Succession of Fath

80 So. 659, 144 La. 463, 1919 La. LEXIS 1576
CourtSupreme Court of Louisiana
DecidedJanuary 6, 1919
DocketNo. 22977
StatusPublished
Cited by17 cases

This text of 80 So. 659 (Succession of Fath) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Supreme Court of Louisiana primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Succession of Fath, 80 So. 659, 144 La. 463, 1919 La. LEXIS 1576 (La. 1919).

Opinion

SOMMERVILLE, J.

Mrs. Path left three sets of grandchildren, children of her predeceased sons, Christopher, Michael, and Joseph. She also left an estate which has been inventoried at $9,155.36, $8,300 of which is real estate, and the balance is personal property. ■ To the widow and children of Christopher she gave all the real estate, which appears to be about seven-ninths of the entire estate. The bequest in favor of the children of Christopher Path is in excess of their shares, and it is illegal. It is subject to reduction.

The children of Joseph and Michael Path attacked the will in so far as the disposition in favor of the children of Christopher Path was concerned, and asked that the legacy to those children be reduced to one-third of the [465]*465estate, after tlie payment of small legacies made in the will.

There was judgment in favor of the petitioners, and the widow and children of Christopher Eath have appealed.

The disposing part of the will which has been attacked is in the following words:

“To the widow and six children of my deceased son, Christopher, I give all my real estate in Algiers in equal shares to each of the seven. The property is on Bouny street. To each of the three children of my son, Michael Eath, I give $250.00. To Mary, the daughter of my son Joseph, I give $250.00. To St. Mary’s Church I give the sum of $200.00 for masses for the repose of my soul. To Mary Nicholls, of Algiers, I give $25.00. To Judge Samuel Levy, of Algiers, I give $50.00. Any balance that may be left I give to my aforesaid six grand-children, the children of my son Christopher.
“I appoint Judge Samuel Levy, of Algiers, executor of my will without bond.
“I revoke, recall and destroy any will or wills I may have made, leaving this for my last will.”

[1] The legacy of one-seventh of the real estate to Mrs. Christopher Eath is not attacked as she is a stranger to the succession; and it appears to be conceded that the legacy in her favor, together with the other small legacies made in the will, will not exceed the disposable portion of the estate.

It is quite evident that the legacy of six-sevenths of the real estate to the heirs of Christopher exceeds the quantum which the deceased might have disposed of; and while it would not be null in its entirety, if given as an extra portion, it would be reducible to that quantum. C. C. 1502.

“When the dispositions mortis causa exceed cither the disposable quantum or the portion of that quantum that remains after the deduction of the value of the donations inter vivos, the reduction shall be made pro rata, without any distinction between universal dispositions and particular ones.” C. C. 1511.

[2-5] The children of Christopher Eath claim that the legacy to them “is given as an extra portion and merely reducible so that they shall not infringe upon, the legitime of the other heirs,” and they referred to the will to uphold their contention. Plaintiffs deny that the will gives to defendants any “extra portion,” and allege that the three sets of grandchildren are entitled to take the estate in equal portions.

The question submitted for decision is: Was the legacy of all the real estate to Mrs. Christopher Fath and her six children intended by the testatrix as an advantage or extra portion to' those children?

If it was so intended, the value of the object given would have to be reduced to the disposable portion.

The will does not say the children of Christopher Fath are given “an advantage” or “extra portion,” but those words are not necessary.

“The declaration that the gift or legacy is intended as an advantage or extra portion may be made in other equivalent terms, provided they indicate, in an unequivocal manner that such was the will of the donor.” C. C. 1233.
“In the interpretation of acts of last will the intention of the testator must principally be endeavored to be ascertained without departing, however, from the proper signification of the terms of the testament.
“The cardinal rule for the interpretation of wills is to ascertain the intention of the testator; * * * it is * * * the ‘sovereign guide,’ * * * the ‘pole star’ whither all must look who would find that meaning.” Succession of Burnside, 35 La. Ann. 715.
“Every part of the will must be considered.
“The intent of the testator is to be determined from the whole will. Every word shall have effect if it can be done without defeating the general purpose of the will which is to be carried into effect in every reasonable method.” La. Digest, vol. 2, p. 1011, citing many authorities; Gueydan v. Montagne, 109 La. 38, 33 South. 61.

The will does not contain the words “preference,” “advantage,” “extra portion,” or “dispense with collation”; and the equivalent of those words are not found therein. The language is simple and direct. It is:

“To the widow and six children of my deceased son, Christopher, I give all my real estate in Algiers in equal shares to each of the seven.”

[467]*467It cannot be inierred from tbe use of sucb language that the deceased intended to give the six children of her deceased son Christopher the extra portion of her estate which the law permitted her to dispose of. After making several small dispositions, the testatrix continues:

' “Any balance that may be left I give to my aforesaid six grandchildren, the children of my son, Christopher.”

And that balance is not given as “an extra portion.”

The language or terms of the will, read in connection with the inventory which has been made in the succession, makes the intention of the testator quite evident. She intended to disregard the law which reserved two-thirds of her estate to her forced heirs, and to dispose of her property in her own way by giving about seven-ninths of it to one group of heirs to the great disadvantage of two other groups. . This, the law will not permit; and, as deceased did not say directly or indirectly that the children of Christopher should have an advantage, or extra portion, the court cannot give it to them, as that would be making a will for the deceased, which the court cannot do.

The legacy to the heirs of Christopher Path is not null; but it is reducible to the value of their shares, under the law, in the succession of their grandmother.

It is stated on the brief for defendants:

“The intention to give an extra portion, or, in other words, to dispense with collation must, it is conceded, be shown in unambiguous terms, by the terms in her will. If that intention be not plain and'indisputable, then the bequest or legacy to the heirs must be understood and enforced as conferring upon the legatees only their proper legal shares. If it is not construed as an extra portion, then all the heirs are to be placed upon an equality, and each must take as he would take ab intestato.
“If the will does not show in terms that are not unmistakable that the heirs are not to receive alike, there is no extra portion.

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Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
80 So. 659, 144 La. 463, 1919 La. LEXIS 1576, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/succession-of-fath-la-1919.