THI RD DI VI SI ON

DOYLE, P. J.

, REESE, J.

, and SENI OR A PPELLA TE JUDGE PHI PPS

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.

https ://w w w

. ga a ppe a ls .us /r ule s

M ay 16, 2022



# I n th e Co u r t o f

A p p eals o f

G eo r g ia

A2 2 A0 20 0 . M O RSE et al . v . SUNTRUST BANK, N.A. et al

.

P H I P P S , Sen i o r Ap p el l at e J u d g e.

In t h i s act i o n co n cern i n g t h e i nt erp ret at i on o f a wi ll

, p l ai nt i ffs St ev en an d

St u art M o rs e ap peal fro m t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s ord er t h at

, am o n g o t her t h in g s, d en i ed t h ei r

ren ewed m o t i o n fo r part i al s um m ary ju d g m en t an d g ran ted a m o t i o n fo r s u m m ary

ju d g m en t fi l ed b y a n u m

ber o f d efen d an t s an d jo in ed by ad d it i o n al defen d an t s an d a

g u ard i an ad l i t em rep res en t in g v ari o u s b en efi ci ari es u n der t he w i l l (co l l ect i v el y t h e

“ Ap p el l ees ”). Fo r t he reas o n s t h at fo l l o w, we rev ers e t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s o rd er.

Th i s act i o n i n v o lv es a m u l t i-g en er a t io nal fam il y tru s t (t h e “ 1 9 6 7 Tru s t ”)

creat ed b y Sect io n VIII (t h e “ Sect i o n ”) o f t h e Las t W i ll an d Tes tam en t of M o i M

.

M o n ro e ex ecu t ed o n M ay 1 5

, 1 9 6 7 . Th e Sect i o n creat es 1 3 s ep arat e an d eq u al s u b

t ru s t s

, wi t h each of th e fo ll o wi ng g ran d ch i l d ren d es i g n at ed as p ri m ary b en efi ci ari eso f o n e of t h e s u b -t ru s t s : (1 ) An n Bas h l o r M o n ro e, (2 ) J ay ne Po w el l M o n ro e, (3 ) Id a

Kat h eri n e M o n ro e, (4 ) Caro l y n El i zab et h M o n ro e, (5 ) M art h a M ad i s o n M o n ro e, (6 )

M o i M a d i s o n M o n ro e III, (7 ) Pat ri ci a Dran d M o n ro e, (8 ) M ary Hel en M o n ro e, (9 )

Co n s t an ce Lee M o n ro e, (1 0 ) W i l l i am J os ep h Mo n ro e, J r., ( 1 1 ) C a r o l y n Ru th

Ho p k i n s

, (1 2 ) Han n ah Hart Ho p k i n s

, an d (1 3 ) M ary El i zab et h Ho p k i n s

. T he Sect i o n

fu rt her p ro v i d es as fo l l o ws : “ In t h e ev en t an ad d i ti o n al g ran d ch i ld o r g ran dch i l d ren

s h al l b e b o rn e t o m e, wh et h er d u ri n g m y l i fet i m e o r aft er m

y d eat h

, . . . t h e n u m

b er

o f t ru st s sh al l b e i n creas ed acco rd i n g l y

, an d each aft erb o rn g ran dch i l d s h al l b e t h e

p ri m ary b en efi ci ary o f a sep arat e, eq u al t ru s t ju s t as i f h erei n d es i gn at ed b y n am e.”

Th e Sect i o n al s o p ro v i des t hat i f o n e o f t he d e s i g n at ed b en efi ci ari es b eco m es a

p aren t

, t he an n ual d i s t ri b u t i on s of i nc om e w oul d t hereaft er b e di s t ri b u t ed t o t h e p aren t

an d h i s o r h er ch i ld ren o n a p ro rat a b as i s : “ t h e i n co m e o f each t ru s t s h al l b e

d i s t ri b u t ed t o th e p ri m ary b en efi ci ary o f su ch t ru s t an d t o each ch i l d of t he p ri m ary

b en efi ci ary o f s u ch t ru s t

, i n eq u al s h ares .” Th e Sect i o n t h en des i g nat es wh en an d h o w

t h e t r u s t i n c o m e wi l l b e d i s t ri b u t ed t o t h e b en efi ci ari es an d t hei r des cen d an t s

,

s p eci fi cal l y s t at i n g t h at u p o n t h e d eat h o f a p ri m ary b en efi ci ary

, t h at b en efi ci ary ’ s

i n t eres t is p as s ed t o h i s o r h er d es cen d an t s ; h o wev er, “ in t h e ev en t of th e deat h o f al l

p ers o n s en t i tl ed t o i n co m e d i s t r i b u t i o ns fro m a t ru s t

, s u ch t ru s t s h al l t h ereu p o n

2t erm i n at e, an d al l p ro p ert y th en h el d i n s u ch t ru s t s h al l b e di v i d ed eq u al l y an d ad d ed

t o t he rem ai ni n g t ru s t [s ] .”

Th e w i l l d o es n o t au t h o ri ze a b en efi ci ary t o ad d s o m eo n e el s e as a b en efi ci ary

,

ch an ge t h e b en efi ci ary

, o r o th erwi s e d i sp o s e of an y i n t eres t in an i n d i vi d u al t ru s t

. In

fact

, th e wi l l co n tai n s a s pen d t h ri ft p ro v i s i o n ex p res s l y pro h ib i ti n g b en efi ci ari es fro m

d i s p o s i n g of an y i n teres t i n t h ei r t ru s t : “ No b en efi ci ary s h al l h a v e an y p o wer to

d i s p o s e of

. . . an y in t eres t h ereu n d er[.] ” Th e wi l l al s o i n cl u d es a go o d fai t h p ro v i s i o n:

“ I wo u l d ex p res sl y en

jo i n m y fam i l y

, i n cl u d i n g al l d es cen d an t s wh et her n o w i n l i fe

o r hereaft er bo rn e, t o d eal i n fai rn es s an d i n g o o d fai t h in al l m at t ers

, an d p art i cu larl y

wi t h res pect t o m

y p ro bat e es t at e an d t he t ru s t es t at es h erei n creat ed .” It i s u n d i s p u t ed

t h at t h e t es t at o r d ied i n Geo rg i a i n 1 9 67

.

