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Full-Text Articles in Estates and Trusts

The Uniform Probate Code And The International Will, William F. Fratcher Jan 1968

The Uniform Probate Code And The International Will, William F. Fratcher

Michigan Law Review

Emily Graham left her assets in England when she married a French naval officer and went to France to live with him. After her husband died, Emily announced that she was returning to England for the rest of her life and bundled her children and baggage aboard a channel ferry. Before the ferry cleared French waters she became ill and was taken ashore at another French port. While waiting impatiently to recover sufficiently for a final return to England, Emily executed a will of her English assets in the form prescribed by English law, that is, in writing, signed by …


Conflict Of Laws-Public Policy Used To Apply Forum Law To Joint Bank Accounts Of Foreign-Domiciliaries Wyatt V. Fulrath, Michigan Law Review Jan 1967

Conflict Of Laws-Public Policy Used To Apply Forum Law To Joint Bank Accounts Of Foreign-Domiciliaries Wyatt V. Fulrath, Michigan Law Review

Michigan Law Review

The Duke and Duchess of Arion, nationals and domiciliaries of Spain, neither of whom had ever been to New York, deposited community property consisting of cash and securities in several New York banks. In establishing these accounts, the Duke and Duchess either expressly agreed in writing that the New York law of survivorship would apply to their accounts or signed standard bank survivorship forms which incorporated the survivorship laws of that state. After her husband's death, the Duchess made the entire amount on deposit in New York subject to her will. Following the Duchess' death and during probate of her …


An Inquiry Into The Utility Of "Domicile" As A Concept In Conflicts Analysis, Russell J. Weintraub Apr 1965

An Inquiry Into The Utility Of "Domicile" As A Concept In Conflicts Analysis, Russell J. Weintraub

Michigan Law Review

No attempt is made here to conduct an exhaustive case study of any one particular area in which the concept of "domicile" is used as a tool for analysis in the conflict of laws. A number of thorough and useful studies have been made in narrow areas and are cited at appropriate places in the body of this article. Instead, this article will review the use of "domicile" in analyzing certain typical conflicts problems, particularly its use as the contact or pointing word in choice of law rules concerning the testate and intestate distribution of movables, and, as is newly …


Conflict Of Laws - Estoppel - Extra-Territorial Effect Of Probate Decree, Thomas A. Hoya S.Ed. May 1958

Conflict Of Laws - Estoppel - Extra-Territorial Effect Of Probate Decree, Thomas A. Hoya S.Ed.

Michigan Law Review

Testator, domiciled in California, by his will created a charitable trust of his residuary estate which included lands located in North Dakota. Under California law, the charitable bequest was valid to the extent of only one-third of the residuary estate. Upon distribution of the trust estate by the California court, the charity appeared and received its one-third of the entire residuary property. The trustee then filed with the North Dakota court, asking that the North Dakota land be distributed in accord with the California decree. Since there was no limitation on the validity of the charitable bequest in North Dakota, …


Conflicts Of Law - Extended Application Of Res Judicata In Administration Of Decedents' Estates, Norman A. Zilber S.Ed. Dec 1956

Conflicts Of Law - Extended Application Of Res Judicata In Administration Of Decedents' Estates, Norman A. Zilber S.Ed.

Michigan Law Review

The purpose of this comment is to examine the existing law and its rationale, and to see in which situations res judicata could beneficially be applied.


Conflict Of Laws--Effect Of Forum's Statute Of Frauds On Foreign Oral Contract To Bequeath Property, David D. Dowd, Jr. S.Ed. Apr 1956

Conflict Of Laws--Effect Of Forum's Statute Of Frauds On Foreign Oral Contract To Bequeath Property, David D. Dowd, Jr. S.Ed.

Michigan Law Review

Plaintiff brought an action in New York for specific performance of an oral agreement allegedly made by testator in Florida not to change his will without plaintiff's consent. Defendant's motions for dismissal of the complaint and summary judgment were dismissed. The appellate division on reargument entered orders reversing the lower court. On plaintiff's appeal to the court of appeals, held, affirmed. The New York Personal Property Law, which states that oral contracts to bequeath property are void, is controlling, regardless of whether this section of the statute of frauds is procedural or substantive. If the section is procedural, the …


Taxation-Federal Estate Tax-Relevance Of Marital Deduction To Computation Of Widow's Distributive Share Of Husband's Estate Where She Elects To Take Against Will, Alice Austin May 1954

