Lanier v. Lanier

126 S.E.2d 776, 218 Ga. 137, 1962 Ga. LEXIS 455
CourtSupreme Court of Georgia
DecidedJune 25, 1962
Docket21636
StatusPublished
Cited by19 cases

This text of 126 S.E.2d 776 (Lanier v. Lanier) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Supreme Court of Georgia primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Lanier v. Lanier, 126 S.E.2d 776, 218 Ga. 137, 1962 Ga. LEXIS 455 (Ga. 1962).

Opinions

Almand, Justice.

The judgment under review is one sustaining a general demurrer to a petition for declaratory judgment.

■ Thomas M. Lanier, by his will as amended by a codicil, left the bulk of his estate to E. S. Lanier, Jr. and James D. Cofer as trustees for the following uses: The testator’s wife, Mrs. Ethel C. Lanier, was to be provided a home with the trust paying all expenses incident to the occupation, including all taxes, assessments, bills for utilities and repairs. In addition she was to receive $200 per month for life.

In Item 4 of the codicil a discretionary support trust was created for the benefit of the testator’s "... wife, or son, or his wife, Annice S. Lanier, or any of his children. . . ” Item 4 of the will provided, “Upon the death of my wife and the death of my son, Thomas M. Lanier, Jr., and the death or remarriage of his widow, if any survive him, I desire that my estate be distributed equally, share and share alike, among the children of my son, Thomas M. Lanier, Jr. . . ”

Item 9 provided, “If any of my son’s children shall not be living at the time provided for the distribution to1 them of my estate as aforesaid, the share which would have gone to such child, if living, shall then be distributed to- the lawful issue of siich child, provided, however, that if such child should have •died leaving no lawful issue, then that portion of my estate [139]*139which would otherwise have been paid to such child shall be distributed equally among my son’s other children or descendants of children, per stirpes.”

Item 10 provided, “In the event that at the time provided above for the final distribution of my estate, there should be no living children of my son surviving him, nor lawful issue of such children, I desire that my entire estate be distributed equally, share and share alike, among my sisters, Mrs. Cora L. C'ofer, Mrs. Velma L. Hewett, and Mrs. Lillie L. Wages, or their descendants, per stirpes, and in the event that either sister should be dead leaving no descendants surviving her, then the share of such sister shall be divided equally, share and share alike between my other two sisters or their descendants, per stirpes.”

Item 11 of the codicil provided, “In the event that any beneficiary under my will shall bring any action in any court to contest the validity of my will or of any provision thereof, any bequest or benefit set out in my will in behalf of such beneficiary shall be revoked and rescinded and the share of such beneficiary shall go pro rata to the remaining beneficiaries.”

The trustees were to have the power to sell or exchange parts of the testator’s estate, retain any part in the form received, invest and reinvest funds which came into the trustees’ hands, borrow money upon the estate, purchase securities, lease real estate, settle claims and employ whatever agents, attorneys and employees might be deemed advisable. At the time of the testator’s death there were two children of Thomas M. Lanier, Jr. in being.

Thomas M. Lanier, Jr. brought suit against the executors of the will and all possible beneficiaries seeking a declaratory judgment adjudicating the validity of the Will. The plaintiff contended that the will violated the rule against perpetuities, that the last legal taker should have the fee simple title vested in him, that the plaintiff and the testator’s wife were the heirs at law of the testator, were the last legal takers, and that each was entitled to one-half of the disputed estate in fee. A general demurrer to the petition was sustained and to this order the plaintiff excepted.

Before making a determination as to whether or not the [140]*140interests created violate the rule against perpetuities we must first attempt to ascertain the testator’s intention as to the disposition of his property. After this determination is made, we shall then apply the rule as stated in Code Ann. § 85-707 as follows, “(a) Limitations of estates may extend through any number of lives in being at the time when the limitations commence, and 21 years, and the usual period of gestation added thereafter. A limitation beyond that period the law terms a perpetuity and forbids its creation. When an attempt is made to create a perpetuity, the law gives effect to the limitations not too remote, declaring the others void, and thereby vests the fee in the last taker under legal limitations. . . ” If there is any possibility that a contingent event might happen beyond the limits set out by Code Ann. § 85-707, then the limitation is too remote.

