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Gifi's Causa Mortis - Validity Of Gift Of Entire Estate Dec 1934

Gifi's Causa Mortis - Validity Of Gift Of Entire Estate

Michigan Law Review

A donor, being in extremis, told by a doctor that he was dying, and having no near relatives, gave three bunches of keys to a donee with whose family he had lived for ten years, with the statement, "'If I am going to die, everything I have belongs to this woman." This was held to be a valid gift causa mortis of so much of decedent's property as was thereby made available. In re Elliott's Estate, 312 Pa. 493, 167 Atl. 289 (1933).


Trusts - Change Of Circumstances As Basis For Variation Of Trust Instrument Nov 1934

Trusts - Change Of Circumstances As Basis For Variation Of Trust Instrument

Michigan Law Review

The testator left his estate to trustees with directions to pay the income to his widow and three sons in equal shares, the principal to vest in the sons upon his widow's marriage or death. The widow in addition was given the use of the family homestead or the use of a new home not to exceed the price of $25,000. The homestead, valued at $200,000, became undesirable for residential purposes due to the growth of the business center of the city. The widow petitioned the court to direct the trustees to pay her $15,000 a year from the trust …


Executors And Administrators--Powers Of Co-Executors Nov 1934

Executors And Administrators--Powers Of Co-Executors

Michigan Law Review

The powers of co-trustees are usually spoken of as "joint," while the powers of co-executors are commonly referred to as "joint and several." As it is fairly obvious that if executors have a several power they may also exercise it jointly, it might be preferable to refer to the powers of co-executors as "joint or several." For not all the powers of a co-executor are joint and several. Some are several, while others are only joint. The general rule is that a co-executor has the several power to bind the estate as to matters in the ordinary course of administration, …


Wills-Right Of Beneficiaries To Compromise So As To Defeat Provisions Of Will-Waiver Of Benefit Jun 1934

Wills-Right Of Beneficiaries To Compromise So As To Defeat Provisions Of Will-Waiver Of Benefit

Michigan Law Review

Testator died leaving a valid will. The beneficiaries, who were also the heirs at law, presented a stipulation to the court, signed by all the parties in interest, agreeing that the will should not be admitted to probate; and the court refused the will. Later a dispute arose as to the settlement, and some of the beneficiaries brought a bill in equity to set aside the court order. Held, the agreement was supported by a valid consideration and is binding on the parties. Order of the court refusing probate upheld. In re Murphy's Estate, (Iowa 1934) 252 N. …


Wills-Contract Not To Contest Jun 1934

Wills-Contract Not To Contest

Michigan Law Review

A testatrix left the bulk of her estate to the plaintiff whom she named as her executor. Defendant, dissatisfied with his bequest, threatened to contest the will. Thereupon, the parties entered into a contract whereby the plaintiff agreed to give the defendant a piece of land and a sum of money in addition to his legacy in consideration of defendant's promise not to contest the will. Shortly thereafter defendant joined relatives of the decedent in opposing probate. In an action in equity to specifically enforce the agreement, held, that the contract was valid and that the defendant be permanently …


Conflict Of Laws - Inter Vivos Trust-Administration In State Other Than State Where Created Mar 1934

Conflict Of Laws - Inter Vivos Trust-Administration In State Other Than State Where Created

Michigan Law Review

Under an antenuptial agreement executed in Quebec, P made D the beneficiary of a $125,000 trust fund. Later, in consideration for renouncing her interest in this trust fund, D was made the beneficiary of a $1,000,000 trust, under an instrument executed in Quebec at the settlor's domicil, but with a New York trustee, the trust to be administered in New York where a substantial portion of the res was located at the time of settlement. Under the local law of Quebec such modification of the antenuptial agreement was invalid; under the local law of New York it was valid. When …


Future Interests - Federal Estate Tax - Admissibility Of Evidence Of Barrenness Of Devisee Mar 1934

Future Interests - Federal Estate Tax - Admissibility Of Evidence Of Barrenness Of Devisee

Michigan Law Review

In an inquiry as to the value of an executory bequest to charitable institutions, conditioned on the death of the testator's daughter without issue surviving her, was evidence that at the time of the testator's death she had been rendered incapable of bearing children admissible for the purpose of determining the amount of a deduction from the federal estate tax? Held, that such evidence was admissible. United States v. Provident Trust Co., (U. S. 1934) 54 Sup. Ct. 389.


Taxation - Deduction Of Capital Losses Feb 1934

Taxation - Deduction Of Capital Losses

Michigan Law Review

Executors were directed to sell the testator's residuary estate. Out of one-fifth of the proceeds a trust fund of $500,000 was to be set up, and the balance given to plaintiff absolutely. The testator in his will then stated that a large part of his residuary estate would consist of realty "which should not be sold excepting under favorable conditions," and directed his executors to hold and manage it until it could be advantageously sold. After some years the executors sold a piece of land at a loss. Plaintiff was entitled to one-fifth of the proceeds, and so he deducted …


Certain Evasive And Protective Devices Affecting Succession To Decedents' Estates, Alvin Evans Feb 1934

Certain Evasive And Protective Devices Affecting Succession To Decedents' Estates, Alvin Evans

Michigan Law Review

In Anglo-American law for many generations the power of an owner of property to determine the disposal of his estate at death has met with but comparatively few limitations. The statute creating this power was motivated by the assumption that the interest of the owner, reaching even beyond death, is paramount to other social interests. This power is an important item in a capitalistic system. And even if he does not exercise his power, the decedent may rest assured that another statute will do for him approximately what he may be supposed to have desired.


Partnership - Declaration Of Trust - Stipulation Against Personal Liability Feb 1934

Partnership - Declaration Of Trust - Stipulation Against Personal Liability

Michigan Law Review

Plaintiff, the payee of a note of a Texas unincorporated association, sought to hold the defendant shareholders liable as partners. The articles of association provided for trustees to hold and manage the association property, but reserved powers in the shareholders so the latter could: (I) increase capital stock, (2) annually elect the trustees and annually increase or diminish the number of trustees, (3) repeal or amend any of the articles of association, (4) order trustees to call special meetings, (5) remove trustees and subject them to shareholders' orders at all times, ( 6) transact such business as they might inaugurate …


Future Interests -Transferability Of Right Of Entry For Breach Of Condition Jan 1934

Future Interests -Transferability Of Right Of Entry For Breach Of Condition

Michigan Law Review

Plaintiff's ancestor conveyed land to the city, on the express condition that the city should construct and forever maintain a "speedway" on the premises conveyed, reserving to himself, his heirs and assigns a right of entry for breach of the condition. Subsequently, before the condition was broken, he conveyed to a third party all his remaining land adjoining the Speedway, "together with all the right, title and interest of the party of the first part, in said Speedway." The breach of the condition having since admittedly occurred, the plaintiff, the heir of the original grantor, sought to assert the right …


Future Interests -Testamentary Trust -Admissibility Of Evidence Of Barrenness Of Devisee Jan 1934

Future Interests -Testamentary Trust -Admissibility Of Evidence Of Barrenness Of Devisee

Michigan Law Review

A testator's will devised his residuary estate in trust to his daughter for life, remainder to her lawful issue, in default of which the corpus was to be distributed to certain charities. The daughter died without issue. After her death the trustee brought suit against the United States for refund of taxes paid, both parties agreeing that the sole question for determination was the admissibility of evidence of the removal of the daughter's generative organs to prove that at the time of the testator's death it was impossible for her to bear issue. Held, such evidence was admissible. Provident …