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Full-Text Articles in Law
The Revised Uniform Fiduciary Access To Digital Assets Act: Has The Law Caught Up With Technology?, Elizabeth Sy
The Revised Uniform Fiduciary Access To Digital Assets Act: Has The Law Caught Up With Technology?, Elizabeth Sy
Touro Law Review
No abstract provided.
Incomplete Wills, Adam J. Hirsch
Incomplete Wills, Adam J. Hirsch
Michigan Law Review
This Article explores the problems that arise when a will fails to dispose of an individual's entire estate, so that she dies partially testate and partially intestate. The questions then raised include (1) whether provisions contained in the will purporting to redefine the individual's intestate heirs should supersede the statutory designations of those heirs, (2) whether inter vivos gifts to heirs should qualify as advancements on the inheritances of those heirs under conditions of partial intestacy, and, most broadly, (3) whether courts should fill in the incomplete portion of an individual's estate plan by extrapolating from the distributive preferences set …
Deliberative Accountability Rules In Inheritance Law: Promoting Accountable Estate Planning, Shelly Kreiczer-Levy
Deliberative Accountability Rules In Inheritance Law: Promoting Accountable Estate Planning, Shelly Kreiczer-Levy
University of Michigan Journal of Law Reform
In the last few decades, the emerging trend in trust and estate law has been a steady loosening of the limitations on testamentary freedom. The 1990 Uniform Probate Code pioneered some of these developments. Construction rules are no exception. It is widely accepted that testamentary construction rules should track the owner's presumed intent. In this Article, I argue that there is also room, alongside these intent-furthering rules, for intent-defeating rules in inheritance law. A property owner lacks incentives to internalize the relational, familial, or economic effects of her allocation. Such rules, termed deliberative accountability rules, are therefore designed to foster …
The Role Of Trust Protectors In American Trust Law, Richard C. Ausness
The Role Of Trust Protectors In American Trust Law, Richard C. Ausness
Law Faculty Scholarly Articles
“A trust is an arrangement whereby one person (the trustor) transfers property to another person or entity (the trustee) and directs the trustee to hold the property for the benefit of another person (the beneficiary).” These days, trustees often have significant discretionary and administrative powers. The increased use of institutional trustees, as well as the growing sophistication and complexity of modern trust asset management, have induced many settlors to give their trustees greater power and discretion. In addition, many states have enacted statutes, such as the Uniform Trustees’ Powers Act or the Uniform Trust Code (UTC), that confer broad powers …
The Uniform Probate Code Extends Antilapse-Type Protection To Poorly Drafted Trusts, Lawrence W. Waggoner
The Uniform Probate Code Extends Antilapse-Type Protection To Poorly Drafted Trusts, Lawrence W. Waggoner
Articles
The Uniform Law Commission' promulgated a revised version of Article II of the Uniform Probate Code (UPC or Code) in 1990, and approved a set of technical amendments in 1993. As Director of Research and Chief Reporter for the Joint Editorial Board for the Uniform Probate Code (Board)2 and reporter for the UPC Article II drafting committee, I was privileged to serve as the principal drafter of these provisions. UPC Article II deals with the substantive rules governing donative transfers - intestacy; spouse's elective share; execution, revocation, and revival of wills; rules of construction for wills and other donative transfers; …
Tribute To William F. Fratcher: Marital Property Rights In Transition, Lawrence W. Waggoner
Tribute To William F. Fratcher: Marital Property Rights In Transition, Lawrence W. Waggoner
Articles
"Marital property rights," a term that covers a vast multitude of rights or interests conferred by law on persons who occupy the status of spouse, are in a state of transition. To discuss the themes and trends that are emerging, this Article is divided into four discrete, yet related segments. The first segment addresses how the law allocates original ownership between spouses in a marriage. The second segment turns to the intestate share of the surviving spouse. This is not a topic that much concerns high-powered estate planners because intestate estates are usually fairly small. But to the surviving spouse, …
Reforming The Law Of Gratuitous Transfers: The New Uniform Probate Code, John H. Langbein, Lawrence W. Waggoner
Reforming The Law Of Gratuitous Transfers: The New Uniform Probate Code, John H. Langbein, Lawrence W. Waggoner
Articles
In the mid-1980s the Uniform Law Commission undertook a landmark revision of the American law of gratuitous transfers. These reforms culminated in a drastically revised Uniform Probate Code ("UPC"). The revisions inspired the Albany Law Review to organize this symposium issue for the purpose of examining the 1990 UPC. In this introductory paper, we point to the main themes of the reform movement, discuss some of the traits and constraints of the uniform law process, and comment on some of the suggestions and insights that appear in the symposium articles.