Taxation-Federal Estate Tax-Relevance Of Marital Deduction To Computation Of Widow's Distributive Share Of Husband's Estate Where She Elects To Take Against Will, Alice Austin

Michigan Law Review

A widow electing to take against her husband's will claimed to be entitled to have her one-third share of decedent's net personal estate computed without deduction of federal estate taxes, on the theory that Congress in allowing the marital deduction intended that a widow's share qualifying for such deduction should be free of the impact of the federal estate tax. The state had no statute providing for apportionment of federal estate taxes. Held: Congress did not intend, by allowing the marital deduction, to change the rule that state law is determinative of the impact of the federal estate tax. …


Trusts-Charitable Trusts-Effect Of Nationalization Act On Gifts To English Hospitals, George D. Miller, Jr. S. Ed. Nov 1952

Trusts-Charitable Trusts-Effect Of Nationalization Act On Gifts To English Hospitals, George D. Miller, Jr. S. Ed.

Michigan Law Review

Complainant held property under a trust created by a Rhode Island will, the validity of which had previously been determined by the Rhode Island court. Respondent hospitals were remainder beneficiaries of the trust, the gifts to them being subject to certain limitations on their use. Respondent churches were named in the trust deed as alternative legatees "in case any of my preceding gifts, specially my gifts to Public purposes, should fail .... " The remainder interests vested, and partial distribution of the corpus was made in 1939. In 1946 the National Health Service Act was passed in Great Britain which …


Apportionment Of The Federal State Tax In The Absence Of Statute Or An Expression Of Intention, William P. Sutter Nov 1952

Apportionment Of The Federal State Tax In The Absence Of Statute Or An Expression Of Intention, William P. Sutter

Michigan Law Review

Federal law now provides in sections 826 (c) and (d) of the Internal Revenue Code that life insurance and property transferred by appointment shall bear their proportionate tax burden. It does not contain similar provisions with respect to other types of non-probate property. At the present time, twenty states provide by statute for some sort of apportionment of estate taxes. Two states have statutes restricting apportionment in some degree. In the rest, the matter rests in the discretion of the courts. I propose to discuss in this article the situation in those areas where no statutory guidance exists.


Trusts-Resulting Trust In Registered Automobile, William P. Sutter S.Ed. Jun 1950

Trusts-Resulting Trust In Registered Automobile, William P. Sutter S.Ed.

Michigan Law Review

Suit was brought by plaintiff against the administrator of the estate of X to establish title to an automobile which plaintiff alleged had been purchased with funds furnished by her. Title was in the name of deceased, X, in whose name plaintiff claimed to have registered the car because she did not drive and X would do most of the driving. The sole heir of X was permitted to intervene as a party defendant and claimed that lawful ownership had been in X. Decree was for defendants and it was directed that the car be turned over to …


Conflict Of Laws-Model Execution Of Wills Statute-Law Governing Revocation Of Will, Edward W. Rothe S.Ed. Mar 1950

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 …


Wills-Validity Of Devise To United States Government, Richard J. Brake Mar 1949

Wills-Validity Of Devise To United States Government, Richard J. Brake

Michigan Law Review

A California testator bequeathed "all I own and possess to the United States Government." His heirs sought to have the disposition set aside, claiming the federal government could not be a beneficiary under the California probate statute which permitted testamentary dispositions to be made to the state, counties, municipal corporations and certain others. From the order denying their petition for distribution, the heirs appealed. Held, reversed. The word "state" as used in the probate statute does not include the United States. In re Burnison's Estate, (Cal. App. 1948) 196 P. (2d) 822.


Wills-Validity Of Attestation On Separate Sheet Of Paper Not Physically Attached To Will, Myron J. Nadler Jan 1949

Wills-Validity Of Attestation On Separate Sheet Of Paper Not Physically Attached To Will, Myron J. Nadler

Michigan Law Review

Testatrix drew an instrument consisting of a single sheet of paper, intending it as her will. In the presence of a notary public, three witnesses observed the instrument with testatrix' signature thereon and her acknowledgment of it as her will, but did not sign it. The document was then placed in an envelope. A separate instrument of attestation which referred to the will was prepared by the notary and signed by the testatrix and the attesting witnesses. This instrument and the envelope containing the will were both placed in another folder which was then deposited with the proper officials. Probate …


Fiduciary Administration -- Deviation From Terms Of Trust--Invasion Of Principal For Benefit Of Life Tenant, W. Stirling Maxwell S.Ed. Jan 1949

Fiduciary Administration -- Deviation From Terms Of Trust--Invasion Of Principal For Benefit Of Life Tenant, W. Stirling Maxwell S.Ed.