In examining a limitation over, we must look at it at the time the instrument creating the limitation takes effect. If by deed, then at the time the deed was made. If by will, then at the testator’s death.

Item 4 provided, “Upon the death of my wife and the death of my son, Thomas M. Lanier, Jr., and the death or remarriage of his widow, if any survive him, I desire that my estate be distributed equally, share and share alike, among the children of my son, Thomas M. Lanier, Jr. . . ”

The will under consideration further created a trust whereby the testator’s wife was to receive $200 per month and a home with expenses paid. In addition, she was to receive whatever the trustees felt sufficient for her support. The testator’s son, Thomas - M. Lanier, Jr., his wife, Annice S. Lanier, and any of his children were to be given amounts the trustees in their sole discretion deemed proper to support them in comfort and happiness. The only interests here created were no more than charges against the estate and did not amount to an estate in themselves. See Blanchard v. Gilmore, 208 Ga. 846 (69 SE2d 753).

The plaintiff in error contends that since no antecedent estate was created the remainder must fail. The defendant in error, on the other hand, urges that Code § 85-702 eliminated the need of a particular estate and that the interests here created satisfy [141]*141that section. It is incorrect to refer to the interest created by Item 4 of the will as a remainder, for certainly there is no antecedent estate that will support a remainder, and while Code § 85-702 provides, “No particular estate being necessary to sustain a remainder under this Code, the defeat of the particular estate for any cause does not destroy the remainder. . .” this section presupposes some estate. Thusly, we cannot agree with the defendant in error’s contention that the interests created by the instrument here involved amount to an estate so as to bring into play Code § 85-702. However, Code § 85-502 provides, “An absolute estate may be created to commence in future, and the fee may be in abeyance without detriment to the rights of subsequent remainders. A fee may be limited upon a fee, either by deed or will, where the plain intention of the grantor or testator requires it, and no other rule of law is violated thereby.” Such interest if created by will is described as an executory devise within the meaning of Code § 113-816 which states, “An executory devise is such a limitation of a future estate in lands or chattels as the law admits in case of a will, though contrary to the rules of limitation in conveyances at common law.” In Irvin v. Porterfield, 126 Ga. 729, 732 (55 SE 946) this court said: “Even if the gift would have failed under the rule of the common law, as a remainder, for the want of a particular estate to support it, it was still good at common law as an executory devise.”

The plaintiff in error relies upon Overby v. Scarborough,

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

Related

SLOSBERG v. GILLER
876 S.E.2d 228 (Supreme Court of Georgia, 2022)
In Re Estate of Louise Ray Burkhalter
Court of Appeals of Georgia, 2020
Sinclair v. Sinclair
670 S.E.2d 59 (Supreme Court of Georgia, 2008)
Cox v. Fowler
614 S.E.2d 59 (Supreme Court of Georgia, 2005)
Miller v. Walker
514 S.E.2d 22 (Supreme Court of Georgia, 1999)
North Decatur Courtyards Condominium Ass'n v. Casey
458 S.E.2d 676 (Court of Appeals of Georgia, 1995)
Norton v. Georgia Railroad Bank & Trust
322 S.E.2d 870 (Supreme Court of Georgia, 1984)
Linkous v. National Bank of Georgia
274 S.E.2d 469 (Supreme Court of Georgia, 1981)
Walker v. Bogle
260 S.E.2d 338 (Supreme Court of Georgia, 1979)
Burt v. Commercial Bank & Trust Co.
260 S.E.2d 306 (Supreme Court of Georgia, 1979)
Capers v. Camp
257 S.E.2d 517 (Supreme Court of Georgia, 1979)
Thomas v. Citizens & Southern National Bank
163 S.E.2d 823 (Supreme Court of Georgia, 1968)
Smith v. Francis
144 S.E.2d 439 (Supreme Court of Georgia, 1965)
Lanier v. Lanier
126 S.E.2d 776 (Supreme Court of Georgia, 1962)

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
126 S.E.2d 776, 218 Ga. 137, 1962 Ga. LEXIS 455, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/lanier-v-lanier-ga-1962.