SECOND DI VI SI ON

DOYLE, J.

, BRA NCH and REESE, JJ.

N O T IC E : M otions for r e c ons i de r a tion m us t be

ph y sic a l ly r e ce iv ed i n our c le r k ’s offic e w ithin te n

da y s of the da te of de c is ion to be de e m ed tim e ly file d.

http://w w w .ga a ppe a l s .us /r ule s

October 27, 2017



# I n th e Co u r t o f

A p p eals o f

G eo r g ia

A1 6 A1 69 8 . IN RE: ESTATE OF LOUISE RAY BURKHALTER.

B R A N C H , J u d g e.

W i l l i am Th o m as Ray Bu rk h al t er an d J o h n A l l an Bu rk h al t er, ex ecu t o rs o f t h e

es t at e of Lo u is e Ray Bu rk hal t er, ap p eal fro m t h e Bi b b Co u n t y Pro b at e Co u rt ’ s o rd er

g ran t i n g

, i n p art

, a p et i t i o n fo r a d ecl arat o ry ju d g m en t fi l ed b y Geo rg e Lari s

Bu rk h al ter an d N an cy Gay l e W ard

. In t h e ru l i n g s at i ss u e i n t h i s ap p eal

, t h e p ro b at e

co u r t g ran t ed t h e p et it i on ers ’ req u es t s fo r a d ecl arat o ry ju d g m en t t h at t h ey m ay

,

w i t h o u t i n v o ki ng t h e i n terro rem cl au s e 1 i n cl u d ed i n th e t es t at o r’ s w i l l

, fi l e

s u b s eq u en t p et i ti o n s co n cern i n g t h e wi l l an d i t s ad m i ni s t rat i o n

. Fo r t h e reas o n s t h at

1 An “ i n t erro rem ” or “ n o -co n t es t” cl au s e refers to “ a t es t am e n t a r y p ro v i s i o n

t h at t h reat en s t o d i s p o s s es s an y b en efi ci ary w h o ch al l en ges th e t erm s o f t h e wi l l .”

Bl ack ’ s Law Di ct i o n ary

1 2 09 (1 0 t h ed . 2 0 1 4 ).fo l l o w

, we v acat e t h e p ro b at e co u rt ’ s ru l i n gs an d rem an d fo r fu rt her p ro ceed i ng s

co n si s t en t wi t h t h i s o p i ni on

. 2

Lo u i s e Ray Bu rk hal t er, t h e t es t at o r, di ed o n M arch 1 8

, 2 0 1 5

, an d h er wi l l was

ad m i t t ed t o p ro b at e. “ It em IV” i n h er wi l l p ro v i des as fo l l ows :

[I] t i s m y des i re t h at an eq u i t ab l e d i st ri b u t i o n o f m y es t at e i s m ad e

am o n g m y ch i l d ren

. I h av e co n s id ered th e di s t res s I h av e i n cu rred d ue

t o act i o n s b y m

y d au g h t er, Nan cy Gay l e Bu rk h al ter W ard as wel l as h er

s o n Ro b ert W at k i n s, in an effo rt t o th wart act i o ns b y m y o t h er ch i ld ren

,

wh i ch were t ak en i n an effo rt t o b en efi t m y t ru s t. D u e t o t h e fo r[e] g o i n g

I d es i re t h at m

y s on s , W il l i am

Th o m as Ray Bu rk h al t er an d J o h n Al lan

Bu rk h al t er m ak e a cal cu l at i o n o n l os s s u s t ai n ed d u e to t h e act i o n s o f m y

d au g h t er an d g ran d s on

. I d es i re t h at t h i s cal cu lat i o n b e at t h e co m p l et e

d i s cret i o n o f m

y ex ecu t o rs / ex ecu to r, an d m ay b e up t o m y en t i re

rem ai ni ng es t at e. I h av e co m p l et e co n fi d en ce i n t h ei r d eci si o n s an d

d es i re t o av o i d an y fu rt h er d i s p u t e wh et her t h ro u g h a co u rt o r ot h erwi s e.