It i s u n d i sp u t ed th at Mary Hel en M o nro e (“ M ol l y ”) n ev er h ad bi o l o g i cal

ch i l d ren

, b u t i n 2 0 1 8 s he fi l ed a Fl o ri d a p et i t io n t o ad o p t 3 6 -y ear-o l d St ev en M o rs e

a nd 34-y ear-o l d St u art Mo rs e. Mo l l y an d th e Mo rs es ack n o wl ed ge t h at M olly a dopte d

t h e ad u l t s

, at l eas t i n p art , s o t h at t h ey co ul d recei v e d i s t ri b u t i on s fro m t h e s ep arat e

t ru s t creat ed fo r h er u n d er t h e wi l l

. T h e M o rs es ’ b i o l og i cal p aren t s are st i l l l i v i n g

, s t i l l

h av e a rel at i o n sh i p wi t h St ev en an d St u art

, an d p o s s ib l y were pres e n t d u ri n g

co n vers at i on s ab o ut M ol l y ad o p t i n g St ev en an d St u art t o m ak e t h em ben efi ci ari es o f

3t h e t ru st

. W i l li am M o n ro e, Jr., an d Han n ah Ho pk i n s Fran k l i n

, as b en efi ci ari es o f o n e

o r m o re t ru s t s p o t en ti al l y affect ed b y t h e ad o p t i o n, o p p o s ed t h e ad o p ti o n p et i t i o n

. On

J u n e 4

, 20 1 9

, t h e Fl o ri d a co u rt g ran t ed M o l l y ’ s ad o p ti o n p et i ti o n

. Th e reco rd d o es n ot

co n tai n an y

ev i d en ce t hat t hi s d eci s i o n was ap p eal ed

.

Th e fo ll owi n g m o rn i n g

, St ev en an d St u art M ors e fi led a d ecl arat o ry ju d g m en t

act i on i n Gwi n n et t Co u n t y Su p eri o r Co u rt ag ai n s t Su n Tru s t Ban k

, W i l li am M o n ro e,

J r., M o i M o n ro e III, an d Han nah Ho p k i n s Fran k li n

, as tru s tees o f t h e 1 9 6 7 Tru s t

,

cl ai m i ng a v es t ed i nt eres t i n a n u m b er o f fam i l y t ru st s

, i n cl u d i n g th e 1 9 67 Tru s t

, an d

s eek i n g a d ecl arat i o n co n fi rm i n g t h ei r s t at u s as v es t ed an d / or c ontinge n t b en efi ci ari es

u n d er t h e t ru s ts an d an o rd er d i rect i n g t h e t ru s t ees to m ak e d i s t ri b u t i o n s t o t h em

u n d er th e t erm s o f th e t ru st s

. Th e M o rs es su b seq u en t l y am en d ed th ei r co m

p l ai nt to

ad d a cau s e o f act i o n fo r b reach of fi d u ci ary d u t y an d p u ni ti v e d a m a g e s s t em m i n g

fro m t h e t ru s t ees ’ fai l u re t o m ak e t ru s t d i s t ri b u ti on s t o th em

. Th e M o rs es t hen m o v ed

fo r p art ial s u m

m ary ju d g m en t o n t h ei r d ecl arat o ry j u d gm en t cl ai m

, arg u in g t h at u n d er

b o t h Geo rg i a an d Fl o ri d a l aw, ad o p t ed ad u l t s i n h eri t eq u al l y wi t h n at u ral ch il d ren an d

ad o pt ed m i n o rs o f t h e s et t l o rs o f t ru s ts

.

Th e co u rt s ub s eq u en tl y g ran t ed W i l l i am M o n ro e, J r.’ s m o t i o n t o i n t erv en e in

h i s i n d i v id u al cap aci ty

, ad d ed as p art i es al l i n co m e b en efi ci ari es o f t h e tru s t s at i s s ue,

4an d i s s u ed a co n s en t o rd er ap p o i n t i n g a g u ard i an ad l i tem t o p ro t ect t he i nt eres t s o f

m i n o r b en efi ci ari es as wel l as fu t u re i n co m e o r co nt i n g en t b en efi ci ari es

. Th e M o rs es

t h en fi l ed a s eco n d am en d ed co m p l ai n t

, ad d in g al l th e p art ies as d efen d an t s

. Th ey

s u bs eq u en t l y fi l ed a t h i rd am en d ed co m p l ai n t wh en Su n Tru st m erg ed an d b ecam e

k n o wn as Tru i s t

. Th e t h i rd am en d ed co m p l ai n t o nl y al l eg ed a b reach o f a fi d u ci ary

d u t y ; i t d i d n o t req u es t a d ecl arat o ry ju d gm en t

.

Th ereaft er, Su n Tru s t Ban k an d W i l l i am M o n ro e, J r., i n h i s cap aci t y as t ru s t ee,

fi l e d an an swer an d a co u n t ercl ai m fo r a d ecl arat o ry ju d g m en t

, as k i n g t h e co u rt to

d ecl are wh et h er t h e M o rs es are en t i t l ed to an y d i st ri bu t i o n s u nd er t h e 1 9 6 7 Tru s t

. Th e

M o rs es fi l ed a m o t i on fo r part i al s um m ary ju d g m en t

, arg u i n g t h at t h ey were en t i t l ed

t o ju dg m en t as a m at t er of l aw o n t he d efen dan t s ’ co un t ercl ai m fo r a d ecl arat o ry

ju d g m en t d eci d i n g th e M o rs es ’ ri g h t s u n der t h e 1 9 6 7 T r u s t

. Co n s t an ce M o n ro e

Bo l to n

, Id a Caro l i n e Bo l t o n

, Th o m as M

. Bo l t o n

, an d Kat h eri n e B o l t o n Ol s o n (t h e

“ Bo l t o n d efen d an t s ”) fi l ed a m o t i o n fo r s um m ary ju dg m en t

, wh i ch a n u m ber o f o t h er

d efen d an t s an d t h e g u ard i an ad l i t em jo i n ed

. In t h e m o t i on fo r s u m m ary ju d g m en t

, t h e

Bo l to n d efen d an t s s o u g ht en t ry o f a ju d g m en t t h at t h e M o rs es are no t b en efi ci ari es

o f t h e 1 9 6 7 T ru s t

. In ad d i t i on

, W i l l i am M o n ro e, J r., W i ll i am J

. M o n ro e, II I

, a n d

Caro l i n e J o rd an Mo n ro e (t h e “ M on ro e d efen d an t s ”) as k ed t h e co u rt t o d en y t h e

5p l ai n t i ffs ’ m o t i o n fo r p art i al s u m m ary j u d gm en t an d g ran t t h e Bo l t o n d efen d an t s ’

m o ti o n fo r s u m m ary ju d g m en t

. Su n Tru s t Ban k an d W i l li am M o nro e, J r., al s o

res p o n d ed to t h e Bo l t o n d efen d an t s ’ m o t io n fo r s u m m ary ju d g m en t, t ak i n g a n eu t ral

p o s i t i on wi t h res pect t o t h e l aws u i t an d si m p l y u rg i n g t h e co u rt t o d ecl are wh et h er t h e

M o rs es are en t i t l ed t o d i s tri b ut i o n s u nd er t h e 1 9 6 7 Tru s t

.

