Bardwell v. Bardwell
Bardwell v. Bardwell
Opinion of the Court
delivered the opinion of the Court. Whether the decree of the judge of probate should be affirmed or not, depends upon the true construction of the will, in regard to the appropriation or disposition of the personal estate ; and we are to look into the various provisions of the will to ascertain the intent of the testator. The question is, whether the one third of the personal estate given to the wife is to be taken before the debts shall have been paid, from the whole personal estate, or whether the debts are to be first deducted. If there were no other disposition by the testator, the whole personal estate would be subject to the payment of the debts. But we think that the testator has made a different appropriation. He gave to his wife one third absolutely, and to his children and others all his personal estate, with certain exceptions and deductions ; viz. from that part was to be deducted what he had given to his wife, and also the amount of his debts. The rest was to be equally divided between them. The words and paying my debts, are indicative of an intention on the part of the testator, that the legatees should take the bequest upon condition that they would apply the amount of the property given to them, in payment of his just debts, so far as it would extend, before they should take any part of it for their own use.
Decree affirmed.
See Briggs v. Hosford, 22 Pick. 288
Reference
- Full Case Name
- Noah Bardwell versus Orange Bardwell
- Cited By
- 1 case
- Status
- Published