I d irect t h at t h i s cal cu l at i o n, wh at ev er i t s h al l b e, b e co n si d ered

,

fo r t he l i m i ted p urp os e o f d is t ri b u t i o n

, an as s et o f m y es t at e al read y h el d

2 W e i n i t i al ly t ran sferred t h i s ap p eal to t h e Su p rem e Co u rt on th e g ro u n d t h at

i t s res o lu t i on p o t en ti al l y req u i red an ev al u at i o n o f t h e m ean i n g o f t h e t es t at o r’ s wi l l

. Th e Su p rem e Co u rt ret u rn ed t h e cas e t o t h is Co u rt

, co n cl u d i n g t hat no n e o f t h e

p ro b at e co urt ’ s fi n d i n g s t urn ed o n t h e co n s t ru ct i o n or i n t erp ret at i o n o f t h e t es t at o r’ s

wi l l o r o n a d et erm i n at i o n as t o t h e v al i d it y o f an y p ro vi si o n t hereo f.

2b y m

y d au g h t er, Nan cy

Gay l e Bu rk h al t er. [ 3 ] Each o f m y o t h er ch i l dren

are en ti t led t o t h e s am e b en efi t

. Th erefo re, I d i rect t h at p ri o r t o fu rt h er

d i s t ri b u t i on

, an am o u n t eq u al t o t h i s c al cu l at io n b e d i s tri b ut ed t o each

o f m y ot her ch i l dren

, W i l li am Th o m as Ray Bu rk h al t e r

, J o h n A l lan

Bu rk h al t er, G eo rg e Lari s Bu rk h al t er an d Mary Al i ce Bu rk hal t er t o be

h el d b y t h em i n fee s im

p l e fo rev er.

“ It em IX” i n t h e wi l l co n t ai n s t h e i n t erro rem cl au s e, wh i ch p ro v i d es

, i n rel ev an t p art :

In o rd er t o as s ure t h ere wi l l b e n o d i s pu t e bet ween m y ch i l dren

co n cern i n g s o m e o f t h e ex p en d i tu res m ad e o u t of t h e Bu rk h al t er Fam i l y

Tru s t an d ot h er fi n an ci al t ran s act i o n s wi t h t h e as s et s i n m y es t at e, I wan t

t o d e c l a re t h at I h av e p ers o n al l y au t h ori zed t h es e t ran s act i o ns

. . . . I

ab s o l u tel y d o n o t wi s h fo r m y ch i l dren t o en gag e in l eg al d i s p u t es ov er

t h i s es t at e aft er m

y d eat h . Th erefo re:

An y p ers o n wh et h er n am ed as a b en efi ci ary u n d er m y Las t W i l l

an d Tes t am en t o r b eco m i n g an h ei r o f m y es t at e by o p erat i o n o f law o r

an y o t h er m ean s w h o a t t a c k s i n an y co u rt o f l aw an y p ro v i s i o n o f m y

L a s t W i l l an d Tes t am en t

, o r t he ad m i ni s t rat i o n o f m y es t at e, o r t h e

m an ag em en t o r ex p en d i t u res o f t h e Bu rk h al ter [F] am i l y [T] ru s t s h al l be

s p eci fi cal ly di si n h eri ted fro m an y po rt i o n o f m y es t at e t h at wo ul d g o t o

t h em ei t h er fro m p ro v i s i o n s i n m y wi l l o r t hro u g h o p erat i o n [ ] of l aw. If

t h i s p ro v is i o n b eco m es o p erat i v e, I d irect th at an y p o rt io n o f m y es t at e

3 Nan cy Gay le Bu rk h al ter W ard

, Nan cy Gay l e Bu rk h a l te r

, a n d P e titione r N a nc y

Gay l e W ard are t h e s am e p ers o n

.

3t h at i s i n v ol v ed b e ad d ed t o t he res id u e an d b e d i s t ri bu t ed t o t h e

rem ai ni ng b en efi ci ari es

, acco rd i n g t o t h i s

, m y L as t W i ll an d Tes t am en t

.