Th e t ri al co urt g ran t ed t h e Bo l t o n d efen dan ts ’ m o ti o n fo r s u m m ary ju d g m en t

,

co n cl u d in g t h a t t h e M ors es co u l d n o t i n h eri t u n d er t h e wi l l b ecau se M o l ly ’ s ad u l t

ad o pt i o n o f t hem was an act o f s u b t erfu g e. Th e co u rt ack no wl ed g ed t h at “ [n ] o

Geo rg i a Ap p el lat e Co u rt h as ev er co n s i d ered

, m u ch l es s h el d, t hat a b en efi ci ary o f a

t ru s t m ay ad op t an ad u lt fo r p u rp o ses of m ak i n g t h e a d u l t a d o p t ee a b en efi ci ary

an d /o r t o cu t ou t o t h er b en efi ci ari es fro m t h e rem ai n d er o f t hat b en efi ci ary ’ s s h are o f

t h e t ru s t.” Th e co u rt fu rt h er fo u nd t h at M o l l y ’ s ad ul t ad o p t i o n v i o l at ed th e s p en d t h ri ft

an d g o o d fai t h cl au s es i n t h e wi l l . Th e M ors es ap p eal t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s o rd er.

W e rev i ew d e n o v o a g ran t o r d en i al o f s u m m ary ju dg m en t

, vi ewi n g t h e

ev i d en ce an d al l reas o n ab l e c o n c l u s i o ns an d in feren ces d rawn fro m i t i n t h e l i g ht

m o st fav o rab l e t o t h e n o n m o v an t

. Ci t y of S t. Ma r

ys v. R eed

, 3 4 6 Ga. Ap p

. 50 8

, 5 0 8

-

5 0 9 (8 1 6 SE2 d 4 71 ) (2 0 1 8 ). Su m m ary ju d g m en t is p ro per wh en t h ere i s n o g en u i n e

6i s su e o f m at eri al fact an d t h e m o v an t i s en t i t l ed t o ju d g m en t as a m at t er o f law. Id

. at

5 0 8 ; s ee OCGA § 9 -1 1 -5 6 (c).

In t h ree rel at ed en u m erat i o n s

, t h e M o rs es arg u e t h at t h e t ri al co u rt erred i n (a)

d en y i n g t h ei r m o t i o n fo r s u m m ary ju d g m en t s ee k i n g a d ecl arat i o n t h at t h ey are

b en efi ci ari e s u n d er Mo i M. M o n ro e’ s 1 9 67 wi l l an d (b ) g ran ti n g t h e Ap p el l ees ’

m o ti o n fo r s u m

m ary ju d g m en t s eek i n g a d ecl arat i o n t hat t h e M o rs es are n ot

b en efi ci ari es u n d er th e wi l l

. T h e Mo rs es al s o cl ai m th at t h e t ri al co u rt erred in

co n si d eri n g paro l ev id en ce t o d eci de t h e Ap p el l ees ’ m o t io n fo r s u m m ary ju d g m en t

.

W e ag ree wi t h th e Mo rs es ’ arg u m en t s fo r fo u r reas o ns : (1 ) t h e Geo rg i a ad u l t ad o p t i o n

s t at u te p l ai n l y an d u n am

b ig u o u s l y p erm i t s M o l l y ’ s ad u l t ad o p t io n o f t h e M ors es ; (2 )

o n l y t h e fo u r co rn ers o f M o i M

. M o n r o e ’s wi l l are ex am i ned t o d et erm i n e i f ad u l t

ad o pt ees are ex cl ud ed , an d M o i M

. Mo n ro e’ s w i ll d o es n o t ex p res sl y ex cl u d e ad u l t

a d o p t e e s ; (3 ) t h e t ri al co u rt erred in ad o p ti n g a su b terfu g e ex cep t i on t o t h e ad u l t

ad o pt i o n s t at u t e; an d (4 ) th e s p en d t h ri ft an d g o o d fai t h p ro v i s i o n s i n M o i M

.

M o n ro e’ s wi l l d o n o t p recl u d e M o l l y fro m t ak i n g an act i o n p erm i tt ed by l aw an d t h e

wi l l . W e wi l l d i s cu s s each o f t h es e p ri n ci p les i n t urn

.

1

. T h e ad u l t a d o p t i o n s t a t ut e

. Th e p art i es d o n o t d i s p u t e t h at Geo rg i a l aw

co n tro l s t h e i nt erp ret at i o n o f t h e 1 9 6 7 wi l l o r t h at th e l aw i n effect at t h e t i m e M o i M

.

7M o n ro e d i ed g o v ern s t h e wi l l

. In fact

, i t i s wel l s e t t l ed i n Geo rg i a t h at

, “ i n t h e

ab s en ce o f an ex p res s co nt rary in t en ti o n

, a wi l l i s t o b e co n s t ru ed acco rd i n g t o t h e l aw

i n effect at t h e tes t at o r’ s deat h .” W a r ner v. Fi r

s t Na t

. B a n k

, 2 4 2 Ga. 66 1

, 66 4 (1 ) (2 5 1

SE2 d 5 1 1 ) (1 9 7 8). M o reo v er, as rel ev an t in t hi s cas e, t h e Su p rem e Co u rt o f Geo rg i a

h as n o t ed t h at “ t h e ad o p ti o n l aws i n effect at t h e d at e o f t h e t es t at o r’ s d eat h wi l l

d et erm i n e th e cl as s o f b en efi ci ari es en t i t l ed t o tak e u n der a t es t am en t ary t ru s t i n t h e

ab s en ce o f an e x p r e s s c on t rary i n t en t

. ” Ha l ey v. Reg io n s Ba n k

, 2 7 7 Ga. 8 5

, 8 9 (2 )

(5 8 6 SE2 d 6 3 3 ) (2 0 0 3 ) (ci t at i o n an d p u n ct uat i o n o m i t t ed ). “ Su ch law g o v ern s ev en

i f i t was en act ed s u bs eq u en t t o t h e ex ecu t i o n o f t h e w i l l.” Id

. at 8 9 -9 0 (2 ) (“ Becau s e

a wi l l i s an am

b u l at ory i n s t ru m en t d u ri n g th e l i fe o f t he t es t at o r an d d o es no t b eco m e

o p erat i v e u n t il d eat h, i t m ay b e affect ed b y a ch an g e of s t at u t e o ccu rri n g at an y t i m e

b et ween t h e d at e o f i t s ex ecu t i o n an d t h e d at e o f t h e deat h o f t h e t es t at o r.”) (ci t at i o n

an d p u n ct u at i o n o m i t t ed ).

