Brooker v. Brooker

106 S.W.2d 247, 130 Tex. 27, 1937 Tex. LEXIS 229
CourtTexas Supreme Court
DecidedJune 2, 1937
DocketNo. 6879.
StatusPublished
Cited by46 cases

This text of 106 S.W.2d 247 (Brooker v. Brooker) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Texas Supreme Court primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Brooker v. Brooker, 106 S.W.2d 247, 130 Tex. 27, 1937 Tex. LEXIS 229 (Tex. 1937).

Opinion

Mr. Justice Critz

delivered the opinion of the Court.

This is a probate proceeding. J. N. Brooker, the testator, died on June 9, 1932, in Tarrant County, Texas, leaving a will, which was duly probated without contest in the probate court of Tarrant County on September 16, 1932. After the will had been admitted to probate, and in due time, the present suit was filed by W. T. Brooker et al., defendants in error here, against J. N. Brooker et al., plaintiffs in error here, in the probate court of Tarrant County pursuant to Article 3433, R. C. S. of Texas, 1925, as an action to annul "and suspend the provisions of the above will. On final trial in the county court a judgment was entered for J. N. Brooker et al., refusing to annul any of the provisions of such will. W. T. Brooker et al. appealed to the district court of Tarrant County, Texas, where, on final trial, judgment was again entered sustaining the will in all of its provisions. W. T. Brooker et al. duly appealed to the Court of Civil Appeals at Fort Worth, where, on final hearing, judgment was entered reversing the judgment of the district court and remanding the cause to that court with instructions to enter judgment annulling and suspending the entire will. The case is pending in this Court on writ of error granted on application of J. N. Brooker et al.

Before proceeding further we deem it advisable to quote the will here attacked. It is as follows:

“State of Texas )

County of Tarrant / Know all men by these presents :

“That I, J. N. Brooker of the County of Tarrant and State of Texas, being of sound and disposing mind and memory and in the enjoyment of good health, and desiring at this time to make provision for the management and disposal of whatever estate I may die possessed of, at the time of my death, do make, declare and publish this as my last will and testament. Hereby revoking all other wills, if any heretofore made by me.

“Item first: I will, devise and bequeathe to my sister Alice Brooker, the property in which I live and occupy as my home and any quantity of land that may be considered a part of said *30 home up to Two Hundred and Twenty-Five (225) acres must be included and conveyed in this will as my home and all improvements and livestock thereon and all household and kitchen furniture in or about said home.

“Item second : I have conveyed, or shall hereafter convey or may at any time convey Real Estate by deed to take effect after my death to my sister, Alice Brooker. And also to my niece Tina Brooker. Said deeds are to become in full force and effect immediately after my death. And possession of such property by them to take effect at that time. And any and all such property so deeded is to belong to Alice Brooker, or Tina Brooker as specified in such deeds. And such property is not to be recognized as my property at my death, nor to be included in the management or division of my estate.

“Item third : I will and direct that all the remainder of my estate, real, personaly or mixed of which I may die seized and possessed or entitled to; (Except as mentioned in items one and two of this will) Shall be held together and not partitioned during the life of my last surviving legatee, and twenty-one (21) years thereafter. But if my heirs should wish to hold my Estate together for longer period., if they continue the management herein provided; then it is my wish and desire that they should have the right to do so, by a majority vote of my legal heirs that are over Twenty-One (21) years of age, at the time of such vote. And if they legally can, and do take such vote; the such vote must be taken on or about the end of the Twenty-One (21) years mentioned for division, or near the end of any legal extended time for closing the management and division of this will. I further direct that said remainder of my Estate shall be held, managed and controlled by five Trustees hereinafter named by me.

“Item fourth : I will and direct that said five trustees shall at all times have as many as three of the legatees of this will in its membership, and if at any time there shall not be living as many as three of said legatees qualified for such membership, then the number shall be made up out of such suitable heirs of said legatees as may be of age and qualification necessary to perform the duties of said Trusteeship. My intention and purpose is that there shall always be among said Trustees at least three of my legatees or heirs designated in this will, or the descendants of those heirs who are of sufficient age and qualification to take the place of those who may cease to be Trustees. A General Manager shall be selected from among said Trustees; and the fees of each of said Trustees and also the compensation of the Manager shall be fixed and controlled by a full voté of all *31 said Trustees, and it is hereby provided that said fee shall not exceed the general average prices paid for such work in the State of Texas; and every such account of any Trustee shall before payment be approved by at least four of the Trustees and paid on the check of the General Manager. The General Manager shall be paid a salary by the month. The other Trustees shall be paid only for the time necessarily in the performance of the service and duties required of them by reason of their said Trusteeship. Any Trustee or the Manager may be changed by a vote of four of the Trustees, or by a full vote of all of said Trustees, and said vacancy so created by said change may be filled by the election of another Trustee or Manager, or both, by a vote of four of said members, or by a full vote of all said Trustees; and any vacancy by reason of the death; removal or resignation, inability or refusal of any of said Trustees to act may be filled in the same manner.

“Item fifth: No Trustee shall be allowed to vote by proxy. But his vote may be given by the other Trustees, or any one of them, by written authority executed by him and attested by an Officer having an Official seal of office, and duly Certified by such Officer. And any such written authority, so executed and Certified to by an Trustee, may be cancelled at any time by the Trustee executing it, or by a vote of any four of the Trustees, such authority can only be used for a period of one year from its date.

“Item sixth : Said Trustees shall have full power to Manage and control said Estate to the best of their ability and for the best interests of the beneficiaries of this will, as herein outlined; but if they sell any Real Estate; (Except such real estate as is taken for debt or through foreclosurer) they shall reinvest the values obtained therefrom in other Real Estate. They shall not make loan, create or accept notes unless said paper is secured and protected by a valid lien on real estate, Bank stock or Bonds to the full value of the amount secured. But other valuable kinds of security may be taken as additional security to said real estate securities. Said Trustees may buy not to exceed Ten Thousand ($10,000.00) Dollars worth of Bank Stock in any solvent prosperous Bank of good standing, and they may also buy and sell livestock to be used only on real estate that is owned and operated by and for my Estate. They may also buy any kind of real estate, excepting coal or oil lands or any other kind of mining property., unless said mineral property is purchased at its cash value on a conservative valuation for farming or ranch purposes alone.

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Bluebook (online)
106 S.W.2d 247, 130 Tex. 27, 1937 Tex. LEXIS 229, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/brooker-v-brooker-tex-1937.