Saunders v. Michigan Trust Co.

264 N.W. 382, 274 Mich. 310, 1936 Mich. LEXIS 759
CourtMichigan Supreme Court
DecidedJanuary 6, 1936
DocketDocket No. 86, Calendar No. 38,599.
StatusPublished
Cited by2 cases

This text of 264 N.W. 382 (Saunders v. Michigan Trust Co.) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Michigan Supreme Court primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Saunders v. Michigan Trust Co., 264 N.W. 382, 274 Mich. 310, 1936 Mich. LEXIS 759 (Mich. 1936).

Opinions

Edward M. Sharpe, J.

This is an action to construe the last will and testament of Louis B. Saunders, deceased. Testator died in December, 1932, leaving an estate appraised at approximately $100,- *312 000. He was survived by his widow, Helen Saunders; Louis B. Saunders, Jr., and Marian Gale Saunders, the adult children of a previous marriage; and Mary Dell Saunders, born in 1929, the daughter of deceased and Helen Saunders.

At the time of testator’s death, he was 55 years of age and for many years had been engaged in the real estate and insurance business. During his lifetime he had provided for his older daughter, Marian Gale Saunders, who is now a practicing attorney. He also took his son into business with him as an associate.

The will was executed in November, 1930, and a codicil added thereto in December, 1931. The pertinent parts of the will are the following paragraphs:

“Paragraph 13. I give and devise the north half of lot 96, Kent plat, Grand Rapids, Michigan, in equal undivided shares to such of my said wife, Helen E. Saunders, and my said son, Louis B. Saunders, Jr., as survive me, upon the condition that said devisees or surviving devisee give a mortgage thereon in the sum of $10,000 to the Michigan Trust Company, as trustee for the benefit of my daughter, Mary Dell Saunders, if she survives me, and I direct said the Michigan Trust Company to hold the same in trust for my said daughter, subject to the conditions stated in paragraph 15 of this will.
‘ ‘ Paragraph 14. I give, devise, and bequeath all the rest, residue, and remainder of the estate, both real and personal, of which I die seized or possessed, or to which I am in any manner entitled at my death, and wherever the same may be situated, in equal shares to such of my said wife, Helen E. Saunders, my said son, Louis B. Saunders, Jr., my daughter, Marian Gale Saunders, and my said daughter, Mary Dell Saunders, as survive me, and to the issue surviving me of such of said beneficiaries as predecease me (the issue of a deceased beneficiary to represent one share), subject, however, to the provisions of paragraph 15 of this will.
*313 “Paragraph 15. The portion of property distributable to either of my said daughters who shall be under the age of 25 years at the time of such distribution shall be held and continued in trust for such daughter until she attains such age and at that time shall be transferred, paid over, and delivered to her; and while so held in trust the trustee shall use and pay such amounts therefrom, income and principal, as may be necessary for the proper support and education of the respective beneficiary thereof; in the event of the death of either of my said daughters while any funds and property are held in trust for her benefit, the trustee shall distribute the same to her issue then living, if any, otherwise to those persons entitled, under the laws. of Michigan then in force, to take my personal estate as though I had then died intestate and in such proportions to each as said intestate laws may determine. # * *
“Paragraph 20. I direct my executor to pay my said wife, Helen E. Saunders, the sum of $240 per month out of my residuary estate from the date of my death and until her share of the residue is assigned to her. This provision is made for her in order that she may have means for the support of herself and my daughter Mary Dell Saunders, and for the education of my said daughter. I also direct it to pay my said son, Louis B. Saunders, Jr., the sum of $50 per month out of my residuary estate from the date of my death and until his share of the residue is assigned to him. The payments so made to my said wife and son shall not be charged against their shares of the residue of my estate.”

After the will was offered for probate, Louis B. Saunders, Jr., declined to execute a mortgage as-provided for by paragraph 13, although Helen E. Saunders, widow, does offer to comply with the terms of said paragraph. Suit was started to have the will construed and the trial court determined that the sum of $10,000 shall be due and payable to *314 Mary Dell Saunders when she attains the age of 25 years, hut without interest, and to be secured by a mortgage upon the premises described in paragraph 13 of said will; and that upon the failure of the de-visees to give the mortgage, the property shall be impressed with a lien to secure the payment of said legacy and the balance of said property so described shall become a part of the residue of said estate. From this decree Mary Dell Saunders, through her guardian, appeals.

The will bequeaths a legacy of $10,000 to the trustee of Mary Dell Saunders secured by a lien on the real estate described in paragraph 13. In the construction of wills, we have repeatedly held that the general intent of the testator as found in the whole instrument will govern. Jones v. Jones, 25 Mich. 401; Quarton v. Barton, 249 Mich. 474 (69 A. L. R. 820); In re Manshaem’s Estate, 207 Mich. 1, and cited in Michigan Trust Co. v. Driver, 270 Mich. 698. It is also the rule that the general intention and purposes of the testator, as shown by the whole instrument, prevail over a particular intention shown by one single provision, Powell v. Beebe, 167 Mich. 306. Courts do not favor conditions in a will which defeat estates, particularly when the condition is dependent upon the neglect of others. Calkins v. Smith’s Estate, 41 Mich. 409.

With these general rules to guide us, we have in addition the fact that the widow was awarded a furnished home, an automobile, an allowance of $240 per month during the pendency of the estate but charged with the support of herself as well as the support and education of Mary Dell Saunders, also 325 shares of stock in the Saunders-Wilford Company, as well as various lots of real estate in Grand Rapids and vicinity.

*315 .The will also provided that the defendant Louis B. Saunders, Jr., who had been associated with the testator in the insurance business since 1929, was to have 375 shares of stock in the insurance company, as well as certain real estate in and about the vicinity of Cran'd Rapids, and all vacant lots owned by testator in the city of Muskegon Heights. In addition to these bequests Louis B. Saunders, Jr., was also given a one-half interest in the property described in paragraph 13, subject, however, to the lien created in favor of Mary Dell Saunders. This property is known as the Saunders Insurance Building and is the place where testator conducted his insurance business. In addition, each of the heirs was to receive a one-fourth interest in the residuary estate.

The contest in this case grows out of the proper interpretation to be placed upon paragraph 13, whether the legacy made therein is to be paid within one year after testator’s death or at some future designated daté. .

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Bluebook (online)
264 N.W. 382, 274 Mich. 310, 1936 Mich. LEXIS 759, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/saunders-v-michigan-trust-co-mich-1936.