Here, Mo i M

. M o n r o e d i ed i n Oct ob er 1 9 6 7

, an d h i s wi l l ex pres s ed n o

i n t en t i o n reg ard i n g th e l aw t o b e u s ed i n i t s co n st ru ct io n

. Th erefo re, t he l aw i n effect

i n Oct o b er 1 9 6 7 g o vern s t h e i n t erp ret at i o n o f t h e wi l l an d t h e 19 6 7 Tru s t

. Th e l aw in

8effect i n Oct o ber 1 9 6 7 1 “ ex t en d ed t h e i n h eri t an ce ri gh t s o f an ad o p t ed ad u l t b ey o n d

t h e ad o pt i n g p aren t an d p ro v i d ed a ru l e fo r i n t erp ret at i o n o f wi ll s .” El r o d v. Co wa r t

,

2 8 4 Ga. 8 6 9 , 8 7 0 (6 7 2 SE2 d 6 16 ) (2 0 0 9 ). Th e rel ev an t s t at ut e p ro v id ed as fo l l o w s :

[An ] ad op t ed ad u l t s h al l b e co n s i d ered i n al l res p ec t s a s i f h e o r s he

were a s o n or d au g h t er o f n at u ral b o d i l y is s u e o f [t h e ad o p t i n g paren t ]

an d s h al l en

jo y t he ri g ht an d p ri v i l eg e o f a nat u ral ch i l d o f [t h e ad o p t i n g

p aren t ] ; an d s h al l b e d eem e d a n a t u ral ch i l d o f [s u ch p aren t ] t o in h eri t

u n d er t h e l aws o f d es cen t an d d i s t ri b u t i o n i n t h e ab sen ce o f a w i l l an d

t o t ak e un d er t h e p ro vi s i o n s o f an y i n st ru m en t o f t es t am en t ary g ift

,

b eq u es t , d ev i s e o r l eg acy u nl es s ex p res s l y

ex cl u d ed t h erefro m

.

1 On ap p eal

, t h e M on ro e d efen d an t s d i s p u t e wh en t h e 1 9 6 7 rev i s ed ad o p t i o n

l aw — wh i ch was “ ap p ro v ed ” o n Ap ri l 1 8

, 1 9 6 7

— act u al l y b ecam e effect i ve,

arg u i n g t h at M o i M

. M on ro e

— wh o ex ecu ted h i s wi l l o n M a y 1 5

, 1 9 6 7

— can n ot

b e ch arg ed wi t h p res um

p t i v e k n o wl ed g e o f t h e ad o p t i o n l aw ch an g es

. W e co n cl u d e

t h at t h e rev i s ed ad o p t i o n l aw b e c a m e effect i ve wh en i t was ap p ro ved o n Ap ri l 1 8,

1 9 6 7

. W h i l e l aws in Geo rg i a cu rren t l y b eco m e effect i v e ei t her o n t h e fi rs t d ay o f J u l y

o r t h e fi rs t d ay o f J an u ary o f t h e i m m ed i at el y s u cceed in g cal en dar y ear, d ep en d i n g

o n t h e dat e s uch l aws are en act ed

, t h at ru le was no t co d ifi ed b y t he Geo r g i a

l eg i s lat u re u nt i l 1 9 68

. See OCGA § 1 -3 -4

. M o reo ver, wh et her M o i M . M o n ro e h ad

p res u m p t i v e k n o wl ed g e of t h e ch an g e i n t h e l aw is i rrel ev an t

. As s t at ed ab o ve, i n t h e

ab s en ce o f an ex p res s co n t rary i n t en t

, t h e a d o p t i o n l aws i n effect at t h e t i m e o f t h e

t es t at o r’ s d eat h d e t e r m i n e t h e cl as s o f ben efi ci ari es en t i t l ed t o t ak e u n d er a

t es t am en t ary t ru s t

, ev en if t h e g o v ern i n g l aw was en act ed aft er t he wi l l was ex ecu t ed

. Ha l ey

, 2 7 7 Ga. at 8 9 (2 ). Co n t rary t o t h e M on ro e d efen d an ts ’ cl ai m s

, an d as d i s cu s s ed

l at er i n t h i s o pi n i o n

, t h e m ere u s e o f t h e wo rd “ b o rn e” i n M o i M

. M o n ro e’ s wi l l d o es

n o t ex pres s a co n t rary i n t en t

.

9Ga. L

. 1 9 6 7

, p p

. 8 0 4

- 8 0 5

, § 1 (co d i fi ed at Ga. Co d e An n. § 7 4-4 2 0

, w h i ch was t h e

p red eces s o r o f OCGA § § 1 9

- 8

- 1 9 (a) (2 ) an d 1 9-8 -2 1 (b )). Th is s t at u t e p l ai n l y an d

u n eq ui v o cal l y t reat ed ad o pt ed ad u l t s as n at u ral ch i l d ren o f t h ei r ad op t i v e p aren t s “ in

al l res p ect s ,” i ncl u d i n g fo r p u rp o s es of i nh eri t an ce o r t es t am en tary g i ft s , u n l es s t h e

g o v ern i n g d o cu m en t ex p res s l y ex cl u d ed ad ul t ad o p t ees

. See El r o d

, 2 8 4 Ga. at 8 7 0

-

8 7 1 ; acco rd Fa u l

k v. F a u l k

, 2 4 0 Ga. 3 7 3, 3 7 5 (2 4 0 SE2 d 8 4 8 ) (1 9 77 ). A n d “ wh ere,

as h ere, t h e ad o p ti o n o rd er i s no t v o i d o n i t s face, i t i s n o t s u b ject t o co l l at eral at t ack .”

El r o d

, 2 8 4 Ga. at 87 2 ; acco rd Po r t er v. Jo h n s o n

, 2 4 2 G a. 1 8 8

, 1 9 0 -1 9 1 (2 ) (2 4 9 SE2 d

6 0 8 ) (1 9 78 ). W e t h erefo re m us t co n cl ud e t h at t h e M o rs es were p ro p erl y ad o p t ed as

ad u lt s

.

Acco rd i ng l y

, u n d er t h e l aw i n effect at t h e t i m e o f Mo i M

. M on ro e’ s d eat h,

St ev en an d St u art M o rs e, as p ro p erl y ad o p ted ad u l t s

, wo u l d b e d eem ed t h e l eg al

eq u iv al en t o f n at u ral ch i l d ren o f M o l l y an d en t it l ed t o t ak e u n d er t h e t ru s t creat ed fo r

h er i n M o i M . M o n ro e’ s wi l l u n l es s ad u l t ad o pt i o ns were ex pres s l y ex cl u d ed i n h i s

wi l l

. W e t h erefo re t u rn t o Mo i M

. Mo n ro e’ s wi l l t o d et erm i ne if ad u l t ad o p tees were

ex p res s l y ex cl u ded

.

2

. Mo i M

. Mo n r o e’s wi l l d

o es n o t exp r es s l

y e x c l u d e a du l t a d

o p t ees

. Th e

d et erm i n at i o n o f wh et h er an a d u l t ad o p t ee i s ex p res sl y ex cl u d ed fro m i n h eri t i n g

10u n d er a wi l l i s co n tro ll ed b y t h e Su p rem e Co u rt ’ s d eci s io n in El r o d v. Co wa r t

, s u p ra.

