In Re Estate of Jackman
In Re Estate of Jackman
Opinion of the Court
This is an- application in probate to determine the assets properly includable in the estate of Sadie F. Jackman, deceased, and to direct the disposition of assets not includable. The application brought by the executiix in probate is reviewable on errors and not de novo. In re Estate of Rahfeldt, 253 Iowa 432, 112 N.W.2d 858; and In re Estate of Shivvers, 240 Iowa 93, 100, 34 N.W.2d 632.
The contest is 'between appellant, Emmett C. Jackman, a stepson of decedent, 'Sadie F. Jackman, claiming as a remainder-man under the will of P. C. Jackman, deceased, and appellee, St. Thomas Church, residuary beneficiary under the will of decedent, Sadie F. Jackman, a life tenant under P. C. Jackman’s will. The trial court held Emmett C. Jackman was estopped from claiming the unidentified assets in the hands of the executrix, that Sadie F. Jackman found it necessary to use some of the funds derived from the sale of bank stock for her personal needs and identifiable funds, certificates of deposit, held in the name of the P. C. Jackman estate in the sum of $4649.10', constituted the remainder interest, such were the property of appellant and all other assets listed in the application were assets of the Sadie F. Jackman estate. There is sufficient evidence to sustain the trial court on the issue of estoppel, and as to the identifiable property in the hands of the executrix, except as to one certificate of deposit in the sum of $1000 held by decedent, Sadie F. Jackman, at the time the P. C. Jackman estate was closed and which she cashed on September 26, 1958, when the record shows as a matter of law she had ample funds on hand for her necessary care and support.
P. C. Jackman died March 1, 1953. In Item Two of his will he left his widow, Sadie F. Jackman, a life estate in all his property, and provided:
“# * # Said provision is made for my said wife, for her lifetime, in order that she may be properly eared for, and that she may have the care and support that she deserves. The entire*414 income from my said property is to be hers, to use as she may need, or see fit, and, in the event that the income-from said life estate is insufficient to properly care for her, then, my executors hereinafter named and appointed, are directed to sell or mortgage necessary portions of my said property, as may be required to carry out the terms and provisions of this bequest and direction.”
Emmett C. Jackman, son of P. C. Jackman, was given the, remainder interest in 120 acres of land and in capital stock of the Iowa Trust & Savings Bank of Emmetsburg, Iowa. A stepson, James W. Fay (son of Sadie F. Jackman), was given the remainder interest in 80 acres of land and stock in a hotel company (this hotel stock does not appear in estate proceedings of the P. C. Jackman estate). Item Eight of the will directed all taxes levied against the estate either by the Federal or State Government be paid from the residuary part thereof. Item Nine provided:
“At the termination of the life estate created in Item Two hereof, I direct that all funds and monies held by my Executors, or their successor or successors in office, shall be divided as follows: Two-Thirds (2-3rds) to my son, Emmett C. Jackman of Estherville, Iowa, and One-Third (l/3rd) to my. stepson, James W. Fay of Emmetsburg, Iowa.”
In Item Ten Sadie F. Jackman and Emmett C. Jackman were nominated executors without bond. Emmett .C. Jackman and James W. Fay were directed to manage and operate the real estate. It was directed that James W. Fay be attorney for the executors. All were to serve without compensation.
I. The will gives the widow a life estate., The income was hers to use as she may need or see fit. In other words it was hers absolutely. The executors were given the power and duty to invade the corpus of the estate, they could sell or mortgage such as may be required when the income was insufficient to properly care for the widow. The bequests of capital stock subject to the life estate were specific bequests, the devises of real estate subject to the life estate were specific, devises. The direction in Item Eight to pay taxes from the residue of the estate would properly include Iowa inheritance taxes, though
Item Nine must be construed as a residuary clause. This is compelled by Item Eight. See Moore v. McKinley, 246 Iowa 734, 756, 757, 69 N.W.2d 73, 86, 87. And avoids partial intestacy, Starr v. Newman, 225 Iowa 901, 905, 281 N.W. 830. The only property to be divided under the provisions of Item Nine is that not specifically devised or bequeathed.
From Items Two and Nine it is clear the testator intended the nominated executors or their successors to hold the property of the estate for the benefit of the widow during her lifetime. As bearing on the above interpretation of the will, see Tague v. Tague, 248 Iowa 1258, 85 N.W.2d 22; Watkins v. Dean, 243 Iowa 599, 52 N.W.2d 498; Lovrien v. Fitzgerald, 242 Iowa 1258, 49 N.W.2d 845; and In re Estate of Whitman, 221 Iowa 1114, 266 N.W. 28.
