Parks v. Parks

9 Paige Ch. 107, 1841 N.Y. LEXIS 561, 1841 N.Y. Misc. LEXIS 81

• Court: New York Court of Chancery
• Decided: April 6, 1841
• Status: Published

Opinion

The Chancellor.

It is very evident that the testator in this case, or the scrivener who drew the will if it was not drawn by the decedent himself, had no clear conception of the difference between a use and a trust in real estate; or what words were necessary to create a trust estate, as contradistinguished from a legal interest in lands, or in the rents and profits thereof. And he must have had still less knowledge of the legal meaning of some of the technical expressions which are used in different parts of this will. Hence there is a strange confounding of common place expressions and of technical legal terms, in the various and complicated provisions of the will. And some of those provisions, upon a cursory view of them, are apparently in direct conflict with other provisions contained in the same instrument.

But the intention of a testator, as to the disposition of his property by will, is not to be defeated, where such intention can be ascertained upon a careful examination of the whole will, and the intention is not inconsistent with the rules of law; although from ignorance and the want of proper legal advice he may not have used the usual technical language in declaring such intent •, or because he or his scrivener may have misapplied the words use and trust, and other legal terms. This was the rule of the common law in the construction of wills. And the revised statutes declare, that in the construction of every instrument creating or conveying, or authorizing the creation or conveyance of any estate or interest in lands, it shall be the duty of courts of justice to carry into effect the intent of the parties; so far as such intent can be collected from the whole instrument and is consistent with the rules of law. (1 R. S. 748, § 2.) It is also a well settled principle of law that where a will contains distinct and independent provisions, devising different portions of the testator’s property, or distinct estates or interests in the same portions of the property, some of which provisions are consistent and others inconsistent with the rules of law, the former will be permitted to stand, although the latter are declared to be illegal and void ; except where they are so dependent on each other that they cannot be separated. And in the recent case of Darling v. Rogers and Sagory, (22 ,) it has been settled by the court of dernier resort, that where real estate is awarded upon two or more trusts, some of which are legal and the others are void or unauthorized by law, the title passes to the trustee so far as is necessary for the purposes of the authorized trusts; notwithstanding the provision of the revised statutes which declares that where an express trust shall be created for any purpose not authorized by those statutes no estate shall vest in the trustee. (1 R. S. 729, § 58.)

Applying these principles to the case under consideration, I think all or nearly all of the provisions of this will can be sustained, consistently with the rules of law, and with the particular as well as the general intentions of the testator ; so far as those intentions can be ascertained from a careful examination of every thing contained within the four corners of his will.

The general intention of the testator appears to have been, to give to his wife the rents and income of the bulk of his estate, during her life or widowhood, subject to the taxes, assessments, expenses of insurance, and the keeping down of the interest on incumbrances in the meantime; and to the charge of the support of his daughter Sarah, who was unmarried, and who was expected to live with her mother in the family mansion ; and after the death or re-marriage of the widow, to give to his five children in severalty the use and income of specific portions of the same property, for life, subject to the taxes, assessments, expenses of insurance, and to the incumbrances upon their respective lots or portions of the estate ; with remainders in fee in the same, specific portions of the property to the issue of the children respectively who had taken the life estates therein ; and that if any such child died without issue, his or her specific portion of the property should go to the surviving brothers and sisters in fee.

To carry into effect this general intent of the testator, no trust was necessary. Nor could this general intention of the testator, whether carried into effect by giving legal estates to all the objects of his bounty, or by giving to the widow and children the rent and income of the property through the medium of a trustee, suspend the power of alienation of any portion of the property for a longer time than during the continuance of two lives in being at the death of the testator. In the first case, the power of alienation of each separate share or portion of the property would only be suspended during the life of the child of the testator to whom the remainder for life was limited. For upon his or her death, even during the life of the widow, the remainder in fee, either in the issue or in the surviving brothers and sisters, would become immediately vested in interest ; so that such ultimate remaindermen, by joining with the widow, could at once convey an absolute fee to the purchaser in that portion of the estate. And in respect to every other portion of the estate it would only remain inalienable during the continuance of the life of the child upon whose death the ultimate remainder in fee was limited to vest in interest. In the second case, the trust to receive the rents and profits and pay them over to the widow during her life or widowhood, and then to the specified child for life, could only suspend the power of alienation in each separate portion of the estate for the lives of the widow and the child; under the sixty-third section of the article of the revised statutes relative to uses and trusts. For the ultimate remainder in fee must necessarily vest in possession, as well as in interest, at the termination of those two lives, in being at the death of the testator.

