instrument was duly recorded. The pertinent portions of this instrument are as follows :

“Now therefore, I, Carl F. Beyer, hereby declare that said conveyance was not made to me for my own purpose and as my own property, but solely as trustee under the terms and conditions following:
“1st. I am to take the exclusive possession and control of said property, lease the same, sell and convey the same, exchange the same for other property, plat or re-plat portions thereof, and in general to manage said property in a way to produce the most income that can reasonably be had, either by the management of the property as it now exists, or in such condition as it may subsequently be put by sale, exchange or otherwise.
“2nd. In the management of said property said' grantors are to be consulted by me as often as it is convenient so to do, but I am not to be controlled by such advise.
“3rd. Out of the income from said property I am to pay carrying charge including the expense of farming or caring for said property,- insuring the same, paying taxes on the same, and making such repairs as may be necessary, and the net income arising from the management of said property by me shall be paid to said Anna M. Beyer, as long', as she shall live; the income to be paid at such frequent intervals as there shall be surplus income in my hands, amounting to $5,000.00.
[653]*653“If the death of said Anna M. Beyer shall precede that of said John F. Beyer, then upon the death of said Anna M. Beyer, the said net income shall, in like manner, be paid by me over to said John F. Beyer, said John F. Beyer shall have no title or ownership in the proceeds arising from the operation of said property, shall have no right to assign the same or encumber the same, the title thereto going to him only upon its being paid to him in cash or its equio-reient..
“Upon the death of both said grantors, said trust shall continue for a period of ten years, unless sooner settled by an agreement of all the parties interested therein at the time of such settlement.
“During the period that said trust shall exist after the death of both of said grantors, the nét income that was theretofore payable to them, or either of them, shall be paid by me in equal proportions to Mae E. Beyer, Harold R. Beyer and myself.
“If the said .Mae E. Beyer shall die before the expiration of said trust, then the portion of said income payable to her during her lifetime shall be divided equally between Harold R. Beyer and myself; or, if Harold R. Beyer shall die before the expiration of said trust, his share of such income shall be paid to his wife and children, share and share alike; or, if said children be then under the age of 21 years, the entire sum shall be paid to their mother, so long as she maintains her children out of said income.
“If I should die, pending said trust, the portion of said income which should have been paid to me, if I were still alive, shall be paid to my wife, so long as she lives, and upon her death, shall be divided equally between said Mae E. Beyer and said Harold R. Beyer, or his wife and children, as above stipulated, unless my said wife shall by will or other written appointment, direct that said income after her death shall be paid to some other person or persons as long as said trust exists.
“At the expiration of said trust, under the terms hereof, all of said property shall be by me conveyed to said Mae E. Beyer, Harold R. Beyer and [654]*654myself, in equal proportions, or if the said Mae E. Beyer shall then be dead, shall be conveyed to myself and said Harold R. Beyer; or if I be dead, my proportion shall be conveyed to my wife, and if said Harold R. Beyer shall be dead, the same shall be conveyed one-third to his wife, and two-thirds to his children, share and share alike.
“If I shall die prior to the expiration of said trust, my successor shall be appointed by the Judge of the Kosciusko Circuit Court, upon the application of the persons then surviving who are entitled to participate in said trust, or if they cannot agree, then Judge of said court shall appoint some competent person or corporation or act in my stead, who shall be clothed with all the duties and powers and liabilities that I am charged herewith hereunder, during my life.

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Bluebook (online)
106 N.E.2d 247, 122 Ind. App. 649, 1952 Ind. App. LEXIS 188, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/beyer-v-beyer-indctapp-1952.