Case ID: shan-cas_3/html/0292-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "Reid, Sp. J.,", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

ELKINS ET AL. v. CARSEY ET AL.
    Nashville,
    December Term, 1886.
    WILLS. CLASS DOCTRINE. Devise to daughter for life and to her children at her death vests the remainder in presenti in them, when.
    A devise of land to testator’s two daughters “during- their natural life, and to- their children respectively at their death,” vests the remainder in the children of the life tenants, on the death of the testator, descendible to their heirs, although the ancestor remainderman may have died before the termination of the life estate, especially when the clause immediately preceding this one in the will by which testator devised land to another- daughter, “to her and to her children living- at the .time of her death,” that is, devised the remainder to vest in a class in futuro, shows that by the language of the clause under consideration, he intended to vest the remainder in presentí in his grandchildren as tenants in common. [See Calcóte et ux. v. Elkin et al., and Carsey et ux. v. Calcóte et ah, post, page 319.]
    Appeal from chancery court of Davidson county.
    H. II. Harrison, E. Slemmons, and J. C. & J. NX. Gaufc, for Elkins; M. B. Howell, for the bank; W. D. & M. T. Covington, for Carsey.
   Reid, Sp. J.,

delivered the- opinion of the court:

The question in this case is, where a testator devises land to two daughters, “during their natural life, and to their children, respectively, at their death,” do the children of one of the remaindermen, who died before the falling in of the life estate, take an interest in the land? We think a proper construction of the language quoted vests the remainder in the children of the life tenants, on the death of the testator, descendible to their heirs, although the ancestor may have died before the termination of the life estate. But, be this as it may, the clause immediately preceding it, by which the testator devised land to another daughter, “to her and to her children living at the time of her death,” — fhat is, devised the remainder to vest in a class :in futuro, evidences that, by the language under consideration, he intended to vest the remainder in praesenti in his grandchildren as tenants in common.

The report of the referees will be confirmed.