In Re the Inter Vivos Trust of Ritzman
In Re the Inter Vivos Trust of Ritzman
Opinion of the Court
OPINION
Appellant, Dauphin Deposit Bank & Trust Company, serves as trustee of a perpetual charitable trust pursuant to an inter vivos trust agreement entered into by a predecessor of appellant and Allen Z. Ritzman, who was the settlor of the trust. The trust agreement provided life estates for the settlor’s wife and daughter. The agreement further provided that after the death of both life tenants the net income of the trust was to be paid annually in specified percentages to various charities. The agreement contained the following clause concerning the trustee’s compensation:
“The Trustee shall be compensated for its services under this Agreement by receiving or retaining five (5%) per centum of the gross income from the investments in this Trust Fund.”
One life beneficiary died in 1959, and the other in 1963. In 1976 appellant filed its second and partial account. The account showed payment to the appellant of commissions out of income of $3,368.44, representing 5% of the trust’s gross income of $67,901.82. This compensation, paid pursuant to the trust agreement, was not contested and no issue is before us concerning this payment.
A copy of the account was submitted to the Attorney General of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, who filed objections. The trial court sustained the attorney general’s objections to payment of the additional 2:/2% trustee’s commission from principal. As to the attorney’s fees the trial court, although allowing the fees, ordered that the fees be paid from the income of the trust and not from principal. This appeal followed.
The appellant contends that (1) the trial court erred in holding that in the absence of unusual circumstances the trustee was not entitled to any commission above that provided for in the trust agreement which in this case is 5% of the gross income; (2) the trial court erred in holding that Pennsylvania law precludes payment of interim trustee’s commissions from the principal of a perpetual charitable trust except in unusual circumstances; and (3) the trial court erred in holding that Pennsylvania law precludes payment of attorney’s fees from the principal of a perpetual charitable trust except in unusual circumstances.
Appellant argues that regardless of the clause in the trust agreement specifying its fee, and regardless of whether or not the trust is a perpetual charitable trust, under the case law and the statutory law of Pennsylvania, it is entitled to fair and full compensation for the services which it has rendered as trustee. Appellant has presented a comprehensive review of both case law and statutory law in support of its position. We conclude, however, that the record in this case does not call for a resolution of the legal issues raised by the appellant.
The entire thrust of appellant’s arguments is that it is entitled to fair and full compensation for its services. Yet, the record is completely lacking in any evidence on the
In its brief before this Court, appellant contends that the fee which it has received in this case (5% of the gross income) is less than the current rate being charged for administration of trusts. Even according to the numerous cases and statutory provisions relied on by the appellant, it would not be entitled to additional compensation simply because it is earning less than other trustees but only if it is not receiving fair and full compensation. It might be entitled to additional compensation, assuming there is merit in its legal position, if the compensation it receives is not a fair and full compensation for the services rendered. See Estate of Thompson, 426 Pa. 270, 232 A.2d 625 (1967); Williamson Estate, 368 Pa. 343, 82 A.2d 49 (1951).
We agree with appellee that appellant has failed to establish that it was not reasonably compensated. Under these circumstances, we decline to consider the legal issues which have been raised by the appellant.
The legal issue concerning the payment of the attorney’s fees stands on a slightly different footing. The trial court allowed the attorney’s fee, and in this appeal neither appellant nor appellee disputes the payment of attorney’s fees. The only question concerning attorney fees raised by appellant is whether the trial court erred in ordering that the attorney’s fee be paid from income rather than principal. The entire thrust of appellant’s argument on this point is that the trial court had the authority to approve the payment from principal rather than income. Whether or not the trial court had such authority is irrelevant because in this appeal the appellant does not contend that the trial court lacked the authority to authorize the payment from income. Thus, the only possible argument which might
Decree affirmed. Each party to pay own costs.
Concurring Opinion
concurring.
The majority affirms the decree of the orphans’ court refusing trustee Dauphin Deposit Bank & Trust Company’s request for payment of $2,400 of commissions on the principal of settlor Allen Ritzman’s perpetual charitable trust. While I agree with the majority’s result, I cannot agree with its reasoning.
Dauphin Deposit introduced evidence that its present fee of five per cent of trust income, as fixed by settlor’s deed of trust, is less than the current rate charged for administration of trusts. This evidence, according to the majority, is insufficient proof that Dauphin Deposit “is not receiving fair and full compensation” and therefore will not support a claim on principal.
A far more straightforward, sensible ground supports the decree of the orphans’ court. The orphans’ court, in disallowing Dauphin Deposit’s request for commissions from principal, relied upon the “Taxis rule,” that trustees of perpetual charitable trusts can draw from principal only if they demonstrate the existence of unusual or extraordinary circumstances. E. g., Pender Estate, 68 Pa.Dist. & Co.2d 265 (O.C.Div.Mont. 1974). This rule restates the common law standard applicable to all trusts until 1953, when the Legislature enacted 20 Pa.C.S.A. § 7185 (1975), which directs orphans’ courts to allow trustees “not . . . fully compensated . . . such original or additional compensation out of the trust income or the trust principal, or both, as may be necessary to compensate him for the services theretofore rendered,” 20 Pa.C.S.A. § 7185(b), unless the settlor directs otherwise. 20 Pa.C.S.A. § 7185(c).
The majority also affirms that portion of the orphans’ court decree directing Dauphin Deposit to pay attorneys’ fees from trust income rather than principal. Again, though I agree with the majority’s result, I cannot agree with its rationale. The majority finds that Dauphin Deposit has not demonstrated that the orphans’ court, in deeming trust income rather than principal the source of payment, abused its discretion under 20 Pa.C.S.A. § 8111(b).
For these reasons, I would affirm the decree of the orphans’ court.
. 20 Pa.C.S.A. §§ 7185(b) & 7185(c) provide:
“Compensation
(b) Allowed out of principal or income. — Neither the fact that a fiduciary’s service has not ended nor the fact that the trust has not ended shall be a bar to the fiduciary’s receiving compensation for his services out of the principal of the trust. Whenever it shall appear either during the continuance of a trust or at its end, that a fiduciary has rendered services for which he has not been fully compensated, the court having jurisdiction over his accounts, shall allow him such original or additional compensation out of the trust income or the trust principal or both, as may be necessary to compensate him for the services theretofore rendered by him. The
*481 provisions of this section shall apply to ordinary and extraordinary services alike.
(c) Compensation prescribed by will or other instrument.— Where the compensation of a fiduciary is expressly prescribed either by provisions of a will or deed of trust or other instrument under which he is acting or by provisions of an agreement between him and the creator of a trust, nothing in this section shall change in any way the rights of any party in interest or of the fiduciary.”
We have held that trusts established before 1953 are subject to these sections. Ehret Estate, 427 Pa. 584, 235 A.2d 414 (1967).
. 20 Pa.C.S.A. § 8111(b) provides:
“Expenses; trust estates
(b) Trustees’ compensation, compensation of assistants and court costs and attorneys’ and other fees may be apportioned between income and principal as the court may direct.”
Reference
- Full Case Name
- In the Matter of the Inter Vivos Trust of Allen Z. RITZMAN. Appeal of DAUPHIN DEPOSIT TRUST COMPANY (Now Dauphin Deposit Bank & Trust Company), Trustee
- Cited By
- 5 cases
- Status
- Published