Woodham, Denise v. Geary Wallce, Independent Estate of Dewey K. Wallace

• Court: Court of Appeals of Texas
• Decided: January 2, 2013
• Docket: 05-11-01121-CV
• Status: Published

Opinion

AFFI RM; Opinion issued .Januarv 2. 2013.

In The (!tiiirt uf TpIjlL5 FiftI Hi;1rict i,if rxai at JaUwa

No. 05-1 1-01 121-CV

[WIlSK WOODHAM, Appellant

V.

GEARY WALLACE, ESTATE OF I)EWKV K. WALLACE, KEVIN WALLACE, DEBRA ( URINGION, ESTAIE OF EDA P WALLACE, MICHAF I IAYLOR, INDEPENDEN1 EXECU FOR OF FilE ES I IL OF EDA P WALLACE, DALLAS WHIRLPOOLS, LTD, AMERICAN WHIRLPOOLS, INC., U.S. WHIRLPOOLS, INC., Appellecs

On Appeal from the Probate Court Collin County, Texas Trial Court Cause No. PB-00i-949-06

MEMORANDUM OPINION Before Justices Francis and Murphy’ Opinion By Justice Murphy

Denise Woodham, formerly known as Denise Sue Murphy, appeals from a final judgment

denying her claims under The Wallace Revocable Trust established by her parents and under the Last

Will and Testament of her father, Dewey Wallace. in seven issues, Woodham argues that the

Trust is invalid due to certain ambiguities and the Will should be construed to convey a lake house

that was owned by a limited partnership in which her parents were the only general and limited

Justice Joseph Moms was on the panel and participated at the submission oithis case, but due to his retirement on December31, 2012, from this Court, he did not participate in the issuance of this Opinion. See Thx. R. At’t’, P. 41.1(a). (b), partners We aifion.

BACKCROIJNI)

1)ewcv and his tie. Fda \‘Vallace. had three children that survived them: Woodham. Kevin

Wallace. and I)ehra Curinton. On June 1 3. I )94. Dewey and Fda established the Trust and listed

themselves as rantors. Article I of the Trust stated that “It jhe Trust shall have as its beneficiaries

the Grantors, and the descendants of the Grantors from time to time living.” The Trust specifically

provided that Dewey and Eda had three surviving children and listed them as “Kevin Wayne

Wallace, Denise Sue Murphy, and Debra Louise Curington.” Article VIII, which provided for

administration of a portion of the Trust known as the “Family Trust,” specified that Woodham would

receive “24( 1/21%” of’ the common stock ol’ American Molds, Inc. and that any remaining

undistributed portions of the Family Trust would he distributed “in equal shares to Kevin Wayne

Wallace. Denise Sue Murphy and Debra Louise Curington.”

Dewey and Eda amended the Trust three limes before they (lied. The first amendment kept

the language listed above stating that the beneficiaries of the Trust were the grantors and their

descendants and listing “Denise Sue Murphy” as one of the surviving children. But the following

sentence—written in all capital letters—was added to the end of that same paragraph: “THE

GRANTORS HAVE INTENTIONALLY MADE NO PROVISION IN THIS TRUST

AGREEMENT FOR THE USE OR BENEFIT OF DENISE SUE MURPHY, FOR REASONS

BEST KNOWN TO THE GRANTORS.” Article VIH was also amended to remove Woodham from

the list of individuals receiving special stock distributions, and the clause regarding any undistrihuted

portions of the Family Trust was modified to provide that any remaining undistributed portions

would now be distributed “in equal shares to Kevin Wayne Wallace and Debra Louise Curington.”

Thus, Woodham was excluded by the amendment.

—2— Approxmiately two years after the first amendment, Dewey and Fda amended the Trust again.

Like the hrst amendment. the second amendment kept the language stating that the descendants of

i)ewev and Fda were henehciaries ol the Trust and specifically listed l)enise Sue Murphy as one ot

the surviving children. But the lanuuage quoted above that excluded Woodham was amended fun her

to exclude \\‘oodham s descendants, as lollows:

FOR REASONS BEST KNOWN To THE GRANTORS, THE GRANTORS HAVE IN1ENTION \I LYMADENOPROVISION INTHISTRUS1 AGRLEMENTIHOR FIlE USE OR BENEFIT OF DENISE SUE MURPHY ANY OF 1 HE DESCENDANTS OF DENISE SUE MURPHY OR ANYONE ClAIMING ANY INTEREST HEREIN BY VIRTUE OF RELATIONSHIP OF (ONSINGUINITY jsic OR \FFINITY WITH DENISE SUE MURPHY OR \NY OF THE DESCENDANTS OF DENISE SUE MURPHY.

