Blackenburg v. Jordan
Blackenburg v. Jordan
Opinion of the Court
— This is a bill in equity to secure a decree construing a will. The will is simple and easy of comprehension, and had been correctly construed by the probate court in its decree of final distribution more than eight years before the commencement of this action. The appeal, and even the case itself, is so destitute of merit, that we do not feel justified in devoting much space to its discussion, though we have devoted some time to its examination. John Berghauser and Margarethe Berghauser were husband and wife. The wife
Such a claim seems to us to be entirely without foundation. From the date of the entry and recording of that decree of divorce John Berghauser never had any power of testamentary or other disposition of this one-third interest in that property. It had passed out of him forever, with no chance of its ever coming back, except it might have been by purchase or descent, and of that there is no pretense in the case. Even the management and control which was accorded to him was a personal trust, which he could neither transfer nor perpetuate. There is nothing in the will to indicate that he attempted or intended to make testamentary disposition thereof, or to create any testamentary trust over the property. The probate court so understood it, and distributed the estate accordingly. If the trustees ever had any control over this one-third interest, it was by the permission or agreement of Mrs. Berghauser, and
Judgment and order affirmed.
Works, J., and Paterson, J., concurred.
Hearing in Bank denied.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- THEODORE BLANCKENBURG v. JOHN C. JORDAN
- Cited By
- 3 cases
- Status
- Published
- Syllabus
- Divorce —• Division of Property — Tenancy in Common — Management of Wife’s Interest by Husband—-Personal Trust.—When it is agreed and decreed in a divorce suit that the husband, who remains the owner as tenant in common with the wife of the undivided two thirds of certain real property, one third of which is set apart to the wife, shall manage the property, and pay one third of the net income thereof to the divorced wife in monthly payments, such management is a personal trust, which the divorced husband can neither transfer nor perpetuate, and which is not subject to his testamentary disposition. Id. —Construction of Will —Compensation of Trustee.—When the divorced husband makes testamentary disposition of his own interest in the property, so held in common and managed by him, and appoints his executors as trustees to manage and control the property devised, and the trustees continue to manage the entire property held in common, and to make monthly payments to the divorced wife, the trustees have no control over her one-third interest by virtue of any power under the will, and are entitled to no compensation, commissions, or fees, under the will, for their management and care of such one-third interest.