II. After P. C. Jackman’s death March 1, 1953, Sadie F. Jackman and appellant qualified as executors on April 6, 1953. On March 1, 1953, P. C. Jackman’s checking account showed a balance of $2732.05. On the date the executors qualified, Sadie F. Jackman transferred the then balance of the account of $1355.98 to her personal account. Of the checks charged to the account between the date of P. C. Jackman’s death and this transfer there is only one identifiable, for funeral expenses of $910.56.
The bank stock bequeathed to appellant was subject to a stockholders’ agreement to sell to surviving stockholders. This was done November 3, 1953. The proceeds of the sale, $10,404, were deposited in a checking account in the name of Estate of P. C. Jackman, Sadie F. Jackman and Émmett C. Jackman, executors. Either or both executors were authorized to sign checks. This is the item appellant contends should be paid to him in full as remainderman. He'also asks for an accounting under Item Nine.
In speaking of this estate appellant testified, “* * * 1 did not write any checks as an executor nor did I transact any business of any kind. * * The receipt of the State Tax Commission, dated November 12, 1957, is in the file showing payment of the inheritance taxes. A deposit slip shows Mrs. Jackman received $2586.27 from the Fay estate November 26, 1957. There is a check charged to Mrs. Jackman’s personal account on November 16, 1957, for the exact amount of the
III. In her application the executrix showed the following assets in her hands, two certificates of deposit totaling $12,000 issued to Sadie F. Jackman, two certificates of deposit totaling $4649.10 in the name of the P. C. Jackman estate, $1437.56 in Mrs. Jackman’s cheeking account, and $158.77 in checks payable to her, a total of $18,245.43. The only witnesses in the trial court were Ruth Ciasen, executrix, a vice president of the Iowa Trust and Savings Bank of Emmetsburg, Iowa, and appellant. The bank records of P. C. Jackman’s personal account; Mrs. Jackman’s personal checking account, the account above referred to in the name of the P. C. Jackman estate, bank deposit book and the signature card for this account, the deposit slips and a resumé thereof in Mrs. Jackman’s account, a list showing the history of all pertinent certificates of deposits, Mrs. Jackman’s canceled checks for the years 1958, 1959 and 1960, and the estate files were introduced in evidence. No canceled checks other than those of Mrs. Jackman were located or placed in evidence.
From appellant’s testimony it is clear he allowed his step
“* * * I left everything to my stepmother.' I did not write checks on the account. * * * I- made no complaint during my stepmother’s lifetime. I had nothing to complain about. I had to get along. I offered to help on several occasions but my help was refused.”
IV. Appellant contends for reversal there could be no estoppel because the life tenant, Mrs-. Jackman, was in no way misled to her prejudice that there was no fraudulent-conduct- or fraudulent result; in fact all the elements of estoppel-are present to estop the executrix and beneficiaries of Mrs. Jackman.
Appellee contends the funds must be traceable into- the funds.of the -life tenant on hand at the time of death before such can be set off to the remainderman; the closing of the estate is a finality; a eoexecutor is bound by the acts of his coexecutor, that he cannot avoid responsibility; and where one stands.by and sees another about to commit, or in the course of committing, an act infringing-on his rights and fails to assert his title' or right, he is afterward estopped to assert it. - It also points out a discharged executor.no longer has- any right to a fund turned over to a life tenant,
A portion of this case -asked for by appellant and not con
There is the additional item of a $1500 mortgage, as shown by the inventory in the P. C. Jackman estate, on the 80-acre tract, the remainder interest of which was given to James W. Fay. In the Fay estate this 80 acres was inventoried as having no mortgage. Apparently somebody paid this mortgage. It was not appellant. It should be remembered in this regard that the inventories in the two estates, P. C. Jackman and James W. Fay, were both signed by the appellant on the same day, February 5, 1957. It is obvious there were not sufficient funds left from the general assets to pay this mortgage. There is a $1500 cheek charged against the account opened in the name of the P. C. Jackman estate on November 18, 1953. The witnesses were unable to identify this charge in any manner. However, we think the evidence, taken as a whole, as to the general assets and the payment of the mortgage, is sufficient to sustain the finding of estoppel against appellant as far as handling these items is concerned.
It is the duty of an executor to responsibly know the business of the estate. Though appellant disclaims all knowl
The applicable rule of estoppel as to the accounting is stated in Chirurg v. Ames, 138 Iowa 697, 116 N.W. 865. We there said, at page 707 of 138 Iowa, page 868 of 116 N.W.:
“We do not intend to modify in any respect the duties ordinarily owing by a trustee to his cestui que trust. Absolute good faith and a strict accounting is ordinarily required. But where the cestui is of full age, and induces the very conduct of which he complains, is satisfied with the methods adopted while they are progressing, interferes himself with the duties of the trustee, and keeps part of the accounts himself, no such strictness is required as in the ordinary case. We cannot hope to have made an absolutely accurate accounting. That would be impossible under the record before us. Neither a referee nor a master, no matter what his knowledge or experience, could hope to do more than reach approximate results. That we have done to the best of our ability. It appears, too, that an auditor went over defendant’s accounts and made a statement, which is in the record. The trial court also went over them, and found nothing due the plaintiff. We have again gone over them, and, while we find the errors heretofore indicated, they are not such as to change the general result. We find nothing of which plaintiff may justly complain.”