The second amendment also added the following language prohibiting Woodham and her

descendants from serving as trustees tinder the Trust:

NOTWITHSTANDING ANYTHiNG CONTAINED IN THIS TRUST AGREEMENT TO TI-IF CONTRARY. IN NO EVENT SHALL DENISE SUE MURPHY OR ANY OF THE DEASCENDANTS [sic I OF DENISE SUE MURPHY EVER BE PERMITTED TO SERVE AS TRUSTEE OR CO-TRUSTEE HEREUNDFR AND THE SAME ARF hEREBY EXPRESSLY DISQUALIFIED FROM NOMINATION, DESIGNATION, APPOINTMENT OR SERVICE AS TRUSTEE HEREUNDER.

Finally, the Trust was amended a third lime, but only as to Article VIII. Woodham again was

excluded from the list of individuals receiving specific stock distributions. The amendment kept the

conveyance of any undistrihuted portion of the Family Trust to Kevin and Curington, but added that

if Dewey and Eda had no descendants then living. “then one-half (1/2) of the trust estate of the Trust

then remaining undistrihuted shall be distributed to the heirs-at-law of Dewey K. Wallace (other than

Denice Isicl Sue Murphy and her descendants) and one-half (½) to the heirs-at-law of Fda P.

Wallace (other than Denise Sue Murphy and her descendants).”

—3— Dewey passed away on February 7, 2006. Eda died approximately tour years later, on March

3 I 2() 10. Dewey’s Will was filed on December 70. 2006 and . admitted to probate on January 10.

2007. The inventory For his estate was approved on May 14. 2010.

Woodham sued. eIial1ening the inventory and petitioning br construction of both l)ewey’ s

\Vill and the Trust. Regarding the Trust, the trial court concluded as a matter of law that the Trust

was unambiguous. valid, and effective and that Woodharn and her descendants were ‘excluded from

any ownership, right, or interest in the corpus of the trust.” Regarding the Will, the trial court

concluded that Dewey did not convey the lake house to Eda. This appeal followed.

On appeal, Woodham argues that the Trust as originally created was valid, but the

amendments introduced so many contradictions that they ren(lered the Trust uncertain and void.

Woo(lham focuses on three uncertainties in the document. First, she argues that the Trust’s

beneficiaries cannot he identified with reasonable certainty. According to her, the Trust continues

to designate her as a beneficiary even though it also states, with the amendments, that the Trust has

no provisions for her use or benefit. She contends this language is uncertain and because a trust must

identify its beneficiaries with certainty, the failure to do so in this case renders the Trust void.

Woodham also argues on appeal that the purpose of the Trust is now vague. She contends

that the purpose of the Trust is clearly stated to he the financial well-being of Dewey and Eda along

with their descendants. But the amended versions conflict with this purpose by providing for the

special distribution of stocks at the death of both Dewey and Eda to individuals that are not their

descendants. Finally, Woodham argues that the language designating who can become a trustee is

vague and therefore it is impossible to determine “how the trusteeship would pass to Appellees

I Kevin] and Curington who are claiming to be the culTent co-trustees.”

-4- IMSCUSSH)N

The l4/allace Revocable Trust

The rules of construction of trusts are well settled. Harley v. Moody Nat ‘I Bank of Galveston.

98 S.W.3d 307, 310 (Tex, App.—Houston 1st DisLi 2003, no pet.). Construction of a trust is a

question of law that we review de novo. Soefje v. Jones, 270 S.W.3d 617, 625 (Tex, App.—San

Antonio 2008, no pet.). The court’s primary objective in construing a trust is to determine the intent

of the maker. See Harley, 98 S.W.3d at 310. If a trust is stisceptibleto a certain or definite meaning

or interpretation, we will conclude it is unambiguous and construe it as a matter of law. C’oker v.

Coker, 650 S.W.2d 391, 393 (Tex.1983): Wright v. Greenberg. 2 S.W.3d 666, 671 (Tex.

App.—Houston I 14th DisLj 1999, pet. denied). On the other hand, if a trust’s meaning is uncertain

or reasonably susceptible to more than one meaning, we will conclude it is ambiguous. Coker, 650

S.W.2d at 393—94. ln interpreting an unambiguous trust instrument, we examine the four corners

of the instrument to determine the settlor’s intent. Pose/iou v. Bank of Am., NA., 260 S.W.3d 707,

710 (Tex, App.—Dallas 2008, no pet.). We harmonize all provisions and construe the instrument

to give effect to all provisions so that no provision is rendered meaningless. Eckels v. Davis, 111

S.W.3d 687, 694 (Tex. App.—Fort Worth 2003, pet. denied).