On J u n e 1 0

, 2 0 1 5

, t h e pro b at e co u rt i s s ued l et ters t es t am en t ary q u al i fy i n g t h e

ap p el l an t s as t h e ex ecu t o rs o f t he t es t at o r’ s es t at e. On J u n e 1 5

, 2 0 1 5

, t h e p et i t i o n ers

fi led a p et i t i o n fo r a d ecl arat o ry ju d g m en t

. As rel i e f

, t h e p et i t i o ners s o u g h t a

d ecl arat io n t h at t h ey m ay

, w i t h o u t i n v o ki n g t h e i n t erro rem cl au se i n t h e t es t at o r’ s

wi l l

, fi l e ad d i t i o n al d ecl arat o ry ju d gm en t act i on s (i ) “ reg ard in g It em IV” o f t h e wi l l

,

(i i) “ reg ard i n g It em IX” o f t he wi l l

, an d (i i i ) t o rem o v e W i l l i am an d J o hn as ex ecu t o rs

o f t h e e s t a t e

. T h e p et i t i o n ers di d n o t

, h o wev er, fi l e co p i es o f an y p ro p o sed act i on s

t h at t h ey i n t en d ed t o fi l e i n t hes e s u b s eq uen t act i on s

.

On Au g us t 15

, 2 01 5

, th e p ro b at e co urt hel d a h eari n g o n t he p et i t i o n

, fo l l o wi n g

wh i ch t h e co u rt m ad e th ree ru li n g s : i t d en i ed t h e p e t i t i o n as t o It em IV (t h e s h are

cal cu l at io n p ro v i s i o n ), g ran t ed t h e p et i ti o n t o fi l e a seco n d p et i t i o n as t o It em IX (t h e

i n t erro rem p ro v i s i o n ), an d g ran ted t h e p et i t i o n t o fi l e a s eco n d p et i t i o n f o r t h e

rem o v al o f t h e ex ecu t o rs

.

As t o It em IV, t h e co u rt n o t ed t h at i t was “ b ei n g as k ed t o p re-d et erm i ne”

wh et h er a fu t ure act io n “ n o t fi l ed o r p res en t ed t o th e Co u rt

, co n cern in g It em IV o f t h e

W i ll v io l at es t h e in t erro rem cl au s e i n It em IX o f t h e W i l l

. ” T h e co u rt fo u nd t h at i t

4was u n cl ear wh et h er t h e p et i t i o n ers were “ s eek i n g t o d ecl are a p ro v i s i o n o f t h e W i l l

v o i d o r m erel y s eek i ng i n t erp ret at io n o r co n s t ru ct i o n o f th e l an g u ag e o f t h e W i l l .”

Acco rd in g ly

, t he co u rt fo un d i t i m p o s s i b le t o p re-d et erm i n e wh et h er s u ch an act i o n

wo u l d v i ol at e th e i n t erro rem co n d i t i o n

, an d i t t h erefo re d en i ed t h e p et i t i o n as t o It em

IV. Th e ap pel l ee p et it i o n ers h av e n o t cro s s -ap peal ed t h i s ru l i n g

.

As t o It em IX, th e co u rt hel d th at a l eg at ee m ay s eek cl ari t y as to t h e “ v al id i t y

o f” an in t erro re m c l a u se. Th e co u rt t h erefo re g ran t ed t h e p et it io n t o fi l e an o t h er

p et i t i o n fo r d ecl arat o ry ju d g m en t reg ard i n g th e val i d i t y of t h e i n t erro rem cl au s e in

It em IX o f t h e wi l l

. Fi n al l y

, t h e co u rt co n cl u d ed t h at a p et i t i o n fo r t h e rem o val o f t h e

ex ecu t o rs al s o w o ul d no t i n v o k e t h e i n t erro rem cl au s e becau s e s uch a cl au s e d o es n ot

ap p ly t o “ an act i o n fo r an acco u n ti n g an d / o r rem o v al o f a n e x e c u t o r.” Th i s ap p eal

fo l l o w ed

. 4

4 Th e p art i es ’ ap p el l at e b ri efs refer t o p ro ceed i n g s t h at p o s t d at e t h e p ro b a t e

co u rt o rd er at i s s u e in t h i s ap p eal

. Becau s e t h o s e p ro ceed i n g s are n o t p art o f t h e

cu rren t reco rd o n ap p eal

, we d o n o t c o n s i d e r t h em an d ex p res s n o o pi n i o n o n t h e

effect o f an y

s u ch p ro ceed i n g s o n t he i ss u es o n ap p eal

.

