Ricki Diann Rosen, as Independent of the Estate of Daniel H. Rosen v. Wells Fargo Bank Texas, N.A., as Trustee of the Rachael Leigh Rosen Trust and the Dorian Rosen Trust, and as Guardian of the Estates of Rachael Leigh Rosen and Dorian Rosen And Eileen Rosen as Custodian of Rachael Leigh Rosen

CourtCourt of Appeals of Texas
DecidedJuly 30, 2003
Docket03-01-00634-CV
StatusPublished

This text of Ricki Diann Rosen, as Independent of the Estate of Daniel H. Rosen v. Wells Fargo Bank Texas, N.A., as Trustee of the Rachael Leigh Rosen Trust and the Dorian Rosen Trust, and as Guardian of the Estates of Rachael Leigh Rosen and Dorian Rosen And Eileen Rosen as Custodian of Rachael Leigh Rosen (Ricki Diann Rosen, as Independent of the Estate of Daniel H. Rosen v. Wells Fargo Bank Texas, N.A., as Trustee of the Rachael Leigh Rosen Trust and the Dorian Rosen Trust, and as Guardian of the Estates of Rachael Leigh Rosen and Dorian Rosen And Eileen Rosen as Custodian of Rachael Leigh Rosen) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Court of Appeals of Texas primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

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Ricki Diann Rosen, as Independent of the Estate of Daniel H. Rosen v. Wells Fargo Bank Texas, N.A., as Trustee of the Rachael Leigh Rosen Trust and the Dorian Rosen Trust, and as Guardian of the Estates of Rachael Leigh Rosen and Dorian Rosen And Eileen Rosen as Custodian of Rachael Leigh Rosen, (Tex. Ct. App. 2003).

Opinion

TEXAS COURT OF APPEALS, THIRD DISTRICT, AT AUSTIN

NO. 03-01-00634-CV

Ricki Diann Rosen, as Independent Executrix of the Estate of Daniel H. Rosen, Deceased, Appellant

v.

Wells Fargo Bank Texas, N.A., as Trustee of the Rachael Leigh Rosen Trust and the Dorian Rosen Trust, and as Guardian of the Estates of Rachael Leigh Rosen and Dorian Rosen; and Eileen Rosen as Custodian of Rachael Leigh Rosen, Appellee

FROM THE PROBATE COURT NO. 1 OF TRAVIS COUNTY NO. 73,960, HONORABLE GUY S. HERMAN, JUDGE PRESIDING

DISSENTING OPINION

The linchpin of the majority opinion is that Rosen=s last will & testament (Athe Will@) as

applied after Rosen=s death was entirely devoid of a residuary estate from which to pay the estate taxes. To

reach this conclusion, the majority must disregard the most basic tenets of Texas will-construction case law.

Because I believe otherwise and would affirm the probate court=s decision, I respectfully dissent. BACKGROUND

Under Rosen=s will, executed on May 28, 1997, appellant was the primary beneficiary. 1

Article III of the Will left all of Rosen=s personal property, as well as his interests in all employee benefit plans

and retirement accounts, to appellant. Articles IV and V placed the remainder of the estate in two trusts: the

Marital Trust and the Family Trust. Rosen provided that the income of both trusts was to be used for the

benefit of appellant during her lifetime, with the remainder of both trusts to his descendants, per stirpes. I will

refer to the gifts under Articles III, IV and V of the Will as the Aprobate assets.@ Article VIII set out the

administrative provisions. The other provisions of Rosen=s will are not at issue here.

1 Under the Will, some probate assets pass to Rosen=s descendants, per stirpes, upon the death of appellant or in the event that appellant does not survive Rosen, and assets from the Family Trust may be used to provide for Athe health, support, maintenance and education@ of the children.

2 Rosen had substantial non-probate assets,2 some of which generated estate and inheritance

taxes: (1) a $963,000 life insurance policy, payable to appellee Wells Fargo Bank (AWells Fargo@), as

trustee for Rosen=s children;3 and (2) a Uniform Gift to Minors Act account in the amount of $54,542 for

the benefit of Rachael Rosen.4 I will refer to these gifts as the Anon-probate assets.@ The combined taxable

value of $1,017,542 from these non-probate assets produced significant estate taxes established at trial in

the amount of $132,442.

The parties dispute which assets are liable for the payment of estate taxes: probate or non-

probate. Under Texas common law, estate taxes and other expenses were borne by the general estate.