In El r o d

, t he t es t at o r d i ed i n 1 9 7 0 , an d h i s wi l l g ran t ed a l i fe es tat e in al l o f h i s real

es t at e t o h i s s o n

, Hen ry

, w i t h t h e rem ai n d er i n t eres t p as s i n g t o th e t es t at o r’ s fo u r

d au gh t ers

, h i s g ran d s o n

, an d “ an y ch i l d o r ch i l d ren o f [Hen ry ] wh o s hal l t o g et h er t ak e

an eq u al p art .” 2 8 4 Ga. at 8 6 9 -8 7 0

. Hen ry n ev er had an y b i o lo g i cal c h i l d r e n

, b ut

ad o pt ed an ad u l t

, Co w art

, i n 20 0 4

. Id at 8 7 0

. W h en Hen ry d ied th e f

o l l o wi n g y ear,

t wo of t he rem ai n d erm en fi l ed an act io n co n t es t i ng Co wart ’ s ri g h t t o in h eri t u n d er t h e

wi l l as Hen ry ’ s “ ch il d .” Id

. T h e s u p eri o r co u rt g ran t ed s u m m ary ju d g m en t to Co wart

,

an d t h e Su p rem e Co urt of Geo rg ia affi rm ed t h e d eci s i o n

, co n cl u d i n g t h at th e 1 9 6 7

ad o pt i o n s t at ut e ap pl i ed an d th e t es t at o r’ s w i l l d i d n o t e x pres s l y ex cl u d e ad o p t ed

p ers o n s . Id . at 8 7 0 -8 7 2

.

In El r o d

, t h e Co u rt s p eci fi cal l y hel d t h a t w h en det erm in i n g wh et h er a wi l l

ex p res s l y ex cl u d es ad u l t ad op t ees as ben efi ci ari es

, a co u rt ’ s rev iew o f t h e

t es t am en t ary d o cu m en t is l i m i t e d t o t he fo u r co rn ers o f th e i n st ru m en t : “ [O] n l y t h e

fo u r co rn ers o f th e w i l l m u st be ex am i n ed t o d et erm i n e wh et h er ad o p ted p ers o n s are

ex p res s l y ex cl u d ed .” 2 8 4 Ga

. at 8 72

. “ [P] aro l ev i d en ce o f t h e su rro u n d i n g

ci rcu m s t an ces i s n o t co n s i d ered .” Id

.

11As i n El ro d

, th e 1 9 6 7 ad o p t i on s tat u t e ap p l i es i n th i s cas e, an d a rev i ew o f t h e

fo u r co rn ers o f M o i M

. M o n ro e’ s wi l l rev eal s n o ex cl u si on fo r ad o p t ed ch i l d ren o r

a d u l t s

. A cco rd i ng l y

, t h e t ri al co u rt erred in d et erm in i n g t hat t he M o rs es co u l d n o t

t ak e u n d er t h e t es tam en t ary t ru s t creat ed i n t h e wi l l

. If M o i M

. M o n ro e h ad wan t ed

t o ex cl u d e n on -b l o o d r e l a t i v es fro m b en efi tt i ng u n d er t h e 1 9 6 7 Tru s t

, h e s i m p l y

n eed ed t o i n cl u de l an g u ag e t o t h at effect in t h e wi l l

. He d i d n ot

, an d t h e l an g u ag e in

t h e wi l l i s p l ai n an d u n am b i g u ou s

.

Th e M o nro e d efen d an t s as s ert t h at t h e referen ces in M o i M

. M o n ro e’ s wi l l to

d es cen dan ts “ b o rn e” to h i s fam i l y

— “ I wo u l d ex p res s l y en jo in m y fam i l y

, i n cl u d i n g

al l d es cen d an t s w h et h er no w i n l i fe o r h ereaft er b orn e

. . . ” a n d “ In t h e ev en t an

ad d it i o n al g ran d ch i l d o r g ran d ch i ld ren s h al l be b o rn e t o m e

. . .”

— m ak e i t

“ reas o nab l e to p res um e” t h at M o i M

. M o n ro e d i d no t i nt en d t h e ad u lt ad o p t i on s t at u t e

i n effect i n Oct o b er 1 9 6 7 t o ap p l y

. Ho wev er, t h e p res u m p t i o n u rg ed b y t h e M o n ro e

d efen d an t s i s n o t s u p p ort ed b y t h e cl ear l an g uag e o f t h e w i l l o r t h e ap p l icab l e l aw.

Th e card i n al ru le i n co n s t ru i n g t h e p ro v i s io n s o f a w i l l i s t o

d et erm i ne th e i n t en t o f t h e t es t at o r. It is wel l s et t l ed

, h o wev er, th at t h ere

i s no ro o m fo r co n s tru ct i o n wh en t h e m ean i n g o f t h e w o rd s u s ed i n th e

wi l l i s s o p l ai n an d o b v i o u s t h at i t can no t be m i s u nd ers t o od

. Th is i s t ru e

ev en i f t he wo rd s u s ed i n t h e wi l l ex p res s a m ean in g en t i rel y at v ari an ce

wi t h t he real i n ten t i o n o f t h e t es t at o r. Th e p l ai n an d u n am b i g u o us t erm s

12o f a wi l l m u s t co n t ro l an d p aro l ev i d en ce can n o t be u sed to co n t rad i ct

o r g i v e n ew m ean i n g t o t h at wh i ch i s ex pres s ed cl earl y i n t h e wi l l

.

S mi th v. As h

f o r d

, 2 9 8 Ga. 39 0

, 3 9 3 (1 ) (7 8 2 S E 2 d 2 51 ) (2 0 16 ) (ci tat i o n s an d

p u n ct u at i o n o m it t ed ); s ee al s o Hu n g er fo r d v. Tr u s t Co . o

f Ga

. , 1 9 0 Ga. 3 8 7, 3 8 9 (9

SE2 d 6 30 ) (1 9 4 0 ) (“ T h e p l ai n l an g u ag e h ere in v o l v ed can n ot b e ch an g ed by

s p ecu l at i o n as t o w h a t m i g ht h av e b een t h e m ot i v e p ro m p t i n g t h e t es t at ri x i n u s i n g

[cert ai n ] l an g uag e. Co urt s are wi t h o u t au t h o r i t y t o rewri t e b y co n s t ru ct i o n an

u n am b i g u o u s wi l l ; fo r t o d o t h at wo u l d b e t o s u b s t i tu t e t h e wi l l o f t h e co u rt fo r t h at

o f t h e t es t at o r.”). H ere, as s t at ed ab o v e, (a) t h e ad o p t i o n l aw i n effect at th e t i m e o f

