Wilson v. Clay

593 S.W.2d 725, 1979 Tex. App. LEXIS 4383
CourtCourt of Appeals of Texas
DecidedNovember 21, 1979
DocketNo. 17435
StatusPublished
Cited by2 cases

This text of 593 S.W.2d 725 (Wilson v. Clay) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Court of Appeals of Texas primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Wilson v. Clay, 593 S.W.2d 725, 1979 Tex. App. LEXIS 4383 (Tex. Ct. App. 1979).

Opinion

On Motion for Rehearing

DOYLE, Justice.

After a review of the various motions for rehearing in this case, we are convinced that our original opinion was in error and that the motions should be granted. Accordingly, we withdraw our opinion reversing the trial court and render the following opinion of affirmance.

Anne Brooke Wilson, et al, bring this appeal from an adverse declaratory judgment rendered against her and in favor of Henry B. Clay, Nelson D. Durst and six separate charities in a will construction suit. We affirm.

Clay and Durst, as independent executors of the estates of Ethel and Edith Cavitt (testatrices), instituted the original action in the trial court to interpret the wills and codicils of the Cavitt sisters. All legatees and heirs were named in this suit, along with the Attorney General of Texas.

Ethel Cavitt died in Brazos County, Texas, in December 1977, and her will was admitted to probate that same year. Edith died in March 1978, and her will was admitted to probate that same year. Each sister executed an identical will, dated December 10, 1969, and an identical codicil dated December 2,1971. The wills contain a specific devise of real property, subject to a life estate in the surviving testatrix, to their beloved niece, Mary Cavitt Wilson, in fee. Mary Cavitt Wilson predeceased the testatrices in 1973, causing these devises to lapse under Texas law. Tex.Prob.Code Ann. § 68 (Vernon 1956). Logan v. Thomason, 146 Tex. 37, 202 S.W.2d 212 (1949). Upon her death, Mary Cavitt Wilson was survived by a sole heir, an adopted daughter, Anne Brooke Wilson, who claims her mother’s lapsed devises by intestate succession. She contends this real property was specifically excluded from the residuary clause of the testatrices’ wills and so must pass to her under the laws of descent and distribution. Appellees argue that the testatrices meant for all of their property to be disposed of under the wills, so the real property must pass to them under the residuary clause recited in each will. No findings of fact or conclusions of law were requested or filed.

Appellants bring two points of error reciting no evidence and insufficient evidence arguments. Under the facts of the case, it is undisputed that the subject devises lapsed. Therefore the burden would be upon appellants to prove intention of the testatrices to exclude the lapsed devises from the residuary clauses. However, to the extent that such points complain of the errors in the trial court’s presumed findings in support of its judgment, we find them sufficient to preserve error on appeal. This court must determine whether the lapsed devises of real property to Mary Cavitt Wilson were, as a matter of law, specifically excluded from passing under the residuary clauses of the wills resulting in its passage to Anne Brooke Wilson by intestate succes[727]*727sion as the sole heir of the Cavitt family, or whether the testatrices provided that the wills should dispose of their entire estates.

Since both of the wills and codicils thereto are identical; the relevant portions of only one of them are here set forth:

That I, Edith Cavitt, a feme sole, a resident of Brazos County, Texas, being of sound and disposing mind and memory, do make and publish this my last will and testament, hereby revoking all other wills and codicil by me at anytime heretofore made.
I.
I direct that all my just debts, including all Estate, Inheritance and Succession taxes shall be paid out of the rest and residue of my estate by my Executors hereinafter named as soon after my decease as may by them be found convenient.
II.
I specifically give, devise and bequeath unto my sister, Ethel Cavitt, the following property, to-wit:
A. All my household and kitchen furniture, personal effects, including automobiles, owned by me and situated on our home tract, together with all coins, if any, owned by me at the time of my death.
B. A life interest in my one-half interest in the following described properties.
1. The ranch of about 745 acres in the R. Stevenson League in Brazos County, Texas, formerly owned by Fred Cavitt.
2. The service station and land located in the City of College Station, Texas, originally owned by the Estate of Esther Cavitt Sims, Deceased, being now under lease to Texaco, Inc., and being in the D. A. Smith Subdivision in said city,
3. The W. R. Cavitt Home Place and the property immediately adjoining same on the West, same being property originally owned by Horace Cavitt, property described in this Sub Section 3 being all of Lot No. 16 in Phillips Addition to the City of Bryan, in Brazos County, Texas, and any adjoining property owned by him.
III.
Subject to the life estate devised to my sister in Subparagraph B. in the above paragraph II., I give and devise all of such three (3) pieces of property described in Subparagraph B. to my beloved niece, Mary Cavitt Wilson, in fee.
IV.
All of the rest and residue of my property and estate, of whatever character it may be and wherever situated, that may be owned by me and remain after the payment of the above mentioned debts, estate, inheritance and succession taxes, and special bequests and devisees, I hereby give, devise and bequeath unto my sister, Ethel Cavitt, N. D. Durst, and Henry B. Clay, Trustees .

Appellants have cited several cases holding that property may be expressly excluded from the residuary clause, resulting in distribution of the excluded property by intestate succession. Lenz v. Sens, 27 Tex.Civ.App. 442, 66 S.W. 110 (Tex.Civ.App.—Galveston 1901, writ ref’d); Bittner v. Bittner, 45 S.W.2d 148 (Tex.Com.App.1932, judgmt. adopted); Neinast v. Brauckmuller, 401 S.W.2d 113 (Tex.Civ.App.—Houston [1st Bist.] 1966, no writ); Swearingen v. Giles, 565 S.W.2d 574 (Tex.Civ.App.—Eastland 1978, writ ref’d n. r. e.). In each of the foregoing cases it was shown that the testator specifically intended to exclude the property from passing under his will. Language employed in wills varies; it is often so different that each case is unique, and the intent of the testator controls over all other considerations.

Texas courts have discussed will construction problems in numerous cases, setting out several basic rules. In Neinast v. Brauckmuller, supra, at 115, this court stated:

The principal rules that must be kept in mind when construing a will are here set out. There is a presumption of law that [728]*728the testator desired to make a full disposition of his estate, and the will should be construed in such manner as to prevent partial intestacy if such construction is reasonably consistent with the language of the will. Briggs v. Peebles, 144 Tex. 47, 188 S.W.2d 147.

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Bluebook (online)
593 S.W.2d 725, 1979 Tex. App. LEXIS 4383, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/wilson-v-clay-texapp-1979.