The applicable rule of estoppel as to appellant’s actions in general in relation to the estate matters including the accounting now possible is not a technical estoppel. It is variously designated as concurrence, acquiescence, confirmation, ratification and estoppel and is a part of equity jurisprudence. It arises when a competent beneficiary with full knowledge of the
In this case it is not necessary to show Mrs. Jackman would have made an accurate accounting upon closing of the P. C. Jackman estate if it had not been for appellant’s approval of the method pursued. He could have required a full accounting.
V. When the bank stock was sold as above noted, appellant joined with his stepmother, a lady then in her 80’s, in placing the funds in an estate account on which either of them could draw checks. He then left her to handle the estate business and invest the funds. The act of placing this money in a checking account was wholly inconsistent with investing all of that amount to produce an income for the life tenant and secure the remainder for appellant. This is enough to sustain a finding, necessarily included in the trial court’s decision, that some expenditures were contemplated other than investing the fund.
$9800 of this $10,404 was checked out in five checks. One for $1500 has been discussed and what has been said about this account in general is applicable to the payment of the mortgage. Also as having a bearing not only on the mortgage but other estate expenses if any, it should be noted the bank stock was a special bequest subject to abate ratably with specifically devised realty for the payment of debts after the general assets are exhausted. Nolte v. Nolte, 247 Iowa 868, 881, 76 N.W.2d 881, 56 A. L. R.2d 854.
Two of the checks were in amounts of $1000 each. According to appellant’s testimony he received one of them and his stepbrother, James W. Fay, the other. At the time Mrs. Jack-man gave him his check she told him Mr. Fay had just saved the estate $2000 in taxes, and that she thought it would be nice to divide it between the two boys. As to his own check, certainly appellant cannot receive that money again. That would bring
The life tenant purchased certificates of deposit with the $5000 check. And part thereof is directly traceable in the hands of her executrix in the form of Certificate of Deposit No. 9161 in the sum of $3323.10' awarded by the trial court to appellant, likewise the check for $1300 deposited in Mrs. Jackman’s personal account on July 25, 1955. The evidence shows she purchased a certificate of deposit on June 9, 1956, with a check drawn on her own account. This is traceable to Certificate of Deposit No. 8608 also awarded to appellant. This leaves $604 of the proceeds of the bank stock unaccounted for. As to this amount as well as the excess of general assets we think appellant is now estopped to complain. He required no accounting when the estate was closed when it would have been far easier to make an accurate accounting than now. He makes no attempt to excuse his failure at that time on the grounds he was prevented, merely that he had nothing to complain about. The theory of estoppel expressed in Chirurg v. Ames, supra, 138 Iowa 697, 116 N.W. 865, is applicable.
The fraudulent result necessary to estoppel, Ames Trust and Savings Bank v. Reichardt, 254 Iowa 1272, 121 N.W.2d 200, 202, is requiring one to pay a second time an item previously paid where it cannot be determined the previous payment was improper.
VI. When the P. C. Jackman estate was closed in December 1957, Mrs. Jackman did have in her possession and control an additional Certificate of Deposit No. 7341 as originally purchased for $1000, No. 8114 when cashed. This one had
The good faith of the life tenant is subject to judicial review. In re Estate of Rorem, 245 Iowa 1125, 1138, 66 N.W.2d 292, 47 A. L. R.2d 1089; Lovrien v. Fitzgerald, 242 Iowa 1258, 49 NW.2d 845; and Watkins v. Dean, 243 Iowa 599, 52 NW.2d 498. As bearing on the correctness of the determination the certificate of deposit was not used for necessary care and support, see Lovrien v. Fitzgerald, supra, at page 1268 of 242 Iowa, at page 850 of 49 NW.2d. The funds in the hands of the executrix of the life tenant were augmented to the extent of $1000 so used by the life tenant. It is not necessary to trace the money into any specific fund or account but is sufficient to show the fund on hand has been augmented to that extent. District Township of Eureka v. Farmers’ Bank of Fontanelle, 88 Iowa 194, 201, 55 N.W. 342.
Of the five $1000 certificates of deposit purchased by the
By way of recapitulation, the record shows Mrs. Jackman had in her hands in general assets $2732.05, in proceeds of the bank stock $10,404. That she paid proper charges in the P. C. Jackman estate, funeral expenses $910.56, attorney $835.50, and inheritance taxes $478.67, or a total of $2224.73. Court costs are not included in this total. In some maimer the $1500 mortgage was paid. This is to appellant’s benefit, he now has the 80 acres free of the mortgage. The inheritance tax in the Fay estate was paid by Mrs. Jackman in the sum of $1107.05. And as to the $1000 checks given to appellant and his stepbrother he is clearly estopped.
