Fidelity Title & Trust Co. v. Graham
Fidelity Title & Trust Co. v. Graham
Opinion of the Court
Opinion by
This is a case stated in an action of assumpsit to determine the ownership of a fund derived from life insurance. On June 6, 1908, Samuel S. Graham, of Brownsville, Fayette County, executed his last will, by which he gave all his property to plaintiffs as trustees and executors, to manage and collect the income, etc., but
“Witness my hand and seal this Sept. 23, A. D. 1908. “Attest:
“George D. Howell.
“Catherine E. Graham. (Seal)”
Mr. Graham died in March, 1914, leaving the will as above stated. Thereafter Mrs. Graham received $26,-048.96 on account of the life insurance, and therefrom paid testator’s debts, amounting to $1,632, leaving in her hands a net balance of $24,416.96, to recover which this suit was brought. The court below held the declaration of trust revocable and entered judgment for the defendant, from which the trustees (plaintiffs) brought this appeal.
The declaration of trust provides that Mrs. Graham shall turn the insurance money over to the trustees as soon as received, to become a part of her husband’s estate, and it is not testamentary as she thereby makes no disposition of property to take effect after her death, except as provided in his will.
It was not an agreement by her to accept the provisions of the will in lieu of dower, hence, Kreiser’s App., 69 Pa. 194, and Odenwelder’s Est., 1 Pa. Superior Ct. 345, are not applicable.
We have carefully examined the numerous authorities called to our attention, by the industry of the respective counsel, on the question as to whether the declaration of trust was revocable or irrevocable; but in our opinion whatever its character when made, it became irrevocable on the death of Mr. Graham, and good faith requires that it now be given effect.
The assignment of error is sustained, the judgment is reversed and here entered in favor of the plaintiffs and against the defendant for the sum of $24,416.96, with interest from January 1, 1916, in accordance with the terms of the case stated; this judgment to be entered also in the court below and all future proceedings thereon had in said court.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- Fidelity Title & Trust Co. of Pittsburgh, Executors v. Graham
- Cited By
- 11 cases
- Status
- Published
- Syllabus
- Declaration of trust — Bevocabiliiy— Consideration — Husband and wife — Insurance money. 1. Where a wife makes a declaration of trust whereby she agrees to dispose in a designated manner of the proceeds of certain insurance policies owned by her husband and payable to her upon the death of her husband, the trust, although possibly revocable during the lifetime of the husband, becomes irrevocable upon his death. 2. The rule that a contract is voidable as to both parties when voidable as to one, cannot be invoked after that one has fully performed or become definitely liable to perform on his part. 3. Where the insured in certain insurance policies, which were payable to his wife upon his death, gave his estate in trust for the benefit of his wife for her life, and suggested in his will that, upon his death, she would pay his debts and funeral expenses from the proceeds of the insurance policies, and pay over the balance to the trustees under the will for the purposes named therein, and the wife endorsed a declaration of trust on the back of the will whereby she declared that she would turn over the proceeds of the policies to the executors and trustees under the will, to be treated by them as part of her husband’s estate, such declaration became irrevocable upon the death of the husband; and in an action by the trustees against the wife to recover the insurance money judgment should have been entered in favor of the plaintiff. 4. In such case there was sufficient consideration for the deela,- , ration of trust, where the wife was to have a life interest in the entire estate, including the insurance money.