5Th e ap p el l an t ex ecu t o rs h av e n ot p r o v i d ed t o t h i s Co u rt a t ran s cri p t o f t h e

Au g u s t 15

, 2 0 15 h eari ng

. Acco rd i n g l y

, t h ey m ay o nl y ch al l en g e t h e l eg al ru l i n g s in

t h e t ri al co urt ’ s o rd er. 5

Th e ex ecu t o rs ch al l en g e t wo p ro b at e co urt ru li n g s : (1 ) t h e d ecl arat io n t h at t h e

p et i t i o n ers m ay fi l e a fu tu re p et it i on fo r a d ecl arat o ry ju dg m en t “ reg ard i n g t h e

v al i d i t y o f” t h e i n t erro rem cl au s e wi t h o u t v i o lat i n g t h e i n t erro rem cl au s e i t s el f; an d

(2 ) t h e decl ar a t i o n t h at th e p et i t i on ers m ay fi l e a fu t u re p et i t io n t o rem o v e t h e

ex ecu t o rs wi t h ou t v i o l at in g t h e i n t erro rem c l a u s e.

. As s h o wn b el o w

, we co n cl u d e

t h at t h e p et i t i o n ers ’ cl ai m s an d t h e t ri al co urt ’ s ru l i n g s o n t h es e i s s u es are fl awed as

a m at t er o f l aw.

1

. By st at ut e, an y pers o n i n t eres t ed as a l eg at ee, h ei r, o r b en efi ci ary o f t h e

es t a t e o f a d eced en t “ m ay h av e a d ecl arat io n o f ri g ht s o r l eg al rel at i on s i n res p ect

t h eret o an d a decl arat o ry ju d g m en t

. . . [t ] o d et erm i n e an y q u es t i o n ari si n g i n t h e

ad m i n is t rat i o n o f t h e es t at e

. . . , i n cl u di n g q u es t i on s o f co n s t ru ct i o n of wi l l s an d o t h er

5 Th is ap p eal rai s es a q u es t i o n o f l aw t hat can b e d eci ded wi t h o ut referen ce to

t h e o m i t t ed t ran s cri pt

. See IS P Al l i a n ce v. Ph

ys i o t h er a p y As s ocs

. , 2 3 8 Ga. Ap p

. 4 3 6,

4 3 7 (1 ) (5 1 9 SE2 d 24 1 ) (1 9 9 9 ); s ee al s o Br a d l ey v. Ro b er t s , 2 33 Ga. 1 1 4 , 1 1 4 (2 1 0

SE2 d 2 36 ) (1 9 7 4 ). M o reo v er, t h e h eari n g d o es n o t ap p ear t o h av e b een an ev i d en ti ary

h eari n g ; in i ts ord er, t h e t ri al co u rt s t at ed t h at i t rel i ed o n “ t h e p l ead i n g s

, cas es ci t ed

an d arg u m en t o f co un s el .”

6wri t in g s .” OCGA § 9 -4 -4 (a) (3 ) (em p h as i s s up p li ed ); S i ncl a i r v. S in cl ai r

, 2 8 4 Ga.

5 0 0

, 5 0 1 (1 ) (6 70 SE2 d 5 9 ) ( 2 0 0 8 ). “ T h i s s t at u t e i s t o b e li b eral l y co n st ru ed an d

a d m i n i s t e r ed so as t o affo rd rel i ef fro m u n cert ai nt y an d i n s ecu ri ty w i t h res p ect t o

r i g h t s

, s tat u s

, an d ot her l eg al rel at i o n s

. ” S i n cl a ir

, 28 4 Ga. at 5 0 1 (1 ) (ci t at i o n s a n d

p u n ct u at i o n o m i t t ed ; em

p has is s u p p li ed ); s ee OCGA § 9 -4 -1 (s t at i n g t h e p u rp o s e o f

t h e Decl arat o ry

J u d g m en t Act ).

Th u s

, u n d er O CGA § 9 -4 -4 (a) (3 ), an i n t eres t ed p art y m ay s eek a decl arat i o n

co n cern in g t h e val i d i t y o f an i n t erro rem c lau s e. See Kes l er v. W a t t s

, 2 1 8 Ga. Ap p.

