Wood v. Hammond

36 A. 1135, 19 R.I. 398

• Court: Supreme Court of Rhode Island
• Decided: January 8, 1896
• Docket: Equity, No. 2654.
• Status: Published

Opinion

The general rule is that the expenses of determining questions which arise upon a will, occasioned by the testator, shall be borne by the estate and paid out of the general assets. Sawyer v. Baldwin, 20 Pick. 373, 383, 389; Bowditch v. Soltyk, 99 Mass. 136, 141 ; Deane v. Home for Aged Colored Women, 111 Mass. 132, 135; Morse v. Stearns, 131 Mass. 389, 391; Wilson v. Squire, 13 Simons, 212, 213; Attorney General v. Lawes, 8 Hare, 32 ; Charter v. Charter, L. R. 7 H. L. 364.

William G. Roelker, for complainants. Tillinghast, Ely, Douglas, Almy, Woods, Burbank & Gardner, for different respondents.

We are of the opinion, therefore, that the motion of certain of the respondents for a reasonable allowance for counsel fees and expenses incurred in litigating the questions arising on the will should be granted.

We will hear the parties as to the amount of such allowance.