The Emergence Of A General Reformation Doctrine For Wills, Lawrence W. Waggoner, John H. Langbein
The Emergence Of A General Reformation Doctrine For Wills, Lawrence W. Waggoner, John H. Langbein
Articles
In this article, which both summarizes and updates an extensively footnoted article published last year ("Reformation of Wills on the Ground of Mistake: Change of Direction in American Law?" 130 University of Pennsylvania Law Rmiew 521 (1982)), we report on this new case law and discuss the analytic framework that we think it suggests and requires.
Reformation Of Wills On The Ground Of Mistake: Change Of Direction In American Law?, John H. Langbein, Lawrence W. Waggoner
Reformation Of Wills On The Ground Of Mistake: Change Of Direction In American Law?, John H. Langbein, Lawrence W. Waggoner
Articles
Although it has been "axiomatic" that our courts do not entertain suits to reform wills on the ground of mistake, appellate courts in California, New Jersey, and New York have decided cases within the last five years that may presage the abandonment of the ancient "no-reformation" rule. The new cases do not purport to make this fundamental doctrinal change, although the California Court of Appeal in Estate of Taff and the New Jersey Supreme Court in Engle v. Siegel did expressly disclaim a related rule, sometimes called the "plain meaning" rule. That rule, which hereafter we will call the "no-extrinsic-evidence …
Trusts - Charitable Trusts - Ascertainment Of Dominant Intent In Application Of Cy Pres, Stuart S. Gunckel
Trusts - Charitable Trusts - Ascertainment Of Dominant Intent In Application Of Cy Pres, Stuart S. Gunckel
Michigan Law Review
Testator made a residuary bequest to the city of Detroit "for a playfield for white children." The city agreed to accept this bequest if the racial restriction were removed under the doctrine of cy pres. In an action by the heirs to recover the bequest, the circuit court refused the application of the doctrine of cy pres although the city could not accept the gift unless it was permitted to establish a playfield for children of all races. On appeal, held, affirmed, by an evenly-divided court. Cy pres wiII not be applied in the absence of phrases in the …
Creation Of Joint Rights Between Husband And Wife In Personal Property: Ii, R. Bruce Townsend
Creation Of Joint Rights Between Husband And Wife In Personal Property: Ii, R. Bruce Townsend
Michigan Law Review
The net effect of the general legislation pertaining to the creation of joint tenancy has been to make lawyers sensitive to language expressing an intent to create joint tenancy, tenancy by the entireties and other types of survivorship rights which may or may not fall within the foregoing concepts. And so the law has busied itself with the task of giving technical meanings to words used by members of the public in their efforts to create joint rights in property-a task that has not been fully appreciated by people who acquire personal property from bankers, brokers, clerks and the like …
Future Interests-Powers Of Appointment-Exclusive And Nonexclusive Powers And The Doctrine Of Illusory Appointments, John Houck S.Ed
Future Interests-Powers Of Appointment-Exclusive And Nonexclusive Powers And The Doctrine Of Illusory Appointments, John Houck S.Ed
Michigan Law Review
Testatrix, after making certain specific bequests, devised the residue of her estate to her son George for life. The will stated that upon the death of George, the property should pass to his widow and descendants, "provided, however, that [George] may devise his interest to his widow, his descendants or my descendants." The will further provided that if George should die leaving no widow or descendants, and without having made a testamentary disposition, the property was to pass one-half to George's brother and his descendants, and one-half to a sister. George died without having married and left a will which …
Future Interests-Construction-When Class Closes In Case Of Per Capita Class Gift, William K. Davenport S.Ed.