1 0 4

, 1 0 5 (2 ) (4 6 0 SE2 d 8 2 2 ) (1 9 9 5 ); S i n cl a ir , 2 8 4 Ga. at 5 0 1 (1 ). An d t h e fi l i n g o f

s u ch an act i o n i s no t i t sel f a v i ol at i o n o f t h e i n t erro rem cl au s e at i s s u e: “ T h e s earch

fo r t he t ru e m ean i n g o f a wi l l i s n o t an at t ack u p o n i t .” H i cks v. Ru s h i n

, 2 28 Ga. 3 2 0,

3 2 4 (2 ) (1 8 5 SE2 d 3 9 0 ) (1 9 7 1 ); s ee al s o Si n cl a i r

, 2 8 4 Ga. at 50 4 (2 ) (ci t i ng Hi cks ).

Ou r Su p rem e Co u rt al s o s an ct i o n s t h e u s e o f a d ecl arat o ry j u d gm en t act i o n to

d et erm i n e wh et h er a pro p o sed fu t u re act i o n b y t h e p e t i t i o n er wo u l d v i o l at e an in

t erro r e m c l a u s e

. S in cl a i r

, 2 8 4 Ga. at 5 0 1 (1 ); Co hen v. Rei s ma n

, 2 0 3 Ga. 6 8 4 (4 8

SE2 d 1 1 3 ) (1 9 4 8 ). Ty

p ical l y t h es e p ro p o s ed act i o n s i n v ol ve q u es t i o n s o f wh eth er an d

h o w an i n teres t ed p art y m ay ch al l en g e act i o n s b y an ex ecu t o r, t ru s t e e o r o t h er

7fi du ci ary i n th e face o f an i n terro rem cl au s e. See, e.g

., S i n cl a i r

, 2 8 4 Ga. at 5 0 1 (1 );

Co h en , 2 0 3 Ga. at 6 8 5 (3 ).

Bu t we fi nd no au th o ri t y s u p p o rt i n g a p ro ced u re b y wh i ch an i n t eres ted p art y

m ay fi l e o n e decl arat o ry

ju d g m en t act i o n t o d et erm i n e wh et her i t m ay fi l e a s eco n d

d ecl arat ory ju d g m en t act i o n t o det erm i n e t h e val i d i t y o f an i n t erro rem cl au s e. Rat h er,

a q ues t io n reg ard in g t h e v al id it y o f an i n t erro rem cl au s e s h o ul d b e res o l v ed i n t h e

fi rs t d ecl arat o ry ju d g m en t act i o n rai s i n g t hat i ss u e. Cf. Kes s ler

, 2 1 8 Ga. Ap p

. at 1 0 6

( 2 ) ( i n d ecl arat o ry ju d g m en t act i o n fi l ed co n cern i n g v al id i t y o f i n terro rem cl au s e,

cas e rem an d ed fo r t h at d et erm i n at i o n ). Becau s e we fi n d n o law al l o wi n g a s eco n d

d ecl arat ory

ju d g m en t act i o n on t h e q u es ti o n o f t h e v al i d it y o f an in t erro rem cl au s e

t h e co u rt ’ s o rd er m

u s t b e rev ers ed o n t h i s i s s u e an d rem an d ed fo r t h at d et erm i n at io n

. 6

2

. W e n ex t ad d res s t h e co u rt ’ s d ecl arat i o n t h at a fu t u re p et i t i on t o rem o v e t h e

e x ecu t o rs wo u l d no t v i o l at e th e i n t erro rem cl au s e fo u n d i n th e w i l l. W e ag ai n fi n d

l eg al erro r.

6 It i s cl ear t h at t he i s su e h as n o t b een ad d res s ed b el o w. A s al read y es t ab l i s h ed

b y th e Su p rem e Co u rt ’ s o rd er t ran s ferri n g t h i s cas e b ack t o t h i s Co u rt

, t h e t ri al co u rt

“ d i d n ot

. . . i n t erp ret an y s p eci fi c p ro v i s i o n o f t h e wi l l ” an d n o n e of it s fi n d i ng s

“ t u rn ed o n an y d et erm in at i o n as t o t h e v al id i t y o f an y sp eci fi c p ro v i s i o n o f M s

. Bu rk h al ter’ s wi ll o r ev en on a co n st ru ct io n o r i n t erp ret at i o n as t o t h e m ean i n g o f an y

s p eci fi c p ro v i s io n o f M rs . Bu rk h al t er’ s wi l l .”

