Virginia National Bank v. United States

307 F. Supp. 1146, 25 A.F.T.R.2d (RIA) 1447, 1969 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 13372
CourtDistrict Court, E.D. Virginia
DecidedOctober 3, 1969
DocketCiv. A. No. 7157
StatusPublished
Cited by3 cases

This text of 307 F. Supp. 1146 (Virginia National Bank v. United States) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, E.D. Virginia primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Virginia National Bank v. United States, 307 F. Supp. 1146, 25 A.F.T.R.2d (RIA) 1447, 1969 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 13372 (E.D. Va. 1969).

Opinion

MEMORANDUM ORDER

KELLAM, District Judge.

Testatrix, a resident of Virginia Beach, Virginia, at the time of her death, executed her will on September 30, 1963. Following her death on December 26, 1963, Virginia National Bank qualified as executor and trustee under the will. The will established Trusts “A” and “B”, and Trust “A” gave Mrs. Zittrain’s husband the power of invasion. Both parties stipulate that the proper interpretation of the trust provisions in the will determines the tax consequences.

Subsequent to testatrix’s death, plaintiff filed with the Internal Revenue Service the appropriate estate tax returns claiming the full marital deduction for Trust “A”. The Commissioner disallowed the deduction and an assessment of $8,067.41 in taxes, and $1,288.91 in interest, for a total of $9,356.32, was made and paid on December 4, 19671 The plaintiff filed for a refund and, when it was not forthcoming, it instituted the present action under 28 U.S. C.A. § 1346(a) (1).

The issue before the Court is whether the will of Lee B. Zittrain gives her husband an unlimited right to invade the principal of the trust established in Clause THIRD, as contended by plaintiff, or whether such right of invasion is limited by the language of a spendthrift clause appearing in Clause SIXTH, as contended by defendant. A copy of the will is attached as Appendix 1.

Lee B. Zittrain conferred with the trust officers of the Virginia National Bank concerning making a will. An outline of a will was prepared by the Bank for her, which the Bank sent to an attorney selected to draw her will. After conferences and discussions, the will was drafted in accordance with the memorandum, forwarded to the Bank for approval, approved by the Bank, and executed.

The plaintiff argues that parol evidence is admissible to show the intent of the testatrix. To afford loose application to the admission of parol evidence would be contrary to the very purpose of having a will in writing. Indeed, a major objective of the Statute of Wills was to establish certain standards in the execution of a will so that the testator’s wishes could be relegated to paper and that paper serve as his will.

Obviously, there are times when ambiguities may exist and extrinsic means must be resorted to in order to correctly determine a testator’s intent. But the rule is hard, set, and the only reasonable one. Where possible, the intent shall be determined from within the four comers of the document.

Where the words are plain, clear, and unambiguous, extrinsic evidence shall not be considered. Gasque v. Sitterding, 208 Va. 206, 156 S.E.2d 576; Davis v. Lynchburg National Bank and Trust Co., 198 Va. 14, 92 S.E.2d 278; Rule v. First National Bank of Clifton Forge, 182 Va. 227, 28 S.E.2d 709; Senger v. Senger, 81 Va. 687; Shelton v. Shelton, 1 Wash. (1 Va.) 53; § 64-84, Code of Virginia, 1950, in effect in 1963. Nor are the testatrix’s declarations as to her intentions admissible. To permit this would allow one to orally “rewrite” his will. Coffman’s Adm’r v. Coffman, [1148]*1148131 Va. 456, 109 S.E. 454; Smith v. Trustees of The Baptist Orphanage, 194 Va. 901, 75 S.E.2d 491, 493.

Reading the will as a whole, to determine the intention of the testatrix, it appears quite clear her prime desire was to provide for her husband, not only for his needs, but also for his wishes and desires. She gave him the income from her entire estate, with the right to draw the entire principal or corpus of Trust “A” “by his sole act” and by his “request.” In “emergencies, such as illness, physical or mental, or accident” the Trustee was given power to use the principal of Trust “A” for her husband.2 Likewise, the use of the principal of Trust “A” was further available “as my husband deems necessary” for his “general welfare.” In addition, if the income from Trusts “A” and “B” and “such other income as may be available to him” was not sufficient “for the maintenance of the standard of living to which he — has been accustomed,” the Trustee is authorized to pay further sums out of the principal of Trust “B” for him, provided, that before the funds in Trust “B” were used, the funds in Trust “A” were to be exhausted.

All parties agree that the language used in establishing Trust “A” is sufficient to qualify for the benefits of marital deduction. Defendant says that while Clause THIRD gives a right of invasion of the principal to the husband, it is limited by the language of the spendthrift provisions of Clause SIXTH of the will.

In Section THIRD of the will, Lee B. Zittrain provided:

“To pay to my husband, during his lifetime, the net income therefrom in convenient installments, at least annually, and also to pay to my said husband, so much or all of the principal thereof as he, by his sole act, may, from time to time and by request to my Trustee, require.” (Emphasis added)

This language is plain, clear, and unambiguous. First, her husband is entitled for life to all the income from the entire interest of Trust “A”.3 In addition, by his sole act, the husband has the power to appoint the entire interest in Trust “A” to himself. It is very clearly spelled out that he may, by his sole act, have “all of the principal.” A devise of an estate for life, coupled with the absolute power of alienation, either expressed or implied, comprehends everything and the devisee takes a fee simple estate. Mowery v. Coffman, 185 Va. 491, 39 S.E.2d 285; Hansbrough v. Trustees of the Presbyterian Church, 110 Va. 15, 65 S.E. 467; Farish v. Wayman, 91 Va. 430, 21 S.E. 810. The Virginia Courts also held that although the property may be coupled with a power of disposition for one’s support, maintenance and needs, this only expresses the motive of the testator and does not in any way qualify the estate in fee simple. Mowery v. Coffman, 185 Va. 491, 39 S.E.2d 285, citing Conrad v. Conrad’s Executor, 123 Va. 711, 97 S.E. 336; Davis v. Kendall, 130 Va. 175, 107 S.E. 751; Farmers Bank of Clinch Valley v. Kinser, 169 Va. 69, 192 S.E. 745.

The Court, therefore, finds that parol evidence is neither admissible or needed and that Clause THIRD, paragraph (A) of the will gives the husband of Lee B. Zittrain an estate in fee simple.

But defendant says the gift to the husband is limited or cut down by the provisions of the spendthrift clause appearing in Clause SIXTH of the will.

The well established rule of construction is “that the terms or language necessary to rescind or cut down an estate previously created and given must be at least as clear and decisive as the terms or language by which the estate was previously created.” Moore [1149]*1149v. Holbrook, 175 Va. 471, 9 S.E.2d 447, 450; Michie’s Jur. Vol. 20, page 260, § 84, Subject, Wills.

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Bluebook (online)
307 F. Supp. 1146, 25 A.F.T.R.2d (RIA) 1447, 1969 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 13372, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/virginia-national-bank-v-united-states-vaed-1969.