M o i M

. M o n ro e’ s d eat h d et erm i n es t h e cl as s o f b en efi ci ari es en t i tl ed t o t ak e u n d er

a t es t am en t ary t ru s t

, ev en t h o u g h t h e go v ern i n g l aw w as en act ed aft er t h e wi l l was

ex ecu t ed

, u n l es s t h e wi l l co nt ai n s an ex p res s co n t rary in ten t i o n

, s ee H a l ey

, 2 7 7 Ga.

at 89 (2 ); (b ) M o i M

. M o n ro e’ s wi l l d o es n ot e x p r e s s a c o n t rary i nt en t i o n t o t reat

ad o pt ed ch i l d r e n d i f

feren t l y th an t h ey wo u l d b e u nd er th e ad o p t io n l aw i n effect at

t h e t i m e o f h i s deat h ; an d (c) t h e ad o p t i o n l aw i n effec t a t t h a t t i m e p ro v i d ed t h at

ad u lt ad o p t ees w ere t o be co n si d ered as “ n at ural b o d i l y is su e o f” t h e ad op t i n g p aren t

,

o r, i n o th er wo rd s , as “ b o rn e” b y t h e ad o p t i n g p aren t

, s ee Ga. Co d e An n. § 7 4 -4 2 0.

So v iewed

, M o i M

. M o nr o e ’s u s e o f t h e wo rd “ b o rn e” d o es n o t

, as u rg ed b y t h e

13M o n ro e d efen d an t s, in di cat e t h at he i n t en d ed t o ex cl u d e ad o p t ed ad u l t s fro m

i n h eri t i n g u n d er t h e wi l l

.

Th e Mo rs es co rrect ly as sert th at s i n ce M o i M

. M on ro e “ p u t no t h i n g i n h i s W i l l

t h at ex p res s l y ex cl ud ed ad o p t ed ch i l d ren o r ad u l t s fro m t h e t es t am en t ary t ru s t s h e

c r e a t e d [

, ]

. . . an y p ers o n ad op ted i n t o M o i M o n ro e’ s fam i l y — ad u l t o r ch i l d

— i s

d eem ed to b e a nat u ral m em b er o f t h e M o n ro e fam i l y an d i s en t i t l ed t o recei v e t h e

b en efi t s as a ch il d o f a p aren t’ s s ep arat e s u bt ru s t of t h e 1 9 6 7 Tru s t.” Th e t ri al co u rt

,

t h erefo re, erred i n (a) d en y i n g t h e M o rs es ’ m o t i o n fo r s um m ary j u d gm en t s eek i n g a

d ecl arat io n t h at th ey are b en efi ci ari es o f t h e 1 9 6 7 T ru s t an d (b ) gran t i n g t h e

Ap p el l ees ’ m o t i o n fo r s um m ary ju d g m en t s eek i n g a d ecl arat io n th at t h e M o rs es are

n o t b en efi ci ari es o f t h e 1 9 6 7 Tru s t

.

3

. Th eo r y o f s u bt er f u g e

. I n a n at t em

p t t o av o i d th e p l ai n an d u n am b i g u ou s

l an g u ag e i n M oi M

. M o nro e’ s wi l l an d i n t h e ad u l t ad o pt io n s t at u t e, th e Ap p el l ees

arg u ed i n th e tri al co u rt

, as t h ey do o n ap p eal

, t h at Geo rg i a co u rt s s h o ul d ad o p t a

t h eo ry o f s ub t erfu g e i n t h e co n t ex t o f ad u l t ad o pt i o ns . Su b t erfu g e, acco rd i n g t o t h e

Ap p el l ees

, i n v o l v es “ co m m i t t i n g frau d u po n t h e Co u rt ” b y d o i n g “ s o m et h i n g t h at

y o u ’ re al l o wed t o d o

, b u t

. . . d o i n g i t s o as t o creat e a ci rcu m st an ce t h at t h e l aw

wo u l d o t h erwi s e s eek t o av o id .” On ap p eal

, t h e M o n ro e d efen d an ts s p eci fi cal l y as s ert

14t h at M o ll y ’ s ad o p t i o n of t he M o rs es as ad u l t s s h ou l d b e d eem ed s u b t erfu g e b ecau s e

s h e t o o k “ a tech n ical r e a d i n g o f t h e Geo rg ia Ad ul t Ad o pt i o n St at ut e an d fu rt i v el y

ap p li ed i t fo r a p u rp o s e wh i ch i s u n j u s t

, i n eq u it ab l e, an d p l ai n l y o u t o f st ep w i t h wh at

t h e Leg i s l at u re i n t en d ed i n en act i ng s u ch s t at u t e.”

Th e Ap p el l ees — an d t h e t ri al co u rt in acc e p t i n g t he Ap p el l ees ’ p ro p o s ed

t h eo ry an d ru l i ng t h at t h e M o rs es are p ro h ib i t ed fro m i n h e r i t i n g u nd er M o i M

.

M o n ro e’ s w i ll b as ed o n t h e t h eo ry o f s ub t erfu g e

— rel y p ri m ari l y o n cas e l aw fro m

fo rei gn ju ri s di ct i o n s reject i n g ad u l t ad op t i o n at t em p t s as s u b terfu g e an d refu s i n g to

affo rd b en efi ci ary s t at us t o t h e ad u l t ad o p t ees

. See, e.g

., Fi rs t Na t. Ba n k of Du b u q u e

v. M a ckey

, 3 3 8 NW 2 d 3 6 1 (Io wa 1 9 8 3 ); Mi n a r y v. Ci ti z en s Fi d el it y Ba n k & Tr u s t

Co

. , 4 1 9 SW 2 d 3 4 0 (Ky

. 1 9 6 7 ); Di xo n v. W ei t eka mp -Di l l er

, 9 7 9 N E2 d 9 8 (Il l

. Ap p.

Ct

. 2 0 1 2 ) ; In r e No wel

s Es ta t e

, 3 3 9 NW 2 d 8 61 (M i ch

. Ct

. Ap p

. 19 8 3 ). W e d o n ot

fi nd t h i s fo rei g n au t h o ri t y pers u as iv e g iv en Geo rg i a’ s cl ear ad o p t i o n s t at u t e i n effect

at t he t im e o f M o i M . M o n ro e’ s d eat h an d t h e cl ear l an gu ag e i n h i s wi l l

.

W h i l e t h e t ri al co u rt ci t ed Geo rg i a d eci s i on s h o l d in g t h at it wo u l d b e

“ u n t en ab l e” t o al l o w p art i es t o su b v ert t h e p u rp o se o f a s tat u te, n o n e o f t h o s e co n t ex t s

i s ap pl i cab l e here. See S

R M Gr o u p

, In c. v. Tr a vel er

s Pr o per t y Ca s

. Co

. o

f Amer i ca

,

3 0 8 Ga. 4 0 4

, 4 0 9 -4 1 0 (3 ) (8 4 1 S E2 d 7 2 9 ) (2 0 20 ) (o v erru l i n g cas es h o l d in g t h at a

15p l ai n t i ff-i n -co u n t ercl ai m can n o t s eek at t o rn ey fees un d er OCGA § 1 3-6 -1 1 ); S t a t e v.