8As a p art o f t h i s d ecl arat o ry ju d g m en t act i o n

, t h e t r i a l c o u rt was req u i red to

d et erm i n e wh et h er t h e p et i t i o n er’ s p ro p o s ed act io n v i o l at es t h e s peci fi c i n t erro rem

cl au s e at i s s u e as p ro p erl y co ns t ru ed u nd er t he l aw. See S i n cl a ir

, 2 8 4 Ga. at 5 0 0 -5 0 2.

In S i n cl a i r

, t h e pet i t i o ner i n t h e d ecl arat o ry ju d g m en t act i o n s p eci fi ed t h at h e

i n t en d ed t o fi l e a s u b s eq u en t act i o n fo r rem o v al o f an ex ecu t o r fo r cau s e:

o n t h e g ro u nd s o f ho s t i l i t y

, in co m p et en ce, s el f-d eal i n g

, fl ag ran t ab u ses

o f fi d u ci ary res p on s ib i l i t i es an d o t h er wro n g s

, an d fo r an acco u n t i n g an d

o t h er rel i ef fo r b reach es o f t ru s t

, c o l l u si o n

, an d n eg l i g en ce i n th e

p erfo rm an ce o f h i s d u ti es u n der t h e wi l l

.

Id

. at 5 0 0

. Th e s peci fi c i n t erro rem cl au s e i n t h at c a s e p ro vi d ed t h at an y l eg at ee,

d ev is ee o r b en efi ci ary o f t h e wi l l w h o co n t es ted t h e v al i d i t y o f t h e wi l l o r an y

p ro v is i o n t h ereo f o r i ns t i t u ted an y p ro ceed i n g s t o d o s o wo u l d h av e t h ei r b e n efi t s

u n d er t h e wi l l rev o k ed an d g i v en t o t h e ot h e r b e n efi ci ari es u n d er t he wi ll

. Id

. Th e

Su p rem e Co u rt t h en des cri bed t h e di l em m a faci n g th e p et it i on er i n t erm s o f wh et h er

t h e p ro p o s ed fu tu re act i on v i ol at ed t h e i n t erro rem cl au s e at i s s u e:

If t h a t act i o n co n st i t ut es a p ro ceed i n g t o co n t es t t h e wi l l o r a ny

p r o vi s i o n t h er eo

f

, Ap p el l an t “ wi l l fo rfei t [h is ] ri g h t t o r e c ei v e an y

p ro p ert y u n d er t h e wi l l

. O n th e o th er h an d ,” i f t he p r o p o s ed a ct i o n d o es

n o t co n st i t u t e s u ch a p ro ceed in g

, Ap p el lan t can b ri n g t h e act i o n

9“ wi t h ou t ri sk o f fo rfei t i n g [h i s ] i nt eres t i n [Tes t at ri x ’ s ] es t at e u n d er th e

i n t erro rem

cl au s e.”

Id

. at 5 0 1 (1 ) (em

p h as i s s u p p l i ed ), q u o ti n g Kes s l er

, 2 1 8 Ga. Ap p

. at 1 0 6 (2 ). Th e

co u rt i n Si n c l a i r t h en s tri ct l y co n s t ru ed t h e i n terro rem cl au s e, as req ui red

, 7 an d

d et erm i n ed t h at i t ap pl i ed “ o n ly t o a n a c t u al wi ll co n t es t ” an d n o t t o t h e p ro p o s ed

act i on b y t he p et i t io n er, wh i ch s o u g ht an acco u n t i ng an d rem o v al o f th e ex ecu t o r fo r

cau s e. S i n cl a i r

, 2 84 Ga. at 5 0 2 (2 ). Th e Su p rem e Co u rt al s o fo u n d t h at “ i t wo u ld

v i o l at e p u b l i c po li cy t o co n s tru e t he co n d it i on i n t erro rem s o as to req u i r e t h e

fo rfei t u re o f a b en efi ci ary ’ s i n teres t fo r b ri n g i n g an act i o n fo r acco u n t i n g an d rem o v al

o f t h e ex ecu t o r.” Id . Th e co u rt co n cl u ded t h at “ t h e i n t erro rem cl au s e i n Tes t at ri x ’ s

wi l l d o es n o t an d can n o t req u i re fo rfei t u re o f [t h e ap p el l an t ’ s] i n t eres t i f h e fi l es t h e

p r o p o s ed act i o n fo r acco u n t i n g an d rem o v al o f Ex ecu to r.” Id

