Stace v. Bumgardner

89 Va. 418 | Va. | 1892

Lewis, P.,

(after stating the ease,) delivered the opinion of the court.

The decree is in accord with a long line of decisions of this court, beginning with Wallace and Wife v. Dold's Ex'ors, 3 Leigh 258. The single question is as to the validity and effect of the three deeds of trust, and that depends upon the true construction of the deed of settlement.

The appellants contend that there is a difference between the case of a will, where the intention of the testator only is to be considered, and a case, like the present, of an ante-nuptial coutraet, which gives to several classes of persons—viz., the husband, wife, and children—certain contract rights, founded upon the consideration of marriage, which must be respected and enforced. The argument is that here the father contracts for the support of his wife and children; that the mother contracts for the support and maintenance of herself and children and of her husband and children after her death; and that the children have a vested right to the support and maintenance provided for-them. There is, however, no material difference in principle, in the rules of interpretation, between wills and contracts, except what naturally arises from the different circumstances of the parties. No technical language is necessary to create a trust either by deed or will, and in both classes of cases the object of the judicial expositor is the same—namely, to discover the intention, which is to be gathered in every case from the general purpose and ecope of the instrument, in the light of the surrounding circumstances. 1 Perry, Trusts, §§ 117, 119 ; Colton v. Colton, 127 U. S. 300; Leake v. Benson, 29 Gratt. 153; Bank of Greensboro' v. Chambers, 30 Id. 202, 210.

The validity of the deeds of trusts is denied by the appellants, on the ground that under the deed of settlement a trust is created for the benefit of any child or children that may be born of the marriage, as well in the profits as in the corpus of the trust estate. The case, they contend, is ruled by the decision in Nickell v. Handly, 10 Gratt. 336, in which case there was a devise to a trustee of land and other property for the benefit of Mrs. ITandly, a married woman, for life, with remainder, at her death, to her children ; and the trustee was directed to manage the property in such a way as to be most advantageous to the interest and support of Mrs. Handly and her children. She had five children, and after her husband’s death certain judgments were recovered against her, whereupon a bill was filed to subject her interest in the trust estate to the satisfaction of the judgments. But this court, distinguishing the case from Wallace and Wife v. Dold's Ex'ors, held that her interest was not liable to be thus subjected, on the ground that the testator obviously intended, not that she should take an interest in the property subject to her own disposal, or which could be separated from the interests of her children, without impairing their rights, but that the property should be kept together for the joint benefit of herself and children during her life, and that in no event could anything more than her ratable portion of the surplus of the profits, after providing for the support of the family, be subjected by the plaintiffs.

That case merely illustrates the rule, already mentioned, namely, that in every case, no matter whether arising under a deed or will, the intention must prevail, if not inconsistent with any. rule of law ; and, accordingly, it was held in that case that the mother and her children took joint interests in the profits.

The question, therefore, now to be determined is, "What is the meaning of the instrument in question? Tor we are not to be governed by adjudged cases any further than those cases furnish a rule of interpretation for such instruments.

That the mention of the children in the deed was not intended to confer a present interest in the profits, but merely indicates the motive for Mrs. Stace’s retaining an exclusive interest therein, is, we think, clear. The chief object of the deed evidently was to exclude the marital rights of the husband. The property, moreover, belonged to the intended wife absolutely, and she could therefore do with it as she pleased. The deed accordingly recites that it had been agreed that, notwithstanding the marriage, she was to hold, enjoy, and possess the property, and take the profits, free from the claims of her husband.

Mor is there anything in the declaration of the trusts that restricts her right to the whole profits during her life. On the contrary, the language of the deed, fairly construed, supports the view that no such restriction was intended. Thus, it is again declared that the intended husband is to acquire no marital rights in the property, and that, as trustee, he is to permit the wife, after the marriage, to use, occupy, and enjoy it, and to take the profits, as though she were a feme sole. It is true the words were added, “ for the maintenance of herself and of any children that may be hereafter born to her.” But immediately following is the declaration, that should she survive her husband, then, at his death, shefis to take the property free from all trusts and inoumbranees. Suppose, then, the husband had died the day the child was born. Could it have been contended, in that case, that the latter took an interest of any sort ? Surely not. It is, moreover, made the duty of the trustee to sell the property, in whole or in parcels, whenever she may request it; nor is he authorized to convey it, or any part of it, except by her uniting with him; and the proceeds of any such sale or sales are to be reinvested in such other real estate as she may direct, to be held upon the same trusts; all of which shows, in the light of the context and surrounding circumstances, not only that the primary object of the settlement was to exclude the marital rights of the husband, but that it was not intended to vest in the children a joint interest with the mother.