This meant that the beneficiaries of the general estateCtypically a surviving spouse and childrenCbore all

2 As part of his divorce settlement, Rosen was initially required to maintain a $1 million life insurance policy. Pursuant to a subsequent agreement, the amount of life insurance Rosen was required to maintain was reduced to $216,000. Rosen obtained a second insurance policy in that amount. Although he was no longer required to do so, Rosen voluntarily maintained the first policy, in addition to the second policy. 3 Because Rosen maintained an Aincidence of ownership@ in the first insurance policy, it was included in his estate for tax purposes. Although the record is unclear as to the nature of the incidence, it may have been a power of appointment. This would constitute a prohibited power under the Internal Revenue Code, rendering the insurance policy part of Rosen=s gross estate for tax purposes. Such indicia of ownership make an insurance policy part of the taxable probate estate, subject to taxation. See 26 U.S.C.A. ' 2036(a)(2) (West 2002). In addition, the parties agree that, because the second policy should be treated as a debt of the estate, it does not produce any taxes and is not at issue here. However, if the Internal Revenue Service were to view this policy as a transfer and not a debt, the parties agree that this policy would also generate transfer taxes. 4 Because Rosen was a custodian of this Uniform Gift to Minors Act account, see Tex. Prop. Code Ann. '' 141.001-.025 (West 1995 & Supp. 2003), it was included as part of his estate for tax purposes. There is also a Uniform Gift to Minors Act account for the benefit of Dorian Rosen, but because Rosen was not the custodian of this account, it is not included in his estate for tax purposes.

3 expenses, including taxes, even if non-probate transfers to beneficiaries other than the spouse or children

produced such taxes. In place of this system, Texas adopted an equitable apportionment statute in 1987.

See Tex. Prob. Code. Ann. ' 322A (West 2003). This statute provides that beneficiaries of taxable assets,

whether probate or non-probate, will bear a pro rata portion of all estate taxes charged against the estate.

Id. ' 322A(b)(1). This equitable apportionment statute will not apply, however, if a decedent Aspecifically

directs the manner of apportionment@ in a will or similar instrument. Id. ' 322A(b)(2). To this point, it has

remained unclear what the effect of such a waiver would be if the fund from which the taxes are to be paid is

insufficiently funded. See Peterson v. Mayse, 993 S.W.2d 217, 222 (Tex. App.CTyler 1999, no pet.).

For most decedents, the equitable apportionment method as provided in 322A(b)(1) is

suitable. However, some testators include alternative provisions for the payment of estate taxes. While

such provisions can direct that taxes be paid out of specific assets, a commonly used provision is that all

taxes should be paid Aout of the residuary estate without apportionment.@

Article VIII of Rosen=s Will reads:

B. All estate, inheritance or similar taxes arising in connection with my death with respect to any property included in my gross estate for the purpose of calculating such taxes, whether or not such property passes under my Will, all funeral expenses and all expenses incurred in connection with the administration of my estate shall be paid out of the residue of my estate without apportionment; provided, however, if my wife fails to survive me, to the extent the residue of my estate is insufficient for the payment of such taxes and expenses, then any excess, except as otherwise specifically provided in this Section, shall be paid on a pro rate basis from all of the assets included in my gross estate.

4 (Emphasis added). It is apparent from this provision of the Will that Rosen has provided for the payment of

estate taxes under two different circumstances. If his wife survives him, the estate taxes are to be paid out

of the Aresidue of [his] estate without apportionment.@ (Emphasis added). On the other hand, if he

survives his wife, and the residue of his estate should be insufficient, Rosen provides for a pro rata method

of apportionment similar to section 322A of the Texas Probate Code. Thus, it is obvious that Rosen

contemplated two different methods of apportioning estate taxes.

Rosen=s Last Will and Testament

Both federal and state law provide certain tax credits that, if used properly, can minimize or

entirely eliminate estate and inheritance taxes. The Amarital deduction@ is a common method for transferring

assets to a surviving spouse without generating any tax liability. It consists of a portion of the estate which is

allowed to pass tax free to the surviving spouse. For over twenty years, the tax code has permitted a

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Ricki Diann Rosen, as Independent of the Estate of Daniel H. Rosen v. Wells Fargo Bank Texas, N.A., as Trustee of the Rachael Leigh Rosen Trust and the Dorian Rosen Trust, and as Guardian of the Estates of Rachael Leigh Rosen and Dorian Rosen And Eileen Rosen as Custodian of Rachael Leigh Rosen, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/ricki-diann-rosen-as-independent-of-the-estate-of-daniel-h-rosen-v-wells-texapp-2003.