. at 5 0 4 (2 ). F i n a l l y,

S i n cl a i r no t ed th at a d ecl arat i o n t h at a p ro p o s ed act i o n wi l l n o t v i o l at e an i n t erro rem

cl au s e is l i m i t ed t o t h e t y p e o f p ro po s ed act i o n t h a t th e p et i t i o n er h a s d es cr i b ed :

“ Ap p el l an t co u l d co n cei v ab l y ch o o s e t o ri s k a fo rfei tu re o f h i s i n t eres t u n d er t h e wi l l

b y req u es t i n g rel i ef [i n t h e f u t u re act i o n ] b ey o n d t h at wh i ch i s o u t l in ed i n h i s

7 “ Becau s e i n t erro rem cl au s es res u l t i n fo rfei t u res

, t h ey m u s t b e s t ri ct l y

co n st ru ed .” Pr eu s s v. S t o kes -Pr eu ss

, 2 7 5 Ga. 4 3 7

, 4 3 8 ( 5 6 9 SE2 d 8 57 ) (2 0 0 2 )

(fo o t no t e o m i t t ed ).

10co m

p l ai n t fo r d ecl arat o ry ju d g m en t .” S i n cl a ir

, 2 84 Ga. at 5 03 (2 ). As can b e s een

, t h e

co u rt had t o b o t h co n s t ru e t h e rel ev an t i n t erro rem cl au se an d co m p are i t t o t he act i o n

p ro p os ed b y t h e p et i t i o n er i n t he d ecl arat o ry ju d g m en t act i o n

.

Here, t h e p et i t i on fai l s t o s p eci fy t h e p ro p o s ed cl ai m s ag ai n s t t he ex ecu t o rs

s u ffi ci en t fo r t h e tri al co u rt t o h av e d et erm in ed t hat t h o s e cl ai m s wo u l d n ot v i o l at e

t h e i n t erro rem cl au se. Th e p et i ti o n do es n ot i n cl u d e a p r o p o s ed co m p l ai n t o r

o t h erwi s e s t at e t he b as i s fo r a s u i t t o rem o v e t he ex ecu t o rs

. Ab s en t su ch al l eg at i o n s

,

t h e reco r d d o es n o t s up p o rt t h e p ro b at e co u rt ’ s co n cl u s i o n t hat t h e p et i t i o n ers ’

p ro p os ed p et i t i o n t o rem o v e t h e e x e c u t o rs wi l l n ot v i o l at e th e i n terro rem cl au s e.

Co m p are S i n cl a i r

, 2 8 4 Ga. at 5 00 -5 0 3 (1 ) & (2 ); Co h en

, 2 0 3 Ga. at 6 8 5 -6 8 6 (3 ) & (4 )

(ap p el l an t s o u g h t a ru li n g o n wh et h er, un d er th e i n terro rem p ro v i s i o n i n t h e t es t at o r’ s

wi l l

, a p p el l an t w o u l d fo rfei t her i n t eres t i n t h e es t at e i f s he b ro u g h t an act i o n to

co m p el th e ex ecu t o r to d i sp o s e o f t h e es t at e i n acco rd an ce wi t h t h e term s o f th e wi l l );