At the time the P. C. Jackman estate was closed in December 1957 the record shows Mrs. Jackman had received $13,136.05 from the P. C. Jackman general assets and the sale of the bank stock. She made proper expenditures of $2224.82. She had paid out $4607.05 as to which appellant is clearly estopped, and had on hand certificates of deposit for which she had paid $5300. The balance is $1004.18. Without question the court costs are properly deductible from this amount; likewise any outstanding taxes or debts owed by decedent, P. C. Jack-man, on the date of his death. Until the estate was closed Mrs. Jackman and appellant had equal duty to account as coexecutors. Sections 638.2, 638.3 and 638.4, Codes of Iowa, 1946, 1954, 1958, 1962. They are considered as one. Section 638.22. If a proper accounting had been made it could be determined whether or not any of the apparent balance should in fact be held by Mrs. Jackman as a life tenant. Appellant as an executor who joined in the final report cannot be heard to say he did
The practice of closing estates without an accounting is disapproved.
The life tenant recognized the remainder interest to the extent of the certificates of deposit awarded to appellant by the trial court and in the purchase of the additional one, No. 7341, in the sum of $1000. This last certificate is traceable into the funds held by Mrs. Jackman in that it was used in place of other funds in the hands of the life tenant.
As stated, there is sufficient evidence to sustain the ruling of the trial court in all respects except as to the additional certificate of deposit cashed by the life tenant September 26, 1958. As a matter of law the life tenant did not use this for necessary care and support. No question of law or fact remains to be determined on a retrial. The order of the trial court is modified in part, reversed in part, and remanded with directions to enter an order directing the executrix of the estate of 'Sadie F. Jack-man, deceased, to pay to appellant, Emmett C. Jackman, the proceeds of the Certificates of Deposit Nos. 8608 and 9161 in the sum of $4649.10, together with any interest which may have accrued thereon since the date of decedent’s death, and to pay said Emmett C. Jackman an additional sum of $1000 with interest thereon from the date of decedent’s death at the rate of five percent per annum, within 30' days after the issuance of the procedendo from this court. Costs in this court are taxed to the estate. — Modified in part, reversed in part, and remanded with directions.
Dissenting Opinion
(dissenting) — I feel compelled to dissent from the majority opinion.
The opinion states it is the duty of an executor to know the business of the estate. I agree with this statement but I do not consider the fund of $10,404 derived from the sale of stock an estate matter. It was placed in the hands of the life tenant who was entitled to the income for life. It is the responsibility of the life tenant to account for funds entrusted to her. Heintz v. Parsons, 233 Iowa 984, 9 N.W.2d 355; 31 C. J. S., Estates, section 33, page 42.
The majority opinion is based upon the doctrine of estoppel. Estoppel is founded upon the idea that one who has taken a certain position or made a certain representation should not thereafter be permitted to change his position to the prejudice of one who has relied thereon. Riggs v. Meka, 236 Iowa 118, 17 N.W.2d 101; Ames Trust and Savings Bank v. Reichardt, 254 Iowa 1272, 121 N.W.2d 200. There is no proof the remainderman did anything which would make the life tenant believe she could use these funds as she desired, or commingle them with her own and escape the responsibility of accounting for the funds entrusted to her. In my opinion none of the elements of estoppel is present. All remainderman did was to let the life tenant handle the funds, which she had a right to do under the will.
The majority relies upon the ease of Chirurg v. Ames, 138 Iowa 697, 707, 116 N.W. 865. The facts are not similar to the case at bar. In that case the expenses were largely for the benefit of the cestui que trust and were incurred at her insistence. The funds were not used by trustee for her own benefit. She was of full age at the time. She then demanded a strict accounting which the trustee was not in a position to make. The court said:
There is no evidence in this case remainderman in his capacity as coexecutor or remainderman led the life tenant to believe she could convert these funds to her own use. Nor is any prejudice to the estate of the life tenant shown had there been such conduct.
Even accepting the court’s theory that the fraudulent result necessary to estoppel is requiring one to pay a second time an item previously paid where it eannot be determined the previous payment was improper. The only items which could possibly come within this requirement would be the $1000 paid to re-mainderman out of “taxes saved” and the inheritance tax on the inheritance from his stepbrother in the amount of $1107.05. This is all that the evidence shows could ever have been received by the remainderman. The land upon which the $1500 mortgage payment was made was land given to the stepbrother. Although remainderman later received it through the stepbrother’s will, there was no certainty it would go to him when the life tenant made payment.
In my opinion the majority opinion places a heavy burden upon the remainderman to make sure his fund in the hands of a
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