Rodrigue's Appeal
Rodrigue's Appeal
Opinion of the Court
We think it clear, upon all the authorities, that the trust created by the codicil to the will of the testator was passive, and that the appellant was entitled to an absolute conveyance of the trust estate.
The devise contained in the will was, in terms, of a fee simple estate in the realty and an absolute estate in the personalty. By the codicil, the devise is also expressly in fee to the trustees. But the trustees have no functions except merely to apply all the proceeds and profits of the estate to the personal use of the appellant as she might require them. There is no limitation over of either the income or principal of the estate to any person. There are no other estates or interests to be preserved. It is not a spendthrift trust. It was not a trust for protection during coverture, as the appellant was a widow, and not in contemplation of marriage.
No ultimate purpose of any kind requiring the continuance of the trust is expressed in the will, or can be implied from its terms, except the mere payment of the income to the cestui que trust. It would be an affectation of learning to engage in a protracted discussion of the subject, or of the numerous cases in which it has been illustrated. A mere reference tp a few of them will suffice. Dodson v. Ball, 60 Pa. 492; Ogden’s Appeal, 70 Pa. 501; Tucker’s Appeal, 75 Pa. 354.
The fact that the appellant has died since the present appeal was taken still further indicates the necessity for a decree terminal ing the trust. It can no longer be continued except upon the theory that it is to be held in perpetuity, which, of course, is inadmissible.
The decree of the court below is reversed, at the cost of the appellee, and the record is remitted, with direction that a decree be entered for a conveyance of the estate to the persons entitled thereto. H. J. L.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- Rodrigue's Appeal. [Bellas's Estate.]
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- 1 case
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- A testator, by bis will, devised and bequeathed, inter alia, the residue of his real and personal estate to his three daughters, in fee, as tenants in common, share and share alike, with power of sale in the executors. By a codicil, he devised in fee to trustees all the real and personal property to which one of his daughters would be entitled under the will, requiring that the trustees “ apply all the proceeds and profits thereof to her personal use and support and benefit from time to time as she may have need and require when by her demanded in writing for herself and her children, but not to be applied or used otherwise.” The daughter was a widow, and not in contemplation of marriage. A bill was brought to declare the trust a dry trust and for a reconveyance. The daughter died pending the proceedings and her heirs were substituted. Held that a decree for a conveyance should be entered. It seems that such a trust was passive and that the cestui que trust was entitled to a conveyance in her lifetime.