S t i n s o n

, 2 7 8 G a. 3 7 7

, 3 7 9 -3 8 0 (6 0 2 SE2 d 6 5 4 ) (2 0 0 4 ) (co n cl ud i ng th at a d efen d an t

wh o h as p led g u i lt y an d u t il ized t h e ben efi t s o f a reh ab i l i t a t i v e o p t i o n i n o rd er to

av o id an ad

ju d i cat i o n of g ui l t m ay n o t s u b s eq u en t l y wi t h d raw t he p l ea as a m at t er o f

ri gh t w h en faced w i t h a v i o l at i o n of p ro b at i o n); Da ven p o r t v. S t a t e

, 1 3 6 Ga. Ap p.

9 1 3

, 9 1 4 (2 ) (2 22 SE2 d 6 4 4 ) (1 9 7 5 ) (co n cl u di n g t h at a d efen dan t wh o h as p l ed g ui l t y

an d u t il i zed t h e b en efi ts o f fi rs t o ffen der s t at u s m ay n o t s u b seq u en t l y wi t h draw t h e

p l ea wh e n f

a c e d wi t h a p ro b at i o n rev o cat i o n). Li k ewi s e, t h e ci t ed t erm i n at i o n o f

p aren t al ri g h ts d eci si o n s ap p l y i n g t h e th eo ry o f su b terfu g e are n ot ap pl i cab l e h ere.

See In t h e In ter es t o

f C. T. M

. , 2 7 3 Ga. Ap p. 16 8

, 1 6 9 (1 ) (b ) (6 1 4 SE2 d 8 12 ) (2 0 0 5 )

(affi rm i n g ju v en i l e co u rt d eci s i on fi n d i n g

, am o n g othe r things, tha t th e gran d m o t h er’ s

p et i t i o n t o ad o p t ch i l dren was a s u b t erfu g e t o ci rcu m v en t t erm in at i o n ); In t h e In t er es t

o f J. W

. H.

, 2 4 5 G a

. A p p

. 46 8

, 4 7 0 (1 ) (b ) (5 3 8 SE2 d 1 1 2 ) (2 0 0 0 ) (h o l di n g t h at a

p aren t m ay n o t av o i d a s ch ed u l ed t erm in at i o n o f p aren t al ri g h t s h e ari n g by

s u rren d eri n g p aren tal ri g h t s t o t h e fo s t er p aren t s o r p ro p o si n g an ad o p t i o n as a m ere

s u b t erfu g e t o t h wart t h e t erm i n at i o n cas e); In t h e In t er es t of A. N. M.

, 2 38 Ga. Ap p.

2 1

, 2 5 (2 ) (b ) (5 1 7 SE2 d 5 48 ) (1 9 9 9 ) (h o l d i n g t hat p aren t s m ay n o t t h w a r t a n

16an t i ci p at ed t e rm i nat i o n o f paren t al ri g h t s b y ex ecu t i n g s u rren d ers o f t h ei r ri g h t s ).

Pret erm it t i n g wh et h er Mo l l y ad o p t ed th e M o rs es

— i n w h o le o r i n p art

— s o

t h ey co u l d b en efi t fro m th e 1 9 6 7 Tru s t aft er s h e d ied an d t h ereb y p recl u d e h er t ru s t

fro m b ei n g d i s b u rs ed t o o th er t ru s t m em b ers

, we co n cl u d e t h at t h e t ri al co u rt erred in

creat i n g a s u b t erfu g e ex cep t i o n t o t h e ad u l t ad o p t i o n s t at u te, fo r t wo i n t e r r el at ed

reas on s . Fi rs t

,

[w] h en w e co n s i d er t h e m ean in g o f a s t at u t e, we m u s t p res u m e t h at th e

Gen eral As s em

b l y m ean t wh at i t s ai d an d s ai d w h at i t m e a n t

. T o t hat

en d

, we m

us t affo rd t h e s t at u to ry t ex t i t s p l ai n an d o r d i n a r y m ean i n g

.

W h ere t he l a n g u a g e o f a s tat u t e is p l ai n an d s u s cep t i b l e o f o n l y o ne

n at u ral an d re a sona

b le c onst ru ct i o n

, an ap p el l at e co u rt m u s t co n s t ru e th e

s t at u t e acco rd i ng l y

.

See Bel l v. Gi l d

er Ti mb er Co

. , 3 3 7 Ga. Ap p

. 4 7

, 49 (7 85 SE2 d 6 8 2 ) (2 0 1 6 ) (ci t at i on s

an d pu n ct u at io n o m i t t ed ). “ [W ] h ere t h e l an g u ag e of an act i s p l ai n an d u n eq u i v o cal

,

ju d i ci al co n st ru ct io n i s n ot o n ly u n n eces s a r y b u t i s fo rb i d den .” Ga

. Fa r m Bu r ea u

Mu t

. In s

. C o

. v

. Ja h

, 1 93 G a. Ap p

. 1 6 9, 1 7 1 (3 8 7 SE2 d 4 4 7 ) (1 98 9 ). In t he i n s t an t

cas e, t h e s t at u t e i s cl ear an d u n am b i g u o us

, an d i t s p l ai n an d o rd i n ary m ean i n g i s t h at

an ad o p t ed a d u l t i s t reat ed as a n at u ral ch i l d of hi s o r h er ad o p t ed p aren t s “ i n al l

17res p ect s

, ” i n cl u d i ng fo r th e p u rp o s es o f i n h eri t an ce, u n l es s th e g o v ern i n g do cu m en t

“ ex p res s l y ex cl u d e[s ] ” ad u lt ad o p t ees

. See Ga. Co d e An n

. § 7 4 -4 2 0

. Th e Ap p el l ees ’

“ p r o p o s ed ex cep t i o n can no t b e en g raft ed u p o n t h e p l ai n l an g u ag e o f t h e [s t at u t e ]

u n d er an ap p l i cat i o n of an y ru l e o f st at u to ry co n s tru ct i on .” Ja h

, 1 9 3 Ga. Ap p

. at 1 7 1.