Future Interests-Construction-When Class Closes In Case Of Per Capita Class Gift, William K. Davenport S.Ed.
Michigan Law Review
Testator died in 1928 leaving an estate of $10,000,000. His will provided that each of his grandsons, two of whom were alive at his death, was to receive the income of a $100,000 trust for life. The residue of his estate was left in another trust and was to remain intact until the expiration of 21 years after the death of testator's last surviving grandchild living at the time of his death. Meanwhile the income from this trust was to go to various other legatees. When another grandson was born in 1949, the question arose whether a $100,000 trust should …
Testamentary Disposition To The Trustee Of An Inter Vivos Trust, George E. Palmer
Testamentary Disposition To The Trustee Of An Inter Vivos Trust, George E. Palmer
Michigan Law Review
The problem of this paper is narrow but important in connection with testamentary dispositions. A man establishes an inter vivos trust, in writing, and later attempts by will to add to the corpus of the trust without repeating in the will the terms of the trust. In some instances he thereafter amends the trust with the expectation that the property bequeathed to the trustee will be held in accordance with the amended terms. This is a simple and convenient method of disposing of property at death and most people probably would take for granted that the disposition is effective. Yet …
Wills-Construction-Meaning Of Word 'Widow" When Used By Testator, Walter L. Dean S. Ed.
Wills-Construction-Meaning Of Word 'Widow" When Used By Testator, Walter L. Dean S. Ed.
Michigan Law Review
Testatrix set up a testamentary trust which was to continue "until the death of the last survivor of such of my children, grandchildren and any widow of my son, surviving him as shall be living at my decease." Upon the death of any child the trustee was directed to pay to "the husband or widow" of such child a part of the principal or an annuity from the income of the trust. Testatrix' son remarried after her death and on his death the trustee brought this action to determine whether the second wife who was living at testatrix' death, was …
Wills-Construction-Use Of Extrinsic Evidence, John A. Hellstrom S. Ed.
Wills-Construction-Use Of Extrinsic Evidence, John A. Hellstrom S. Ed.
Michigan Law Review
An action for a declaratory judgment was brought by William C. Borah, Jr. against the Lincoln Hospital Association and William H. H. Moore. In July 1912, Robert E. Moore made a will bequeathing $10,000 each to his nieces, Gertrude and Julia Byerly. Gertrude had been married but her husband and only child died in 1908. Julia was married and had a son, the plaintiff. In June 1916, testator visited the nieces and the plaintiff and in December 1916, he added a codicil to his will reducing the bequests to the nieces to life estates with remainder to "the child of …
Descent And Distribution--The 'Worthier Title" Doctrine In Iowa--A Limitation Established, Lewis R. Williams, Jr. S.Ed.
Descent And Distribution--The 'Worthier Title" Doctrine In Iowa--A Limitation Established, Lewis R. Williams, Jr. S.Ed.
Michigan Law Review
Testator left his entire estate of less than $7,500 to his wife who had predeceased him. Defendants claimed the estate through operation of the anti-lapse statute, as heirs of the wife. As the distribution statute gave the widow of an intestate the first $7,500 of the estate, plaintiffs, heirs at law of the testator, claimed title on a basis of the "worthier title" doctrine, arguing that the widow, had she lived, would have taken by descent and not by purchase, and therefore the anti-lapse statute did not apply. On appeal from a denial of defendants' motion to transfer the proceeding …
Wills-Statute Requiring Wills To Be Signed At The End Thereof-Facts Constituting Compliance, Roger D. Anderson
Wills-Statute Requiring Wills To Be Signed At The End Thereof-Facts Constituting Compliance, Roger D. Anderson
Michigan Law Review
Testator had properly executed his will in all respects except that following his and witnesses' signatures there appeared a clause appointing executors. New York statute law provided that to be valid a will must be signed at the end by the testator. Surrogate Court had denied probate. On appeal, held, affirmed. The statute was not complied with, for the end of a will is not found until the last word of all the provisions is reached. In re Winter's Will, 98 N.Y.S. (2d) 312 (1950).