Michigan Law Review

By a will executed in 1932 testator, who died in 1944, made outright bequests of $2,500 and his personal goods to his widow and $5,000 to each of his sons. He then devised the residue of his estate to trustees to pay the income to his widow for life and, upon her death, to distribute the corpus to his then living issue in equal shares by right of representation, and, in default of such issue, to those who would take if he had died intestate when his widow died. The will gave the trustees broad investment and management powers but …


Abstracts, Mary Jane Plumer Aug 1945

Abstracts, Mary Jane Plumer

Michigan Law Review

The abstracts consist merely of summaries of the facts and holdings of recent cases and are distinguished from the notes by the absence of discussion.


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 …


Recent Important Decisions Jun 1928

Recent Important Decisions

Michigan Law Review

A collection of recent important court decisions.


Note And Comment, Dean L. Lucking, Paul P. Farrens, George E. Brand, Walle W. Merritt, Albert E. Merder May 1912

Note And Comment, Dean L. Lucking, Paul P. Farrens, George E. Brand, Walle W. Merritt, Albert E. Merder

Michigan Law Review

Concealing a Secret Trust by Making an Absolute Testamentary Gift to Testator's Solicitor; Conflict of State and Federal Regulations of Interstate Commerce Before the Latter Becomes Operative; Adverse Possession by an Alien and the Effect of Statute Removing an Alien's Disability to Inherit; The Rescission of a Pre-Corporate Contract on the Ground of Promoter's Fraud; When is an Agreement "Not to be Performed Within a Year"


Recent Important Decisions, Michigan Law Review Dec 1911

Recent Important Decisions, Michigan Law Review

Michigan Law Review

Attachment--Jurisdiction Over Non-Resident; Bankruptcy--Debts Entitled to Priority--Workman, Clerk, Etc.; Bankruptcy--Title of Trustee Under Unrecorded Conditional Sale--Effect of Amendment of 1910; Bills and Notes--Actions--Real Party in Interest; Carriers--Limiting Liability for Loss of Baggage--Interstate Commerce; Commerce--Constitutionality of State Regulation of Rates; Commerce--Natural Gas as Subject of Interstate Commerce; Covenants Running with the Land--Establishment of Railroad Station; Damages--Penalty or Liquidated Damages--Construction of Stipulation in Contract; Deeds--Covenant to Stand Seised to Uses; Divorce--Recrimination--Dismissal of Bill-When Both Parties Guilty; Equity--Jurisdiction--Adequate Remedy at Law; Evidence--Admissibility of Admissions and Confessions of Accused to Prove the Corpus Delicti; Insurance--Suicide--Waiver of Statutory Provisions; Judgment--Collateral Attack on Judgment of Probate …


Recent Important Decisions, Michigan Law Review Jun 1906

Recent Important Decisions, Michigan Law Review

Michigan Law Review

Attorney--disbarment for Malpractice; Bills and Notes--Certification of Check; Bills and Notes--consideration--Illegal Use of Proceeds--Sunday Contracts; Bills and Notes--Notice of Protest; Carrier--Invalid Ticket--Tender of Cash Fare--Ejection of Passenger; Common Carriers--Express Companies--Municipal Tax on Delivery of Intoxicating Liquors--Mandamus to Compel Transportation; Common Carriers--Limitation of Liability by Special Contract--Hand Baggage; Constitutional Law--Obligation of Contract; Constitutional law--Privileges of Citizens--Interstate Commerce--Peddler's License; Corporations--conflict of Laws--Liability of Stockholders in Company Formed to Trade in a Foreign Country--Implied Authority to Pledge Personal Credit of Shareholders Under Foreign Law; Covenants--Privity of Estate; Criminal Law--False Pretenses--Post payable Check; Criminal Law--Presumption from Identity of Names; Deeds--Capacity of Grantor as Compared …


