Ferguson v. Winchester Trust Co.

267 Mass. 397 | Mass. | 1929

Sanderson, J.

This is a suit by the trustee in bankruptcy of William H. Edwards to have declared void a conveyance by William H. Edwards of a two-thirds interest in the estate of his mother, Rhoda Edwards, to Alfred J. Edwards, his father, and to have that interest adjudged to be a part of the estate of the bankrupt. The contentions of the defendant Alfred J. Edwards are that the real and personal property standing in his wife’s name at the time of her decease was impressed with a trust for their joint benefit. Mrs. Edwards died intestate in September, 1926, and her husband was appointed administrator of her estate. On December 1,1926, William H. Edwards, the only child of his parents, conveyed to his father his interest in the real estate in question and also transferred to him any interest he had in the personal property consisting of money in banks. On March 31,1927, William H. Edwards filed a voluntary petition in bankruptcy, and on the same date was adjudicated a bankrupt. His parents when they were married more than forty years ago were not possessed of any considerable property. Alfred J. Edwards turned over to his wife all his earnings, which she deposited in the bank in her own name and disbursed from time to time for their joint support and for the expenses of the household. The real estate was purchased in part with funds turned over by Alfred J. Edwards to his wife and in part with money borrowed by him. The purchases were negotiated by him, although the property in each case was conveyed to his wife. She never earned any money and made no contribution to the common fund. It was understood between the husband and wife that the property, both real and personal, was “a joint account,” and that the survivor should receive everything that was left until he or she “was through with it, and then if there was anything left” it was to be equally divided among the children. This understanding was known to their son, and his purpose in conveying and transferring his interest in the real and personal property to his father was to give effect to such understanding. The judge who heard the case found that the sums of money from time to time given by Alfred J. Edwards to his wife were not gifts or advancements to her but were turned over to her for their mutual benefit, and ruled that, in respect of such funds and of the real estate referred to, a trust was created for their joint benefit, and that upon the decease of his wife the trust property belonged to Alfred J. Edwards. At the time of the conveyances and transfers William H. Edwards knew of his insolvent condition. There was no evidence that Alfred J. Edwards then knew or had reasonable cause to believe that the son was insolvent, and the judge stated that for that reason he did not find such knowledge or cause to believe on the father’s part. He declined to find that William H. Edwards intended to hinder, delay or defraud his creditors by making the assignments and conveyances referred to. A final decree dismissing the bill with costs was entered.

Upon the facts found there was no resulting trust in Alfred J. Edwards, the property having been placed in his wife’s name in part for her own benefit. Pollock v. Pollock, 223 Mass. 382. Sigel v. Sigel, 238 Mass. 587. The trust relied upon by him was an expressed trust not in writing. Such a trust would be unenforceable because of the statute of frauds. That statute does not require that a trust in land be created by deed but only that it be manifested or proved by writing. Urann v. Coates, 109 Mass. 581, 585. A conveyance of property to carry out the terms of an oral trust in land is upon a consideration which the law recognizes. It is the performance of an equitable obligation which the court so far as possible will protect. Hutchins v. Mead, 220 Mass. 348, 349. Liberty Trust Co. v. Hayes, 244 Mass. 251. When such conveyance has been made it will be valid against creditors of the grantor unless the facts are such as to give rise to the doctrine of estoppel. Briggs v. Sanford, 219 Mass. 572, 575. Hutchins v. Mead, supra. When the trust has been executed “it is not necessary to inquire whether it might have been enforced.” Hutchins v. Mead, supra.

The statute of frauds cannot be invoked to defeat an estate conveyed. Bailey v. Wood, 211 Mass. 37. In the case last cited there was a definite understanding and agreement between the deceased and her brother that she should not make a will, but should allow her property to pass by descent to him to be by him distributed to his wife and children. She refrained from making a will in reliance upon his promise to make distribution as requested. After her death her brother, then being insolvent, in performance of what he considered to be his duty and obligation, distributed the whole estate to his wife and children, transferring certain mortgages on real estate to his daughter as part of her share. The court held that when an oral trust has been fully executed it may be proved by oral evidence even if it concerns land, and that the distribution and transfers made in execution of a valid trust withdrew from creditors of the brother no property to which his trustee in bankruptcy was entitled. The court said at page 42: "The intention of the parties, that when received the property was to be disposed of in a particular way and for the sole benefit of those who had been designated as beneficiaries, being manifest, no precise form of words was necessary to create a trust.”

The fact that husband and wife cannot make a valid contract with each other does not require the court to set aside conveyances made to carry out the understanding between them as to the title to property held by the wife for their joint account. The question whether a trust could or could not have been enforced by the husband is not a controlling consideration. Bancroft v. Curtis, 108 Mass. 47, 49. “Equity will not undertake ordinarily to set aside a real trust binding upon the conscience of the trustee and by him carried into effect.” Briggs v. Sanford, supra. Hutchins v. Mead, supra. The facts in this case distinguish it from English v. English, 229 Mass. 11.

The trust found to exist in the case at bar was not in violation of the statute of wills. See Bailey v. Wood, supra. The complete legal title to the property was in Mrs. Edwards, and there is nothing to show that it was the understanding of herself and husband that the arrangement between them was intended to be testamentary in character or that the purpose was to evade the statute of wills. Stone v. Hackett, 12 Gray, 227. Jones v. Old Colony Trust Co. 251 Mass. 309. We interpret the findings to mean that throughout the married fife of the parties whenever earnings of the husband were placed in the hands of the wife they were received with the understanding that they were then impressed with the trust obligation. The son took such title as he had subject to an unenforceable oral trust; he made the conveyances and transfers to give effect to the understanding of the parties and in recognition of his father’s equitable right; the title thereby gained by his father was upon a consideration which is recognized by the law and cannot be disturbed in these proceedings.

Decree affirmed with costs.