This will also shows that the testator, in addition to this general intention to give the income of his property to his wife during her life or widowhood, and to give his children life estates in distinct portions of it afterwards, thought proper to place the life estates of some of his children, in their portions of the property, under the power and control of a trustee for their use ; and to secure the appropriation of a part of the income, which might not be needed for their support and maintenance, to the extinguishment of the incumbrances which were charged on that part of the estate. Hence we find him using different language in reference to the several portions of the estate appropriated to the use of his different children, after the death or marriage of the widow. It is necessary therefore to give full effect to these special intentions of the testator, so far as they can be ascertained by the will and are consistent with the rules of law, as well as to his general intention as to the disposition of his property after his death. The rule of construction, in such case^ is to give effect to the whole of the language of the testator in expressing his particular intent, provided it is not inconsistent with the general intention ; which latter intention must control in the construction of the will. (Constantine v. Constantine, 6 Ves. Ref. 99. 1 Rob. on Wills, 3 Lond. ed. 356. Dawes v. Swan, 4 Mass. Ref. 208.)

The intention of the testator to give to his wife a beneficial interest in all the income of his estate, subject to certain specified charges thereon, during her life or widowhood, except in the rents of the leasehold premises No. 13 Forsyth street, is perfectly apparent. And as the estate or interest thus devised to the wife is entirely separate and distinct, from the subsequent estates and interests in the same premises, limited thereon in favor of the children and their issue, I think there is no reason to doubt that the devise to her is valid ; whether she takes the legal estate in the premises under the devise, or such legal estate is vested in the daughter, as her trustee, to receive the rents and profits and pay them over to her. Whether it is the one or the other is a question with which the complainant has no concern. For in neither case can he claim the possession of the property or any part of the rents and profits or income of the estate during her life or widowhood. Although there is a general devise of all the testator’s ¡property to his daughter Sarah upon the uses and trusts therein mentioned, the direction to fermit the widow to enjoy the rents and income of the estate, for her sole use, might probably have given the legal estate to the mother as an executed use previous to the adoption of the revised statutes. (Broughton v. Langley, 2 Ld. Raym. Rep. 873. 2 Taunt. Rep. 109.) But the question is placed beyond, a doubt by the 47th and 49th sections of the article of the revised statutes relative to uses and trusts, (1 R. S. 727.) These sections prohibit the vesting of any estate in the trustee in trusts which are merely nominal; and turn the interest of the cestui que trust into a legal estate, of the same quality and duration, and subject to the same conditions as his beneficial interest in the property.

It does not appear by the will, or by the pleadings, what was the extent of the testator’s interest in the leasehold premises No. 13 Forsyth street. Although the devise to the widow was broad enough to cover this property, I am satisfied the testator intended to exclude it from that devise, and to convey an immediate beneficial interest therein to his daughter Sarah ; subject to the charge of providing for the support and maintenance of her nephew out of the rents and profits, so long as he should be permitted to reside with her. And as the devise of the rents and profits to her was general, and not limited to her life merely, she would have taken the whole of the testator’s estate and interest in that property, whatever it was, under the provision of the revised statutes on that subject, (1 R. S. 748, § 1,) if such devise had not been controlled by the subsequent clause of the will in relation to the duration of the estates or interests of the testator’s children in their respective portions of the property.

The testator, for some reason which is not explained in his will, thought proper, instead of giving to his sons Peter and Samuel the full control of their respective life interests in the two houses and lots No. 26 and 30 Oliver street, to give them the beneficial interest therein, through their sister as a trustee. That was a trust clearly authorized by the revised statutes, as to the interest of each, according to the decision in the case of Gott v. Cook, (7 Paige’s Rep. 521 ;) although, in the case of Peter, she was authorized to pay over the rents and profits when received, and was not in terms directed to apply them to his use ; as by a subsequent clause of the will she was directed to do in relation to the rent and income of the lot, the beneficial interest in which belonged to Peter.