To create a trust by a written instrument, the beneficiary, the res, and the trust purpose must

be identified. Perf’ct Union Lodge No. JO v. Jnterflrst Bank a/San Antonio, N.A., 748 S.W.2d 218,

220 (Tex. 1988). Woodham argues in her first issue that the Trust fails because its beneficiaries and

purpose cannot be identified with reasonable certainty, She also argues in her third issue that the

language specifying the means of trustee successorship is vague, and thus she questions whether

Kevin and Curington should serve as co-trustees.

—5— We first address whether the beneficiaries of the Trust can he reasonably identified.

Woodham argues that the Trust undisputably lists the descendants of Dewey and Eda as beneficiaries

and specifically lists her as one of those descendants. Thus, according to Woodham, she continues

to he in the class of persons to benefit from the Trust, Regarding the Trust statement that there are

no provisions for Woodham’s use or benefit, she asserts the clause fails to convey that she is not a

beneficiary. She argues the clause merely states that there are no “provisions” in the Trust for her

use or benefit. She asserts that at the least, this language creates a conflict and raises uncertainty.

In construing the Trust, we will conclude it is unambiguous if we can give it a certain or

definite legal meaning or interpretation. See Coker, 650 S,W,2d at 393. After stating that the Trust

shall have as its beneficiaries the grantors and the descendants of the grantors, the document lists the

survivmg children of Dewey and Eda, including Woodham. Then, in bold, underlined, all-

capitalized letters, the Trust states that “the Grantors have intentionally made no provision in this

trust agreement for the use or benefit of Denise Sue Murphy. . .

A beneficiary is a person for whose benefit property is held in trust. REsTATEMENT (THIRD)

OF TRusTs § 3 (2003). To say a trust agreement has no provision benefitting an individual is thus

equivalent to saying that person is not a beneficiary of the trust. The Trust paragraph must be read

in its entirety. When read in this manner, the Trust is subject to only one reasonable interpretation:

after naming Woodham as a surviving child of Dewey and Eda, the Trust explicitly and

unambiguously excludes Woodharn as a beneficiary. As suggested by appellees, this is a “carve-out”

provision affecting the entire document, thereby eliminating the need to exclude Woodham as a

descendant or beneficiary elsewhere in the Trust.

Woodham tries to create ambiguity by arguing that the language quoted above does not mean

that she is not a beneficiary of the Trust; instead, the “plain meaning of the words in [this I clause

—6— state that there are no pjyjsins in the trust for the use or benefit of I Woodhami.’ According to

Woodham, this language “compels a safari hunt of the trust to see whether there are provisions in

the Trust for IWoodham’sj use and/or her benefit, and there are.” She claims the language is

“advisory of what provisions are in the Trust, not definitive that Woodham is not a party of the Trust,

thereby creating the necessary conflict for uncertainty.” Except for saying that this clause “compels

a safari hunt” and is “advisory,” Woodharn does not attempt to provide this Court with an

alternative, reasonable interpretation of what this provision could otherwise mean. See Coker, 650

S.W.2d at 393—94 (trust is ambiguous when reasonably susceptible to more than one meaning). We

conclude there is none.

Our decision is buttressed by the amendments to other portions of the Trust. First, the

original document provided for a special distribution of stocks on the death of both Dewey and Eda

and specifically listed Woodham as an individual receiving a special distribution; the later

amendments modified this section, and Woodham was excluded from the list of individuals

receiving a distribution, Second, the original document provided that any undistributed remainder

of the Family Trust would be distributed in equal shares to Kevin, Woodham, and Curington; the

amendments excluded Woodham and specifically listed only Kevin and Curington. This section was

amended again to be even more specific: language was added that excluded Woodharn and her

descendants from receiving any undistributed remainder of the Family Trust in the event that both

Kevin and Curington were deceased. Finally, the original document was also amended to exclude

Woodham specifically from becoming a trustee. These provisions demonstrate an express intent to

exclude Woodham from receiving any benefits of the Trust—in other words, she is not a beneficiary

of the Trust.

—7— Alter reviewing the Fiust as a whole, including the amendments, we conclude the Trust

agreement is unambiguous and that it was the expressed intent ol Dewey and Eda to exclude

Woodham as a beneficiary. We therefore overrule Woodham’s first issue to the extent she argues

the Trust lacks the requisite certainty as to the beneficiaries.

