Schoendienst v. Fink

207 N.E.2d 325, 58 Ill. App. 2d 203, 1965 Ill. App. LEXIS 1235
CourtAppellate Court of Illinois
DecidedMay 21, 1965
DocketGen. 64-85
StatusPublished
Cited by6 cases

This text of 207 N.E.2d 325 (Schoendienst v. Fink) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Appellate Court of Illinois primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Schoendienst v. Fink, 207 N.E.2d 325, 58 Ill. App. 2d 203, 1965 Ill. App. LEXIS 1235 (Ill. Ct. App. 1965).

Opinions

GOLDENHEBSH, J.

Sallie Sadler Nor cross died testate on October 11, 1962. Her last will and testament executed on April 7, 1959, and a codicil dated June 12, 1961, were admitted to probate. Her executor filed suit to construe the clauses of her will hereinafter set forth.

“EIGHTEENTH — I give and bequeath our home at 710 Fairfax Street in Carlyle, Illinois, to Scott Lodge No. 79 AF & A M, of Carlyle, Illinois, and Carlyle Chapter Order of the Eastern Star 518 of Carlyle, Illinois, with all contents except moneys, stocks and bonds and other personal clothing.”

As to this clause, the executor seeks to determine, since the word “devise” was not used, whether the donees were given a fee interest in the real estate, or the gift was of the home and contents only, thus effecting a severance of the improvements from the real estate.

“TWENTIETH — All the rest and residue of my property I give and bequeath to my beloved husband, Henry C. Norcross, if he lives longer than I do. In the event he dies before I do, then and only in that case all the rest and residue of my property is to be divided among the above named legatees in the same proportion as the amount of their legacy as herein specified. I do not wish my blood cousin, H. A. Williams, or Ms wife to participate in this residuary clause of my Estate.”

As to this clause, the executor seeks to determine whether the word “legatee” limits participation in the residuary estate to beneficiaries taking only personal property under other provisions of the will, and whether the “amount of their legacy” to be considered in ascertaining their respective portions of the residuary estate is limited to the value of personal property the legatee receives.

The complaint further states that if the court construes the terms “legatee” and “legacy” as used in the residuary clause (Twentieth supra) so that only the value of the personal property received by a legatee is considered in ascertaining his share of the residuary estate, then the court must construe the following paragraphs from the codicil to testator’s will:

“1. I give and devise and bequeath unto Jordan Fink of Columbus, Ohio, nephew of Henry C. Nor-cross, Deceased, the sum of $1,000.00, and also a proportionate residuary share in my Estate with the other devisees and legatees thereof, as set forth in my last will and testament, provided he outlives me.
“2. I give and devise and bequeath unto Wilene Fink Smith, of Columbus, Ohio, niece of Henry C. Norcross, Deceased, the sum of $1,000.00 and also a proportionate residuary share in my Estate with the other devisees and legatees thereof, as set forth in my last will and testament, provided she outlives me.”,

for the purpose of determining whether the gift of “a proportionate residuary share in my estate with the other devisees and legatees thereof” changes the beneficiaries of the residuary estate to include devisees not specifically excluded, and permits considering the value of real estate received by a devisee in determining the proportionate shares in the residuary estate.

Testatrix’s husband, Henry C. Norcross, predeceased her. The cousin, H. A. Williams, and his wife, referred to in Paragraph Twentieth, are the devisees of 120 acres of land in another paragraph of the will. These devisees are the only ones specifically excluded from participation in the residuary estate. In the will and codicil, there are 16 specific bequests of money in varying sums, and two devises of real estate other than that involved in Paragraph Eighteenth. In the body of the will, the gifts of money are made in paragraphs which commence “I give and bequeath.” The two devises of real estate above mentioned are set out in paragraphs which commence “I give and devise.” The two paragraphs in the codicil which make two gifts of money, commence in each instance, “I give and devise and bequeath.”

The appellants here are Scott Lodge No. 79 A P & A M of Carlyle, and Carlyle Chapter Order of the Eastern Star 518, hereinafter referred to as appellants. The cross appellants are Carlyle Cemetery Association, Janet Rabus and Irene Davis, to whom testatrix be-' queathed money, $1,000 each to the cemetery association and Mrs. Rabus, and $1,500 to Mrs. Davis.

The Circuit Court rendered its decree wherein it found:

“(a) That the word ‘legatee’ is a technical term having reference to a beneficiary of personal property.
“(b) That the word ‘give’ and ‘home’ are generic terms covering both real and personal property.
“(c) That said Last Will did not operate to create a severance of the improvements from the real estate at 710 Fairfax Street.
“(d) That Scott Lodge No. 79 A F & A M of Carlyle, Illinois, and the Carlyle Chapter Order of the Eastern Star, Illinois, were devised the real estate at 710 Fairfax Street in Carlyle, Illinois, including the buildings thereon.
“(e) That said Codicil did not alter the Testator’s disposition of the residue of the estate other than to add two more beneficiaries to share therein.”

Based on these findings it decreed that:

“(a) Scott Lodge No. 79 A F & A M, Carlyle, Illinois, and the Carlyle Chapter Order of the Eastern Star, Illinois, receive the real estate located at 710 Fairfax Street in Carlyle, Illinois, as well as the buildings thereon and they are hereby found to he the owners in fee simple of such real estate by virtue of the provisions of said Last Will.
“(h) That the rest and residue of the Estate be divided among the surviving named legatees in the same proportion the value of the legacy at date of death bore to the total value of the residue of said Estate and the value of the real estate and improvements thereon at 710 Fairfax Street in Carlyle not he considered in determining the proportionate share of the recipients of said real estate, hut that the value of the contents, excepting moneys, stocks, bonds and personal clothing he considered.”

The appellants contend that in ascertaining their share of the residuary estate, the value of the real estate at 710 Fairfax Street and the improvements thereon must he considered, and the determination of their share based only upon the value of the contents is erroneous.

The cross appellants contend that the proper construction of the will would give appellants only the building at 710 Fairfax Street and its contents, and the real estate upon which the building is situated is a part of the residuary estate.

In construing a will, the provisions of the will and codicil are to be construed as a whole and effect given, if possible, to every part of both. The intention of the testator is to be ascertained and given effect, unless it violates an established rule of law, or public policy. Finnerty v. Neary, 9 Ill2d 495, 138 NE2d 540.

We shall first consider the word “home” as found in Paragraph Eighteenth. Counsel have not cited, nor has this court found, any Illinois case construing the term “home” under these circumstances.

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Schoendienst v. Fink
207 N.E.2d 325 (Appellate Court of Illinois, 1965)

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
207 N.E.2d 325, 58 Ill. App. 2d 203, 1965 Ill. App. LEXIS 1235, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/schoendienst-v-fink-illappct-1965.