Bank of America v. Bunnell
Bank of America v. Bunnell
Opinion of the Court
This is an appeal by Marguerite Bunn Bunnell, administratrix of the estate of Harry C. Bunn, deceased, from that portion of an order which distributed to Bank of America National Trust and Savings Association, as testamentary trustee, the sum of $20,000 for the uses and purposes set forth in the decedent’s last will.
Sally H. Bunn died February 3, 1947, leaving surviving her husband, nephews and nieces, but no lineal descendent, mother or father, sister or brother. The surviving husband died March 12, 1947, and letters of administration upon his estate were issued to appellant. By her will, and codicils executed more than six months prior to her death, Mrs. Bunn disposed of her estate which would remain after her husband’s death, leaving the same to her executors to be “sold and given to a worthy charity,” to be selected by her executors. Appellant filed a petition under section 1080 of the Probate Code for a determination as to who were entitled to distribution of the estate. The surviving husband did not challenge
In the former proceeding the trial court held that no valid trust was created and no valid gift to charity was effected by the will. This judgment was reversed by the Supreme Court (Estate of Bunn, 33 Cal.2d 897 [206 P.2d 635]). Since then there has been a partial distribution of the estate in which $20,000 was distributed to the bank as trustee, the estate not being ready for final distribution.
Upon the former appeal the following points were decided: (1) The bank, as trustee, was a proper party to appeal from the order in the proceeding to determine heirship; (2) a valid charitable trust was created by the will of Mrs. Bunn with the bank as trustee; (3) since the will was executed at least six months prior to Mrs. Bunn’s death the limiting provisions of section 41 of the Probate Code, which restrict charitable bequests to one-third of the estate, may be taken advantage of only by those named in section 43, namely, a surviving spouse, child, grandchild or parent; (4) inasmuch as the surviving spouse did not question the validity or effectiveness of the bequest the same could not be questioned by the administratrix of his estate, or by the collateral heirs who were attempting to do so.
The questions on the present appeal are whether when Mr. Bunn died the right the surviving husband had to assert his rights under sections 41 and 43 of the Probate Code passed to his heirs upon his death, and could be asserted by appellant as administratrix of his estate, and whether that question was answered adversely to appellant on the former appeal. If the answer to the second question is in the affirmative it disposes of both questions and will require an affirmance of the decree. We think it is not open to question that the point was decided. On the former appeal, in addition to the trustee and. the administratrix of Mr. Bunn’s estate, certain legatees
The portions of the order and decree of distribution appealed from are affirmed.
Wood (Parker), J., and Vallée, J., concurred.
Case-law data current through December 31, 2025. Source: CourtListener bulk data.