Co h en

, 2 03 Ga. at 68 5 (3 ) (b en efi ci ary u nd er w i l l s ou g h t d ecl arat io n as t o ap p l i cat i o n

o f cert ai n i n -t erro rem cl au se “ s h o u l d s h e b ri n g an act i o n seek i n g t o s h o w t h at t h e

ex ecu t o r h as w ro ng fu l ly wi th h el d fro m h er as s et s o f t h e es tat e g o i n g t o her u n d er t h e

wi l l , an d t h at h e as ex ecu t o r h ad p erp et rat ed a frau d u p o n t h e o rd i n ary i n p ro cu ri n g

h i s d i s ch arg e”); s ee al s o OCGA § 9

- 1 1 -5 4 (c) (“ [T] h e co urt s h al l n ot g i v e t h e

11s u cces s fu l p ar t y rel i ef, t h o ug h h e m ay b e en ti t l ed t o i t, w h ere t h e pro p ri et y o f t h e

rel i ef was n o t li t ig at ed an d t h e o p p o s i n g p art y h ad n o o pp o rt u n i t y t o as s ert d efen s es

t o s u ch r e l i e f.”). At b es t

, t h e p et i t i o n h ere can b e read t o al l eg e t hat t h e ex ecu t o rs

s h o u l d b e r e m o v ed b ecau s e t h ey h av e a co n fl i ct of i n t eres t b et w een t h ei r ro l es as

ex ecu t o rs an d as b en efi ci ari es o f an y fo rfei tu re t h at m i g h t res u lt fro m t h e effect o f t h e

i n t erro rem cl au s e. Bu t t h e t r i al co u rt d i d n o t ex am i n e wh et her an y su ch as s ert i o n

wo u l d b e a v i o l at i on of th e i n t erro rem cl au s e o r wh et h er, b as ed o n t h o s e al l eg at i o n s

,

ap p li cat io n o f t h e i n t erro rem cl au s e wo u l d b e v o i d

.

It i s t ru e t hat an i n t erro rem cl au s e m ay no t p u ni s h l i t i gat i o n b ro u g h t “ to

en fo rce t h e wi l l an d t o co m p el t h e ex ecu t o r

. . . t o c a r ry o u t i t s t erm s ” b ecau s e an

ex ecu t o r “ h a s n o arb i t rary p o wers t o av o i d t h e p ro vi s i o n s o f a wi l l wh i ch h e i s

ap p oi n t ed t o ex ecu t e.” See S in cl a i r

, 28 4 Ga. at 5 0 2 -5 0 3 (2 ). Bu t a b s en t s o m e

i n d i cat i o n in t h e reco rd t h at t h e p et i ti o ners s eek t o rem o v e t h e ex ecu t o rs t o en f o r ce

t h e t es t a t o r ’s wi s h es

, t h e p et i t i o n ers ’ rel i an ce o n S i n cl a i r i s o f no av ai l

. See i d

. at 5 0 2

(2 ); acco rd No r ma n v. Go b er

, 29 2 Ga. 3 5 1

, 3 5 4 (1 ) ( 7 3 7 SE2 d 3 0 9 ) (2 0 1 3 )

(co n cl u d i n g t hat a cav eat t o t h e d eced en t ’ s wi l l was n ot g o v ern ed b y S i ncl a i r b ecau s e

t h e cav eat s o u g ht t o c h a l l e n g e t h e wi l l

, wh ereas t h e p et i t i o n i n S i n cl a i r s o u g h t to

12a f

f i r m t he wi l l). T h e co u rt t h erefo re fai l ed t o an al y ze th e i s s u e of t h e p et i t i o n e r s ’

p ro p os ed cl ai m

ag ai n s t t h e ex ecu t ors i n acco rd an ce wi t h S i n cl ai r an d Kes s l er

.

Fo r t h e ab o v e reas o n s

, t h e t ri al co u rt erred i n i t s ru l i n g s as t o t h e p et i t i o n ers ’

p ro p os ed pet i t i on s fo r d ecl arat o ry ju dg m en t r eg ard i n g It em IX o f t h e wi l l an d

rem o v al o f t h e ex ecu t ors wi t h ou t v io l at ing t he i n t erro rem cl au s e. W e t h erefo re v acat e

t h e p ro b at e co urt ’ s j u d gm en t an d rem an d t h i s cas e fo r fu rt h er p ro ceed i n g s co n s i s t en t

wi t h t h i s o p i n i o n

.

Ju d g men t va ca t ed a nd ca s e r ema n d

ed . Do yl e a n d Rees e, JJ., co n cu r

.

13