The revised statutes also have authorized the creation of an express trust to lease lands for the purpose of satisfying a charge thereon. The authority of the trustee, therefore, to pay the interest of the incumbrances out of the rents and profits of these lots in the first place, and to apply so much of those rents and profits as might be spared from the support of the cestuis que trust, to reduce the principal of the incumbrance on their respective lots, was therefore valid j and should be carried into effect, according to the intention of the testator. I have some doubt as to the validity of the direction to substitute the issue of the sons, if they should have any, as the persons beneficially interested in these rents and profits during the life of the sons. It appears to be an attempt to create a succeeding estate for the residue of the life of the parent in favor of persons not in esse at the death of the testator ; contrary to the prohibition of the statute against limiting successive life estates except to persons in being at the creation thereof, (l R. S. 723, § 17.) If this provision of the will is absolutely void, it leaves the previous devise of the rents and profits, to the sons for life, unimpaired. (Ring v. Hardwick, 4 Land. Jurist, 242.) And their issue, if they have any, will come in as the ultimate remaindermen in fee; under the general provision contained in the seventh clause of the will, giving the share of each child, after the termination of his or her life estate therein, to his issue in fee. Under that clause of the will the issue take the ultimate remainder in fee as a legal estate, and not as a devise in trust. The question, then, as to these substituted remainders in favor of the issue, if there should be any, which the testator has attempted to carve out of the life estates Which he had previously devised to Peter and Samuel and Sarah respectively, is one which can only arise between them and their issue. And as it does not appear that either of those children have any issue, the question may never arise. The decree in this case, therefore, ought not to attempt to settle that question ex parte ■ especially when the only parties now before the court who can ever be interested in the decision thereof, do not ask the court to determine the extent of their rights under this part of the will, as against an unborn generation. As there is nothing in that clause of the will which suspends the power of alienation beyon,d two lives in being at the death of the testator, the devise of the life estate in each lot is valid.

In the limitation over of the ultimate remainders to the issue, in each of these lots, the testator, in the clause of the will which is called thejifth trust clause, appears to have intended that the issue, or the survivors of the deceased child if he or she should die without issue, should take the rents and profits through the medium of a trust; as the trustee is directed to pay over such rents and profits, which necessarily implies that she should continue to hold the legal estate as the trustee, to enable her to receive such rents and profits for distribution. Such a trust would be invalid, as the effect of it might be to render the estate inalienable for a longer time than during the continuance of two lives in being at the death of the testator; under the 63d section of the article of the revised statutes relative to uses and trusts. The particular intention of the testator in this respect must therefore fail. But his general intention, as expressed in the subsequent clause of his will, must still have the effect to carry the rents and profits to the issue, after the termination of the life estate of the parent," as a legal estate in remainder in fee in that portion of the property. And if the devisee for life should die without leaving issue, the remainder in fee will go to all the surviving children of the testator, as tenants in common, under this subsequent clause of the will; instead of going to the survivors of Peter and Samuel and Sarah only, under the void trust clause. To that extent, if either of the three should die without leaving issue in the lifetime of the complainant, he will be benefitted by having the fifth trust clause of the will declared inoperative and void. The limitation of this illegal trust in favor of the remaindermen cannot, however, affect the previous devise of the life estates in these several lots in favor of those three children respectively ; although as to the lots of the two sons the trustee holds the legal estate in trust during the continuance of their respective lives, as a valid trust. For when all the valid purposes for which an express trust is created by will in real property cease, or have been accomplished, the estate of the trustee ceases. (1 R. S. 730, § 67.) And every other estate or interest in the premises vests in the devisees who have a beneficial interest therein, or in the heirs at law of the testator by whom such express trust is created, as a legal estate. (Idem. 729, § 62.)

The clause of the will disposing of the house and lot No. 51 Madison street, to three of the testator’s children, after the death or intermarriage of the widow, purports to convey it to them in fee as tenants in common ; subject to the charge upon the rents and profits for the extinguishment of the incumbrances upon the three lots on Oliver street. But this devise is necessarily controlled by the subsequent clause, which restricts every devise of the testator, to a child, to a life estate therein. For the rule in relation to the construction of wills, where there are inconsistent clauses w'hich cannot be reconciled with each other, is to give effect to the last clause as the final determination of the testator ; unless the intention of the testator, as apparent from other parts of the will, requires a different construction. (Per Parsons, Ch. J. 4 Mass. Rep. 215. Covenhoven v. Shuler, 2 Paige’s Rep. 123. Constantine v. Constantine, 6 Ves. Rep. 100.) I admit this rule is not founded upon a very satisfactory reason, and is only to be adopted -from the necessity of the case. Here, however, the restriction of the interests of the testator’s children to life estates only, in their several portions of the property, appears to be most consistent with the general intention of the testator ; so far as his intention can be ascertained from the whole will. It is not necessary to express any opinion upon the question whether the testator had or had not the power to prohibit either of the devisees from selling, his or her life interest in the undivided third of that lot, without the written consent of the co-tenants ; as the power of alienation is not thereby suspended beyond the period allowed by law. (See Baker v. Newton, 2 Beavan’s Rep. 112.) The restriction is in terms confined to the three children ; so that upon the death of either, his or her undivided share of the property may be immediately sold by the ultimate remaindermen in fee, to whom that share will then absolutely belong. The power of conveying a perfect fee in each share is necessarily suspended during the life of the devisee for life •, because the ultimate remaindermen, who are to take the contingent fee, cannot be ascertained until his or her death. And the power to alien the life estate of the sons in their respective shares is probably restricted by law for the same period, if their sister takes the legal interest in those shares, as trustee to receive the rents and profits for their use j as I think she does by implication.

