Watson v. Watson

223 Mass. 425
CourtMassachusetts Supreme Judicial Court
DecidedMarch 9, 1916
StatusPublished
Cited by3 cases

This text of 223 Mass. 425 (Watson v. Watson) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Watson v. Watson, 223 Mass. 425 (Mass. 1916).

Opinion

Carroll, J.

June 10, 1879, Laurence Leonard of Melrose conveyed real estate on Charter Street, Boston, to Luke Leonard who, at the same time, conveyed it to Laurence as trustee, the income therefrom to be applied to the maintenance and support of Laurence Leonard’s wife and the education, maintenance and support of their children. After the death of Laurence, trustees were to succeed him and the trust was to continue until the death or remarriage of Mrs. Leonard. Upon her death or remarriage, the income was to be applied to the support, education and maintenance of the children and the "survivor and survivors of them wholly.”

After the death of Laurence and the death or remarriage of Mrs. Leonard, upon each child arriving at the age of twenty-one years, the trustees were directed then to convey and transfer to such child his or her share, charging each with any advances so made from the capital to the child’s benefit; and the trustees were further authorized to apply any part of the principal for the benefit of the children, when in their judgment it became necessary.

Laurence Leonard in the deed of trust was given the power to name his successors and “in and by his last will and testament to debar and prohibit either of his said children from any share or part of said trust property, the income, profits and accumulations thereof anything herein to the contrary notwithstanding.”

On the same day Owen A. Galvin conveyed to said Laurence certain real estate in Melrose. The habendum clause was, "To have and to hold the granted premises with all the privileges and appurtenances ... to the said Laurence Leonard . . . but in trust [427]*427nevertheless for the uses and purposes and with the rights, duties, powers and restrictions set forth in the deed from said Luke Leonard to Laurence Leonard dated June 10, 1879, and recorded with Suffolk Deeds.”

Laurence Leonard died testate, September 20, 1888. Mrs. Leonard died intestate, November 21, 1912. At the death of Mrs. Leonard, the surviving children of Laurence Leonard were Alice K. Watson, Ellen L. Leonard, Lawrence G. Leonard, John Joseph Leonard and Mary Leonard. "There was also living Helen Watson, a minor daughter of said Alice IC. Watson and the sole issue living of the children of said Laurence.” On his death there was surviving one other child, Patrick F. Leonard, who died intestate February 25,' 1895, unmarried, under thirty years of age, leaving no issue, no debts and his mother his sole heir at law. Mrs. Leonard never remarried. All the surviving children had arrived at the age of twenty-one when their mother died.

In addition to these trust properties, Laurence Leonard was the owner of additional property which passed by the residuary clause of his will. Mary Wren, mentioned in said clause, died previous to the death of Mrs. Leonard. The son Lawrence G. Leonard was thirty years of age January 12, 1903, John Joseph Leonard was thirty years of age March 30, 1909.

Laurence Leonard’s will was dated February 21, 1888. In the fourth clause, after referring to the Charter Street and Melrose trust, it recites: “Inasmuch as it is provided in and by said deeds that I may by my last will and testament debar and prohibit either of my children living at my decease from any share or part of said trust estate, the income, profits, and accumulations thereof, anything in said trust deeds to the contrary notwithstanding. Now it is my will and I do debar and prohibit either of said children from receiving and I do debar and prohibit the Trustees hereinafter named from paying over, conveying or transferring to either of my said children any part or share of the principal of said trust estate.” The will also provided that the income should be used for the support of the mother and children and the survivor of them, as mentioned in the trust deed; and further stipulated: “but I authorize and direct my said Trustees to pay over out of the said net income, rents and profits, the sum of Five thousand dollars to each of my sons on his arriving at the age of thirty years.”

[428]*428This is a bill for instructions.

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Related

Welch v. Morse
81 N.E.2d 361 (Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court, 1948)
Estabrook v. Eastern Commercial Travelers Accident Ass'n
32 N.E.2d 250 (Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court, 1941)
Old Colony Trust Co. v. Treasurer & Receiver General
243 Mass. 543 (Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court, 1923)

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Bluebook (online)
223 Mass. 425, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/watson-v-watson-mass-1916.