Wills-Statute Requiring Wills To Be Signed At The End Thereof-Facts Constituting Compliance, Roger D. Anderson
Wills-Statute Requiring Wills To Be Signed At The End Thereof-Facts Constituting Compliance, Roger D. Anderson
Michigan Law Review
Testator had properly executed his will in all respects except that following his and witnesses' signatures there appeared a clause appointing executors. New York statute law provided that to be valid a will must be signed at the end by the testator. Surrogate Court had denied probate. On appeal, held, affirmed. The statute was not complied with, for the end of a will is not found until the last word of all the provisions is reached. In re Winter's Will, 98 N.Y.S. (2d) 312 (1950).
Trusts-Spendthrift Trusts-Restrictions On Alienation As A Constitutionally Protected Property Right Of The Donor, Thomas Hartwell
Trusts-Spendthrift Trusts-Restrictions On Alienation As A Constitutionally Protected Property Right Of The Donor, Thomas Hartwell
Michigan Law Review
The beneficiary of a spendthrift trust, created in 1921, sought to renounce and terminate her life interest, thereby vesting the fee simple of the trust res in her son, as remainderman, free of the spendthrift provisions. A Pennsylvania statute, passed in 1945, authorized anyone with any interest in real or personal property to disclaim such interest, irrespective of any so-called spendthrift trust provisions. Held, prayer for termination denied on the ground that the statute, as it applied to spendthrift trusts created before its passage, was a violation of the donor-settlor's property rights under the Pennsylvania Constitution. To allow the …
Conflict Of Laws-Model Execution Of Wills Statute-Law Governing Revocation Of Will, Edward W. Rothe S.Ed.
Conflict Of Laws-Model Execution Of Wills Statute-Law Governing Revocation Of Will, Edward W. Rothe S.Ed.
Michigan Law Review
Decedent's will, devising Iowa realty, was denied probate in Illinois, the state of domicile, on grounds that the will had been revoked by cancellation. The devisees offered the will for probate in Iowa, under whose law no revocation was effected. The heirs contested probate on grounds that the Illinois denial of probate was conclusive and binding on Iowa courts in view of §633.49, Iowa code, 1946: "A last will and testament executed without this state, in the mode prescribed by the law, either of the place where executed or the testator's domicile, shall be deemed to be legally executed, and …
Trusts And Estates-Accumulations-Setting Aside Reserve For Depreciation On Trust Buildings, Hugh B. Muir
Trusts And Estates-Accumulations-Setting Aside Reserve For Depreciation On Trust Buildings, Hugh B. Muir
Michigan Law Review
Testator created a testamentary trust of several parcels of real property improved with apartment houses, authorizing the trustees to pay the net annual income therefrom to his sons in equal shares. The trust was to terminate when the youngest son attained the age of twenty-one, or, if he died before majority, when the second youngest son attained the age of thirty-seven, or sooner died. Remainder was to the testator's sons living at the termination date or their issue, per stirpes. Testator, while living, had maintained accounting records for the properties in such manner as to reflect an annual charge for …
Wills-Construction-Gift To Executor To Be Disposed Of In His Discretion As A General Power Of Appointment, Colvin A. Peterson, Jr., S. Ed.
Wills-Construction-Gift To Executor To Be Disposed Of In His Discretion As A General Power Of Appointment, Colvin A. Peterson, Jr., S. Ed.
Michigan Law Review
Testator, after bequeathing specific legacies, gave the residue of his estate to his executor to "dispose of any balance after the aforementioned gifts have been paid according to his wise discretion.'' The executor was the husband of testator's niece, one of the legatees, and he was well acquainted with testator. He declared his intention of disposing of the residue to testator's nieces, for whom testator had expressed concern. The trial court held the testator had attempted to create a trust by the residuary clause, which failed for indefiniteness. On appeal, held, reversed. The testator created a general power of …
Future Interests - Powers-Fraud On A Special Power, Bernard L. Trott S. Ed.
Future Interests - Powers-Fraud On A Special Power, Bernard L. Trott S. Ed.