The devise of the house and lot to Mrs. Lyon, after the death or marriage of the widow, is one in which by the common law either her sister or her husband might be deemed a trustee by implication, to secure to her the separate use of the property during coverture. (Harton v. Harton, 7 Term. Rep. 652. Bennet v. Davis, 2 Peere Wms. 316.) But tinder the provisions of the 47th section of the article of the revised statutes relative to uses and trusts, it is turned into a legal estate in the person beneficially interested ; unless by the terms of this devise it can fairly be inferred that the testator intended his daughter Sarah should receive the rents and profits and pay them over to her sister for life. That is a question which does not arise between the parties to this appeal as Mrs. Lyon and her husband are not before the court in a situation to contest that question between themselves. And they alone appear to have any interest in it. For there can be no doubt as to the validity of the devise, whether the devisee takes the legal estate^ as a remainderman for life, or a mere equitable right to the rent and income of the premises, for the same period, through the medium of her sister as a trustee to lease the premises and receive and pay over the rents and profits to her, or to apply them to her seperate use. But for the reasons before stated, Mrs. Lyon only takes a life estate in this lot, under the particular clause of the will in which the devise for her separate use is found ; unless she should survive all her brothers and her sister and die without issue. And the ultimate remainder in fee, after her death, will vest in her issue, if she leaves any ; or in default of such issue, in her surviving brothers and sister, under the subsequent general clause of the will on that subject.

Under the next clause of the will, the complainant takes a vested remainder for life in the house and lot No. 32 Oliver street, after the death or remarriage of the widow, as a legal and not as a trust estate; subject to the charge thereon. And the ultimate remainder in fee in that part of the property, after his death, will vest in his issue, or in his surviving brothers and sisters, under the subsequent general clause; notwithstanding the particular limitation over of such ultimate remainder in this previous clause, which is inconsistent with the general clause. But if he should die without leaving issue, after the death of all his brothers and sisters, the ultimate remainder in fee will vest in those who shall then be his heirs at law ; according to the special limitation to his heirs general, contained in the previous clause, under the provision of the revised statutes on that subject. (1 R. S. 725, § 28.)

Sarah takes an estate for life as a legal estate in the house and lot No. 5 Forsyth street, and in the furniture, &c. therein, under the next clause of the will, after the death or marriage of the widow. And the ultimate remainder in fee in the same property, if she survives all her brothers and her sister and dies without leaving issue. But for the reasons before stated, the ultimate remainder in fee in that property will vest in her issue if she leaves any, or in default of such issue, in her surviving brothers and sister, according to the directions contained in the subsequent general clause of the will on that subject.

And if the testator left any other real or personal property, or if there is any contingent estate or interest, in any of the houses and lots mentioned and described in the will, which is not legally and effectually disposed of by some of the previous clauses, such property, estates, and interests, after the death or marriage of the widow, belong to the five children of the testator absolutely, as legal estates and interests ; under the general residuary clause of the will.

The decree appealed from must be reversed ; and a decree must be entered declaring the construction of the will and the rights of the parties under the same to be as above stated. As the complainant has failed as to every substantial part of his claim, I should have charged him personally with the costs to which the defendants have been subjected by this litigation, if the testator had not furnished some grounds for litigation by the inartificial and perplexing provisions of his will. Upon that ground alone I shall not charge the complainant with the costs of the defendants either in the court below or on this appeal. But I shall leave each party to pay their own costs in both courts ; unless the executrix has personal estate in her hands not specifically bequeathed by the will otherwise than in the residuary clause thereof. In that case she is to be permitted to retain her own costs and the costs of her co-defendants out of such personal estate ; and must also pay the complainant’s costs out of the same if there is sufficient for that purpose,

(a)

The decree of the chancellor in this case was affirmed, upon appeal to the court for the correction of errors, in December, 1842.