Woodham also anues in her first issue that ilie purpose of the Trust is vague because of

contradictory language in dilferent provisions. Specifically, she claims that “jt jhe purpose declared

in the Trust is for the financial welfare of the settlors and for the the settlors’ descendents.” Yet “lijn direct conflict with Ithat purposel,” the third amendment states that “shares of stock are to be

distributed to individuals who are not identified in Article I of the Trust as descendants and are

not descendants of the seuiors. She asserts that when the Trust shifts away from its purpose, its

purpose becomes uncertain,” and the Trust therefore is void.

We must interpret the Trust to give meaning to all its provisions and to enact the intent of

the grantors. See Hurlev, 98 S.W.3d at 310: Eckels. 111 S.3d at 694. The Trust provisions

designating distribution of certain stocks to individuals who were not descendants do not contradict

the more general statement that the intended beneficiaries are the grantors of the Trust and their

descendants. As appellees emphasize, this statement regarding the intended beneficiaries does not

limit the Trust’s purpose to henefitting only Dewey and Eda and their descendants. While

benefitting the grantors and their descendaHts might he a primary purpose of the Trust, it is not

exclusive. Instead. Dewey and Eda, as grantors of the Trust, chose to exclude one of their

descendants as described extensively above. They also chose to distribute specific property to named

individuals who were not their descendants, thus broadening the scope of distributions. Those

intentions are clear, and a comparison of these provisions does not render the Trust vague.

—8— \\oodham also ‘ugests the purpose ol the Trust is uncertain because the Trust us amended

designates her as a beneficiary hut then states that there are no provisions for her use or benefit, We

have already concluded that the Trust unambiguously excluded Woodham as a beneficiary. We thus

conclude there is no uncertainty regarding the purpose ol the Trust. We therelore ovemile

Vvoodhams first issue to the extent she argues the Trust’s purpose is vague or uncertain.

Finally, Woodham contends in her third issue that Kevin and Curington did not become cm

trustees under the Trust. Specifically, she argues that the succession ol trustees was uncertain, and

it was not clear that the trusteeship passed to Kevin and Curington. The Trust provides that:

The Trustee shall have the power to resign and designate successor Trustees. If a vacancy in the trusteeship of a Co-Trustee shall not he filled pursuant to the power to designate successor Trustees, then the remaining Co-Trustee shall be the sole Trustee. If a vacancy in the Trusteeship of the Co—Trustees shall not be filled pursuant to their power to designate successor Trustees, then GEARY WAYNE WALLACE is nominated, designated and appointed to serve as successor Trustee. In the event he shall be unable or unwilling to serve as Trustee, KEVIN WAYNE WALLACE AND DEBRA LOUISE CURINGTON, or the survivor of them, are hereby nominated, designated and appointed to serve as successor Co-Trustees.

According to the appellees. Eda became the sole trustee when Dewey died. When Eda died.

Geary ‘Wallace became the sole trustee as provided for in the Trust. (Ieary declined to serve as

trustee, so Kevin and Curington became co-trustees.

Woodham argues there is no evidence that Eda designated a successor co-trustee during her

lifetime: she was therefore sole trustee. She argues that the Trust contradicts itself by stating that

a vacancy in the trusteeship of the co-trustees “shall be filled through the appointment of Executor

Geary to serve as successor co-trustee,” and this provision “extinguish[edj Eda as the sole Trustee.”

Woodharn then argues that because this language is vague, “one cannot ascertain how the trusteeship

would pass to Appellees IKevini and Curington who are claiming to be the current co-trustees.”

—9— \Ve must interpret the Trust to enact the rantors intent. Ekcls. I I I S.3d at 6)4. I lere. both

the mtent of the grantors and language ol the Trust are clear. The [rust shows the grantors intent

that Geary was to serve as trustee in the event a trustee failed to designate a successor trustee, and

Kevin and Curington were to become co-trustees if Geary could not serve or retused to serve. l3oth

Woodham and appellees agree there is no evidence Eda designated a successor trustee or cotrustee.

(iearv therefore was designated as trustee. Geary refused to serve, so Kevin and (‘urington were

appointed cotrustees. The current trustee arrangement is in accord with both the language 01: the

Trust agreement and the grantors’ intent. We overrule Woodham’s third issue regarding the

trusteeship.

