Kirkbride, Exrs. v. Hickok

88 N.E.2d 430, 85 Ohio App. 330, 40 Ohio Op. 223, 1949 Ohio App. LEXIS 737
CourtOhio Court of Appeals
DecidedFebruary 7, 1949
Docket4344
StatusPublished

This text of 88 N.E.2d 430 (Kirkbride, Exrs. v. Hickok) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Ohio Court of Appeals primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Kirkbride, Exrs. v. Hickok, 88 N.E.2d 430, 85 Ohio App. 330, 40 Ohio Op. 223, 1949 Ohio App. LEXIS 737 (Ohio Ct. App. 1949).

Opinion

Fess, J.

Appellees moved to dismiss an appeal on questions of law and fact from a judgment of the Probate Court construing a will. The motion is based upon the contention that the action does not involve the validity or construction of the terms of a trust and, therefore, the appeal presents only a question of law. Clark v. Clark, 110 Ohio St., 644, 144 N. E., 743; Crowley, Admr., v. Crowley, 124 Ohio St., 454, 179 N. E., 360.

That portion of the judgment below from which an appeal is taken relates to a finding and conclusion that the provisions of the will bequeathing certain gifts to charities are invalid by reason of the fact that the will was executed within one year prior to testator’s death. Appellees contend that this question does not involve the construction of the- trust, and only questions, of law are involved in the appeal.

An examination of the .petition discloses that the executors asked the advice and instructions of the court concerning numerous questions relating to the rights of various persons as income beneficiaries of the trust, the rights, powers and duties of the executors as well as the trustees in the administration of and distributions from the trust, and the rights and powers of the trustees to determine t.he persons entitled to receive the trust income. It is apparent that the executors as well as the trustees (who intervened) asked advice and instruction concerning matters in *332 volving the trust which presented equitable issues for determination by the Probate Court.

For the purpose of deciding the motion, it is unnecessary for this court to determine whether the question of the validity of these charitable gifts presents a question of law or one in equity. The instruction sought with respect to that particular question was included with a number of instructions relating to the administration of the trust. Since the petition, to a major extent, calls for the determination-of equitable questions, the action was and remains one-in chancery.

“A court of equity having jurisdiction of a case will retain jurisdiction of all issues therein, even-though part of them are legal, and administer full relief, both legal and equitable, so far as it pertains to-the same transaction or subject matter.” Clark v. Clark, supra, 656.

Even though the appeal may call for the determination only of questions of law, the filing of the notice-of appeal on questions of law and fact in a chancery case below appeals the entire case.

The motion is, therefore, overruled.

Motion overruled.

Conn, P. J., and Carpenter, J., concur.

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Related

Crowley, Admr. v. Crowley
179 N.E. 360 (Ohio Supreme Court, 1931)
Clark v. Clark
144 N.E. 743 (Ohio Supreme Court, 1924)

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Bluebook (online)
88 N.E.2d 430, 85 Ohio App. 330, 40 Ohio Op. 223, 1949 Ohio App. LEXIS 737, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/kirkbride-exrs-v-hickok-ohioctapp-1949.