Title: In re Estate of Piche

State: vermont

Issuer: Vermont Supreme Court

Document:

In re Estate of Piche (96-265); 166 Vt. 479; 697 A.2d 674

[Filed 13-Jun-1997]

       NOTICE:  This opinion is subject to motions for reargument under
  V.R.A.P. 40 as well as formal revision before publication in the Vermont
  Reports.  Readers are requested to notify the Reporter of Decisions,
  Vermont Supreme Court, 109 State Street, Montpelier, Vermont 05609-0801 of
  any errors in order that corrections may be made before this opinion goes
  to press.

                            No. 96-265

In re Estate of Charles E. Piche             Supreme Court

                                             On Appeal from
                                             Washington Probate Court

                                             March Term, 1997

George K. Belcher, J.

       Frederick G. Cleveland and David P. McHugh of McKee, Giuliani &
  Cleveland, P.C., Montpelier, for appellant Vermont State Employees Credit
  Union

       David Putter of Saxer, Anderson, Wolinsky and Sunshine, Montpelier,
  for cross-appellant Arthur Simonds

       Stephen J. Murphy, Montpelier, for appellee Fred R. Boudreau

PRESENT:  Amestoy, C.J., Gibson, Dooley and Morse, JJ.

       AMESTOY, C.J.  The Vermont State Employees Credit Union (VSECU)
  appeals a decision of the Washington Probate Court, arguing that the court
  does not have subject matter jurisdiction to determine title to decedent's
  VSECU account.  Both decedent's personal representative and decedent's
  nephew, the stated beneficiary on a designation-of-beneficiary card filed
  at VSECU, claim title to the account.  We hold that the probate court has
  jurisdiction to determine title to personal property where the issue is
  necessary and incidental to the determination of other matters within the
  probate court's jurisdiction.

       Decedent died testate in January 1996.  His will named his nephew
  beneficiary of two life insurance policies, one issued by VSECU and the
  other by the State of Vermont.  Decedent left the remainder of his estate
  in equal portions to his nephew and two others.  He also left a signature
  card and a designation-of-beneficiary card, naming his nephew beneficiary
  of all sums paid under the VSECU life insurance policy "and all monies on
  deposit" at VSECU.

 

       The executor filed a petition for declaratory judgment asking the
  probate court to declare the rightful owner of a VSECU account containing
  $51,810.  The court concluded "that the determination of the ownership of
  the account in question among the heirs and legatees is within the
  declaratory judgment jurisdiction of the probate court" and that the
  account was an asset of the estate.  VSECU appealed, arguing that the
  probate court did not have subject matter jurisdiction to determine title
  to the account.  The nephew filed a cross-appeal, agreeing with VSECU, and
  the executor filed a brief in opposition.

       VSECU argues that although the probate court has plenary and exclusive
  jurisdiction over the probate of wills and the settlement of estates, see 4
  V.S.A. § 311; Murray v. Cartmell, 118 Vt. 178, 180,