Michigan Law Review
H was co-trustee under a trust agreement executed by his father which provided for payment of a specified monthly sum to H for life and after his death to his wife W. The trust was to terminate upon the death of the survivor of H and W, and thereupon the other trustee was to deliver 20% of the corpus to each of three named persons, A, B, and C. The trust instrument further provided that H was to have absolute power, with approval of the co-trustee, to prescribe that the distribution of this 60% of the …
Use Of Doctrine Of Worthier Title To Determine The Intent
Use Of Doctrine Of Worthier Title To Determine The Intent
Indiana Law Journal
Recent Cases: Trusts
Future Interests-Deeds-Construction Of Language To Create A Trust And A Condition Subsequent, Ira M. Price, Ii S.Ed.
Future Interests-Deeds-Construction Of Language To Create A Trust And A Condition Subsequent, Ira M. Price, Ii S.Ed.
Michigan Law Review
A deed conveyed land to a named schoolmaster of Bristol and his successors forever "for their support for instruction of the children of the town, . . . Provided always . . . that if the said town shall neglect to place a good and sufficient Grammar schoolmaster in the said town at the death or removal of any schoolmaster . . .for the space of twelve months after the said death or removal, that the land shall" revert to me . . . and my heirs as fully and as effectively as if this deed had not been made …
Insurance-Gift-Right Of Named Beneficiary Of Life Policy To Proceeds As Against A Donee By Delivery, Bruce L. Moore S.Ed.
Insurance-Gift-Right Of Named Beneficiary Of Life Policy To Proceeds As Against A Donee By Delivery, Bruce L. Moore S.Ed.
Michigan Law Review
Insured, in accordance with the terms of a life insurance policy, named the woman with whom he was then living as beneficiary. Subsequently, he returned to his wife and handed the policy to her with appropriate words indicating an intention to make a present and absolute delivery of it to her as a gift. No notice of a change of beneficiary was given to the insurance company. The policy reserved the right to insured to change the beneficiary by filing a written request with the company, such change to take effect only when indorsed on the policy by the company. …
Gifts--Banking--Gift Of Joint Savings Bank Deposits, Ira M. Price, Ii
Gifts--Banking--Gift Of Joint Savings Bank Deposits, Ira M. Price, Ii
Michigan Law Review
A, the mother of B, transferred three savings bank deposits from her sole account to the account of "A or B-either or survivor." Two of the depositors' signature cards contained this language: ''We hereby certify that this account and all moneys to be credited to it belong to us as joint tenants, and will be the absolute property of the survivor of us." There was evidence that one of the reasons for A's transferring her deposits to the joint account was to enable B to draw money therefrom for A while A was in the …
Wills--Specific Bequest Of Capital Stock--Disposition Of Stock Dividends Declared Before Testator's Death, E. M. Deal
Wills--Specific Bequest Of Capital Stock--Disposition Of Stock Dividends Declared Before Testator's Death, E. M. Deal
Michigan Law Review
In her will, testatrix made several specific gifts to Miss Dorothy Spencer, including "20 shares of stock of the Times-Picayune Publishing Company," the extent of her holding at the time the will was executed. Later, the company declared a 100 per cent stock dividend and issued testatrix a certificate for an additional 20 shares. When she died, testatrix had in her possession certificates for 40 shares of the corporation's stock. Ten legatees objected to a provisional account filed by her executor which listed the 40 shares as belonging to Dorothy Spencer, claiming that the additional shares should be converted into …
Wills-Pretermitted Heir Statute-Incorporation By Reference, Shubrick T. Kothe
Wills-Pretermitted Heir Statute-Incorporation By Reference, Shubrick T. Kothe
Michigan Law Review
Plaintiff, adopted daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Burdick, deceased, left them some years before their deaths. Mr. Burdick provided in his will that plaintiff was to get two legacies, and Mrs. Burdick, who died after her husband, did not specifically mention plaintiff, but provided that the residue of her estate should be distributed as provided in her husband's will. She subsequently revoked this provision by a codicil which gave the residue to one Langley. Plaintiff claimed a share of the estate under the Arkansas "pretermitted child" statute. Held, Mrs. Burdick's reference to her husband's will incorporated it into her …