Scott v. Kramer
Scott v. Kramer
Opinion of the Court
This is a petition in error to reverse the judgment of the district court of Butler county. The question for ■ determination arises upon demurrer to the original petition, and wholly depends upon the effect to be given the eighth item of the will. By that item, the testator provided, that should his son William feel unwilling to accept the provision made for him, and pay the legacies and amounts enjoined upon him as a condition of its acceptance, the will should be void, and all his estate, both personal and real, distributed as if he had died intestate. It is contended by the defendant in error, that the legal effect of this item whether William accepted the provision made for him with its conditions and obligations, or not, is to defeat and disappoint' the intention of the testator, and render his will inoperative and yoid. The argument urged in support of the claim is, that the language of the item makes the assent or acceptance of William a condition precedent to the vesting of the estate, and, therefore, inasmuch as the will was not to take .effect unless and until he accepted the provision made for him, it can not be said to be the will of -Richard Scott.; that a sound public ■policy will not permit a wall to be dependent for its operative force or effect upon the discretion or election of another. The object of the original action was to secure a decree in
It is, however, claimed, and the proposition is not without force, that the effect of the direction to adopt the statutory distribution of the estate prescribed for intestate property, in ease William rejected the provision made for him, was
In Wigram on Wills, 271, the author says: “Any consideration exacted from a beneficiary, or any duty imposed on him,.unless it spreads over a very unusual period of time, is a condition precedent.”. So, “a condition to be performed by one, may be imposed as a limitation upon a devise or bequest to another.” Ib.
In Woodcock v. Woodcock, Cro. El. 795, a devise to A. in remainder, upon such equivalent as the executors might determine, was held valid. Where an estate was devised to B., to take effect only on condition that A. died unmarried, it was held that B.’s estate did not vest during the life of A., as the condition might be determined affirmatively or negatively any time during that period; but, though
In the present case it was manifestly the intention of the testator that the title to the legacies should vest in the legatees, and that the estate generally should vest upon the acceptance by William of the provision created for him; .and we know of no rule of law that requires us to defeat and disappoint, by construction, the intention thus declared. It is said to be against a sound public policy to permit a testamentary disposition of property depending for its effect upon the discretion, judgment, or will of another. But .such dispositions have been made and sanctioned from time immemorial. Had the testator devised his real estate to William, to be sold, and divided among the defendants, or any other class of persons, in such portions as William, .should appoint, there is no doubt that such disposition would be valid. 2 Eearne on Remainders, 193; 1 Roper on Legacies, 541, et seq.; 2 Wash, on Real Prop. 594; 1 Perry on Trusts, §§ 507, 508.
A policy, which would deny the power or right to devise an estate, not to vest unless one of the devisees accepted the portion devised to him,-would also forbid a bequest or devise to such only as a third person might nominate or appoint.
2. There is another ground of objection equally decisive of the case, and fatal to the judgment of the district court. If the will, as contended, is void by reason of the power in William to defeat its operation, it gave nothing to the •devisees or legatees. In such case no rights could be acquired under its provisions which would form any obstacle to complete relief at law. There was no possession by the plaintiffs below, and hence no title to be quieted nor cloud to be removed. The very fact that the will is void excludes the necessity of resorting to equity. If void in equity, it is void at law. The law, ordinarily, is fully adequate to give all necessary relief to guard against injury resulting from an instrument of writing, void on its face. If AYill
Judgment reversed, demurrer sustained, and petition dismissed.
Case-law data current through December 31, 2025. Source: CourtListener bulk data.