Recent Important Decisions, Michigan Law Review Dec 1903

Recent Important Decisions, Michigan Law Review

Michigan Law Review

Acknowledgment--Who May Take--Stockholder; Agency--Notice to Agent--Liability of Principal; Carriers--Express Messengers--Contracts Exempting from Liability--Validity--Public Policy; Carriers of Passengers--Elevators--Negligence--Degree of Care; Code Pleading--Allegation of Duty; Conflict of Laws--Wills--Execution of Power; Constitutional Law--Liberty--Police Power--Use of Trading Stamps; Corporations--Legaility of Voting Trust--Power to Revoke Authority; Covenants--Benefits and Burdens--Privity of Estate; Damages--Breach of Contract--Mental Suffering; Damages--Breach of Contract--Mental Suffering; Damages--Pleading--Special Injury--Admissibility of Evidence; Elections--Right of Board of Aldermen to Judge of Election of its own Members--Construction of Charter; Equity--Mortgages--Redemption by Co-Tenant--Improvements--rents and Profits--Executors' and Administrators' Liability for Unpaid Claims; Evidence--Competency--Wife's Testifying Against Husband--Mock Marriage; Insolvency--Partnership--Secured Creditors--Mortgage on Exempt Property--Mortgage on Property of Individual Partner; Insurance--Benefit …


Recent Important Decisions, Michigan Law Review Jun 1903

Recent Important Decisions, Michigan Law Review

Michigan Law Review

Agency--Authority to Appoint Sub-Agents; Agency--right to Compensation; Bankruptcy--Discharge; Bankruptcy--Discharge; Banks and Banking--Crediting Depositor--Check of Another Depositor; Conflict of Laws--Legitimation of a Bastard--Status Fixed by Domicile of his Parents; Conflict of Laws--Lex Loci Fori--Right of Action in England for Acts in Foreign Country--Territorial Waters; Constitutional Law--Summary Sale of Trespassing Animals; Contract--Public Policy--General Restraint of Trade; Contract--Validity--Release of Employer for Liability to next of Kin for Injury to Employee; Elections--Right of a Party Committee to Question Eligibility of a Candidate; Fraudulent Conveyances--Contingent Fees; Insurance--Condition for Immediate Notice--Excuse; Married Women--Power to Enter into Partnership with Husband--Set off of Debt Due by Partner in …


Recent Important Decisions, Michigan Law Review Mar 1903

Recent Important Decisions, Michigan Law Review

Michigan Law Review

Administrator--Debt Due From Him to the Estate--Effect of Administrator's Insolvency; Agency--Action by Undisclosed Principal--Abstractoer's Liability; Agency--Liability for Acting Without Authority; Agency--duty to Exercise Good Faith--Commissions; Bankruptcy--Preferences; Banks and Banking--Subagent--Collection; Conflict of Laws--Married Women--Note made in One State but Payable in Another, and Action Brought in the Third; Constitutional Law--bill of lading--Conclusive Evidence; Constitutional law--Eminent Domain--Right to Compensation Before Entry; Constitutional Law--Legislative Control of Municipal Contracts--Eight Hour Law; Constitutional Law--Privileges and Innumities of citizens--Statute Authorizing Personal Judgment on Constructive Service; Corporations--Notice to Corporators; Court--disturbance--Power to Prevent; Criminal Law--Commencement of Term of Imprisonment; Criminal Law--Depriving of Necessary Sustenance--Medicine; Deeds--Covenants that Run witht …


Recent Important Decisions, Michigan Law Review Mar 1903

Recent Important Decisions, Michigan Law Review

Michigan Law Review

Administrator--Debt Due From Him to the Estate--Effect of Administrator's Insolvency; Agency--Action by Undisclosed Principal--Abstractoer's Liability; Agency--Liability for Acting Without Authority; Agency--duty to Exercise Good Faith--Commissions; Bankruptcy--Preferences; Banks and Banking--Subagent--Collection; Conflict of Laws--Married Women--Note made in One State but Payable in Another, and Action Brought in the Third; Constitutional Law--bill of lading--Conclusive Evidence; Constitutional law--Eminent Domain--Right to Compensation Before Entry; Constitutional Law--Legislative Control of Municipal Contracts--Eight Hour Law; Constitutional Law--Privileges and Innumities of citizens--Statute Authorizing Personal Judgment on Constructive Service; Corporations--Notice to Corporators; Court--disturbance--Power to Prevent; Criminal Law--Commencement of Term of Imprisonment; Criminal Law--Depriving of Necessary Sustenance--Medicine; Deeds--Covenants that Run witht …