Having ovelTuled Woodhams first and third issues concerning the Trust, we need not

address her second, fourth, and fifth issues regarding the use of a contingent testamentary trust as

an option to maintain a valid trust or the use of extrinsic evidence to determine the intent of the

grantors. See Tizx. R. APP. P. 17.1.

flu’ Last Will and Testament (.)f Dewey K. Wallace

Woodham asks in her sixth issue that we construe Dewey’s Will, which was signed the same

day the Trust was first established. Specifically, she argues the trial court erred by using partnership

law to determine that a lake house in the name of “Dallas Whirlpools, LTD” was owned by the

partnership, not Dewey. She contends that Dewey expressed his intent in the Will to convey that

house to Eda, which would result in the house being part of the inventory, appraisement. and list of

claims in the probate court.

Dewey’s Will provided that all of his estate not otherwise provided for was bequeathed to

the Trust. Regarding his residences, the Will provided:

—10— I give, devise, and bequeath to my wife, if she shall survive me, for her own use in fee simple, all my right, title and interest in and to any residences which we shall own at my death and in which we shall then customarily reside all or any part of the year.

Dewey and Fda used two houses: a residence in McKinney, Texas, which was owned by

Dewey and Fda with the deed in their name, and a lake house and surrounding property on Lake

Texoina in Kingston, Oklahoma with a deed in the name of Dallas Whirlpools, LTD. Dallas

Whirlpools is a limited partnership with Dewey and Eda as its only general and limited partners.

Based on the Will’s express language and the deed for the McKinney house, Dewey’s ownership in

that house was bequeathed to Eda, Conversely, the lake house was owned by the partnership and

could not be bequeathed outright to Eda under the Will,

Woodham argues that it was Dewey’s intent to convey the lake house to Eda as evidenced

by the fact that Dewey and Eda were the only owners of Dallas Whirlpools. In construing the Will,

we apply the same rules of construction used for trusts, In re Ray Ellison Grandchildren Trust, 261

S.W.3d 111, 117 (Tex. App.—San Antonio 2008, pet. denied). We must determine the intent of the

maker as evidenced in the four corners of the document. Eckels, lii S.W.3d at 694. The language

of the Will is unambigous—Dewey conveyed to Eda “all [his I right, title and interest in and to any

residences which Itheyl shall own at [hisj death and in which [theyl shall then customarily reside

all or any part of the year. . . .“ It is undisputed that Dallas Whirlpools held the deed for the lake

house. Dallas Whirlpools was a limited partnership, and partnership property is owned by the

partnership itself, not by the individual partners. Marshall r. Marshall, 735 S.W.2d 587, 594 (Tex.

App.—Dallas 1987, writ ref’d n.r.c.). Dewey and Eda therefore did not own the lake house when

Dewey died. Dewey could only convey property that he owned. Accordingly, we cannot construe

the Will as conveying the partnership property. Woodham’s sixth issue is overruled.

—11— Woodhams seventh issue is a conclusory request that we render judgment in her lavor.

Having overruled her issues, we deny that request and affirm the trial court’s ruling.

JUSTICE

11112lF.P05

—12— Qtnurt of Aprah ftt! tIitrirt of ixzt nt Oa11u5 JUDGMENT DENISE W0( )DI4MvI, Appellant Appeal from the Probate Court of Collin County, Texas. (Tr.CtNo. P8-001-949-06). No. 05-1 1-01 121-C\J V. Opinion delivered by Justice Murphy, Justice Francis participating. GEARY WALLACE. ESTATE OF 1)1 WE K \\ \I I A( I KL’ IN WAL L\( I DI 13R\ ( LRI\J ION I S I A I F 01 1 DA P \VALLAc I Ml( HALL 1ALOR INDFPENDENF LXECUI OR OF FHL I S FA FE 01 EDA P WALLACI i)ALLAS \VHIRLPOOI S, LI L) \\IF RICA \ \‘v1IIRLPO()L S INC 1 U.S. WHIRLPOOLS, INC., Appcllees

in accordance with this Court’s opinion of this date, the judgment of the trial court is AFFIRMED. It is ORDERED that appellec Geary Wallace, Estate of Dewey K. Wallace, Kevin Wallace, Debra Curington, Estate of Eda P. Wallace, Michael Taylor, Independent Executor of the Estate of Eda P. Wallace, Dallas Whirlpools, LT[), American Whirlpools, inc., U.S. Whirlpools, inc. recover their costs of this appeal from appellant.

Judgment entered January 2, 2013.

/7

MARY MkiRPHY / 71 JUSTICE