Whitefield v. Crissman

New York Supreme Court

Whitefield v. Crissman

55 Misc. 468, 106 N.Y.S. 630

DecidedJuly 15, 1907

StatusPublished

This text of 55 Misc. 468 (Whitefield v. Crissman) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering New York Supreme Court primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook

Whitefield v. Crissman, 55 Misc. 468, 106 N.Y.S. 630 (N.Y. Super. Ct. 1907).

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Opinion

Bischoff, J.

The trust to endure for the minorities of the testator’s four children cannot be upheld. Its duration, if not taken to be measured by years, is measured by four lives in being, and, within the authorities, such a direction offends the, rule against perpetuities. Hawley v. James, 16 Wend. 61; Ahern v. Ahern, 52 App. Div. 356. This provision cannot be construed as intending a trust to be measured by the life of the youngest child, within his minority (Becker v. Becker, 13 App. Div. 342), since a contrary intention — the continuation of the trust as to the survivors, notwithstanding the earlier death of one — is made manifest by the words employed.

Under the circumstances, the inference of an intention to make a valid disposal of his property cannot be invoked to override the plain meaning of the testator’s chosen words. Ahern v. Ahern, supra.

Hor does the power of sale save the trust. This power, when exercised, was not to terminate the trust, according [469]*469to the obvious intention expressed; for the period of distribution was otherwise fixed, and the proceeds of sale were necessarily to be held upon the same trust. It is the period within which the power of alienation is suspended, as to the persons ultimately entitled to possession, not as to the trustees, which is the measure for the purposes of such a case. Haynes v. Sherman, 117 N. Y. 433; Allen v. Allen, 149 id. 280.

Form of decision and judgment may be presented, on notice of settlement.

Judgment accordingly.

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Bischoff, J.

The trust to endure for the minorities of the testator’s four children cannot be upheld. Its duration, if not taken to be measured by years, is measured by four lives in being, and, within the authorities, such a direction offends the, rule against perpetuities. Hawley v. James, 16 Wend. 61; Ahern v. Ahern, 52 App. Div. 356. This provision cannot be construed as intending a trust to be measured by the life of the youngest child, within his minority (Becker v. Becker, 13 App. Div. 342), since a contrary intention — the continuation of the trust as to the survivors, notwithstanding the earlier death of one — is made manifest by the words employed.

Under the circumstances, the inference of an intention to make a valid disposal of his property cannot be invoked to override the plain meaning of the testator’s chosen words. Ahern v. Ahern, supra.

Hor does the power of sale save the trust. This power, when exercised, was not to terminate the trust, according [469]*469to the obvious intention expressed; for the period of distribution was otherwise fixed, and the proceeds of sale were necessarily to be held upon the same trust. It is the period within which the power of alienation is suspended, as to the persons ultimately entitled to possession, not as to the trustees, which is the measure for the purposes of such a case. Haynes v. Sherman, 117 N. Y. 433; Allen v. Allen, 149 id. 280.

Form of decision and judgment may be presented, on notice of settlement.

Judgment accordingly.

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55 Misc. 468, 106 N.Y.S. 630, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/whitefield-v-crissman-nysupct-1907.

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