A brief reference to the analogous cases in this court -will suffice to confirm the correctness of this interpretation.

In Wallace and Wife v. Dold’s Ex’or s certain property was bequeathed to trustees, who were directed to apply the profits to the maintenance and support of the testator’s daughter and her child, and at her death the property to be given to her child, or children, if she should have more than one. This court, upon a construction of the clause of the will in question, compared with the context and general scheme of the will, rejected the theory of a trust for the benefit of the child, and held that the daughter was entitled to the whole profits.

It is obvious that that case was a much stronger one for holding that the child took a present interest in the profits than is the case at bar. There the management of the property, and the duty of applying the profits, were confided to the trustees, whilst here the possession and virtual control of the property, with the right to take the profits, is reserved by the wife.

The case of Stinson v. Day, 1 Rob. Rep. 459, is another strong case of the same class. In that case there was a devise of land to the testator’s married daughter, and the executor was directed to so manage it as that the daughter and her children should have the profits; yet it was held that the daughter was entitled to the whole profits during her life.

In Penn v. Whitehead, 17 Gratt. 503, the use was declared in these words : “ To the separate use and benefit of the said Maria P. Whitehead for and during her natural life, and to remain in her possession, for the support and maintenance of the said Maria P. and her issue and family, and for no other purpose whatever.” In Rhett v. Mason, 18 Gratt. 541, the language was : “ For her [the widow’s] maintenance and support, and for the maintenance and support of our children, during her life and widowhood.” In Leake v. Benson, 29 Gratt. 153, it was: “ In trust for the benefit of my wife and children, giving for my wife an estate for life, and at her death for my children an estate in fee simple.” In Bain & Bro. v. Buff’s Adm’r, 76 Va. 371, it was : “ For the sole and separate use of herself and child or children.” In Atkinson v. McCormick, 76 Va. 791, it was: “For Anna Mariah Bowly and Her issue, free from the control, debts, and liabilities of her husband.” In Mauzy v. Mauzy, 79 Va. 537, it was : “ For the sole and separate use and benefit of Maggie J. Matizy and her children.” In Waller v. Catlett, 83 Va. 200, it was : “ For the sole and separate use and benefit of Nannie Waller and her children.” In Seibel v. Rapp, 85 Va. 28, it was : “ For her support and sustenance of her children.” And in all these cases it was held that the mention of the children merely indicated the motive for the gift or conveyance, without vesting in them a present interest..

It is, moreover, well settled in Virginia, as conceded in the argument, that the Jus disponendi is incident to the equitable separate estate of a married woman, and that she may encumber the estate, either for her own or another’s debts, unless the power to do so is clearly restrained, expressly or impliedly, by the instrument creating the estate. The decisions of this court on the subject are numerous and familiar; and, as there is no such restriction in the instrument in question, it follows that the appellants’ contention, that the deeds of trust in the proceedings mentioned are void, cannot be maintained.

Only one other point need be mentioned. It is stated in the brief of appellants’ counsel that since the decree was rendered Mrs. Stace has died. The fact, however, does not appear from the record; nor can we decide in advance any question that may hereafter arise, when the case goes back to the lower court, that is not now presented by the record. "VYe therefore express no opinion as to whether, at the wife’s death, the husband, if living, becomes entitled to the whole profits during his life, or takes only a joint interest therein with the child, or children, if there be more than one; in other .words, whether that clause in the deed of settlement which provides that in case the husband survive the wife “he shall hold the land for the residue of his life, for the use and support of himself and of any children he may have by the said Mary Going,” is to be interpreted by the same rule that we have just applied in regard to the wife’s interest.

The decree is interlocutory, and directs the land to be rented, but does not in terms direct a renting for a longer period than the life of Mrs. Stace. Its affirmance, therefore, will not preclude the circuit court from dealing with the case, after it shall have been remanded to that court, as the law and any change in the relations of the parties may require.

Decree affirmed.