Seco n d

, i t i s no t t h e ju d i ci ary ’ s p ro v in ce t o creat e ex cep t i o n s t o st at ut es

. See,

e.g

., Ba l d wi n v. Ga y

, 3 5 8 Ga. Ap p

. 21 3

, 21 7

, n

. 4 (8 54 SE2 d 55 3 ) (2 0 2 1 ) (fi n di n g t h at

an y “ d raco ni an ” res u lt was th e p ro d u ct of t h e p lai n l an g u ag e o f t h e s t at u t e, an d “ i t i s

n o t u p t o t h i s Co u rt to creat e an ex cep t i o n t o t h at l eg i s l at i v el y creat ed ru l e”); Ha r vey

v. St a t e

, 2 1 7 Ga. Ap p

. 7 7 6

, 77 7 -7 7 8 (4 5 9 SE2 d 43 3 ) (1 9 9 5 ) (h o l d i n g t h at b ecau s e

Geo rg i a’ s ex cl us i on ary ru l e was creat ed by t h e l eg i sl at ure, n ot t he j u d ici ary

, t h ere i s

n o “ g o o d fai t h ” ex cep t i o n u n l es s an d u n t il t h e G eo rg i a leg i sl at u re ad o p t s o ne); Cl a r k

v. R a n d a l l

, 1 5 5 Ga. Ap p

. 8 0 6

, 8 0 7 (2 7 2 SE2 d 7 6 9) (1 9 80 ) (co n cl u d i n g t h at “ [i ] t i s n ot

fo r t hi s co u rt t o p ro v i d e ju d i ci al ex cep t i o ns t o th e s t at u t e”). In d eed

, acco rd i n g t o t h e

Su p rem e Co urt o f Geo rg i a, an y m o d i fi cat i o n o r rev i s i o n of a s t at u te, s u ch as ad o p t i n g

an ex cep t i o n t o a s t at u t e, i s a l eg i s l at i v e fu n ct i o n

, s ee W a r d v. Mo o n

, 2 5 9 Ga. 2 9 3,

2 9 4 (3 8 0 SE2 d 2 6 3) ( 1 9 8 9 )

, an d “ [t ] h e d oct ri ne o f sep arat i on o f p owers i s an

i m m u tab le co n s t i t u t i o nal p ri nci p l e w h i ch m us t b e s tri ct l y en fo rced ,” as a res u l t o f

wh i ch ap p el l at e co u rt s “ can n o t ad d a li n e t o t h e l aw,” Tu r ner v. Ga

. R iver Net wo r k

,

182 9 7 Ga. 3 0 6

, 30 8 -3 0 9 (7 7 3 SE2 d 7 0 6 ) (2 0 1 5) (ci t at i o n a n d pu n ct uat i o n o m i t t ed ).

Acco rd in g ly

, ev en i f t h e Ap p el l ees hav e p res en t ed a co m p el l i n g p o l i cy arg u m en t as

to w hy a s u bt erfu g e ex cep t i o n s ho u l d b e creat ed

, t h e p l ai n an d u n am b i g u o u s l an g u ag e

i n th e ad u l t ad o p t i o n s t at u t e p recl ud es t h is Co u rt fro m d o i n g s o

, as t hat arg u m en t i s

p ro p erl y ad d res sed t o t h e Gen eral A s s em b l y

. See Bel l

, 3 3 7 Ga. Ap p

. at 4 9 (fi n d i n g

t h at al t h o u g h a p art y p res en t ed a co m p el li n g p o l i cy arg u m en t as t o wh y an ex cep t i o n

s h o u ld b e creat ed

, t h at arg u m en t was p ro perl y ad d res s ed to t h e G en eral As s em b l y ).

Th i s reas o n i n g i s es p eci al ly ap t h ere, co n s i d eri n g th e fact t h at t h e Gen eral As s em b l y

h as ex ten s i v el y

am en d ed t h e ad o p t i o n co d e s i n ce 1 9 6 7

, s ee Ga. L. 20 1 8, p p. 1 9 -2 0,

§ 1

- 1

, y et ch o sen n o t t o i n cl u d e a s u b t erfu g e ex cep ti o n

. Co m p are Ga. Co d e An n

. §

7 4 -4 20 , wi th OCGA § § 1 9 -8 -1 9 (a) (2 ) an d 1 9 -8 -2 1

.

Bas ed o n th e fo reg o i n g

, t h e t ri al co u rt erred in ju d i ci al l y creat in g a s u b t erfu g e

e x c e p t i o n t o t he cl ear s t at u t o ry p ro v i s i o n p erm i t t i n g M o l l y ’ s ad u lt ad o p t i o n o f t h e

M o rs es an d th e M o rs es ’ ab i l i t y t o i n h eri t as i f t h ey were M o l l y ’ s n at ural ch i l d ren

.

Un d er t h e s t at ut e, M ol l y ’ s reas o n s fo r ad op t in g t h e M o rs es an d t h e ci rcu m s t an ces

s u rro u n d i n g t h at ad o p ti o n are s i m p l y i rrel ev an t

.

4

. S p en d t hr i ft a n d g o od

f a i t h p r ovi s i o n s

. Th e ab o v e co n cl us i o n s d o n o t en d o u r

i n q u i ry i n t h i s cas e. Th e t ri al co u rt al s o b as ed i t s su m m ary ju d g m en t deci s i o ns o n t h e

19s p en dt h ri ft an d g o o d fai t h p ro vi s i o n s i n M oi M

. M o n ro e’ s wi l l , s o w e m us t ad d res s

t h o s e h o l d i n g s

.

(a) S p en dt h r i f t p r o vi s i o n

. T he pa

r ties d o n o t d is pu t e t h at a s p en dt h ri ft p ro v i s i o n

p r o h i bi t s b en efi ci ari es fro m t ran s ferri n g o r d i sp o s i n g o f an y i n teres t in t h ei r t ru s t s

.

See g en eral l y

OCGA § 5 3 -1 2 -2 (1 2 ) an d 5 3-1 2 -8 0 (c). Th e s p en d t h ri ft p ro v i s i o n i n

M o i M

. Mo n ro e’ s wi l l e x p res s l y s t at es : “ No ben efi ci ary s h al l h av e an y p o wer to

d i s p o s e o f

. . . an y i n t eres t hereu n d er[.] ” In t hi s cas e, th e tri al co u rt fo u n d t h at M o l l y ’ s

ad u lt ad op t i o n o f t h e M o rs es v i o l at ed t h e s p en d t h ri ft p ro v i s i o n o f t h e wi l l b ecau s e

M o l l y u s ed t h e ad o p ti o n as a m ech an i s m t o tran s fer a p o rt io n o f h er i n t eres t i n t h e

1 9 6 7 Tru s t t o t h e M o rs es

. Th e co u rt d et ai l ed fact s s up p o rt i n g i t s fi n d i n g t h at M o l l y ’ s

ad u lt ad o p t i o n of t h e M o rs es w a s a n act o f s u bt erfu g e t o t ran s fer h er 19 6 7 Tru s t

i n t eres t to t h em

. Ho wev er, as we co n cl u d ed ab o ve i n Di v i si o n 3

, t h e tri al co u rt erred

i n ad o pt i n g a s ub t erfu g e ex cep t i o n t o t h e ad u l t ad op t i o n s t at u t e.

In s h o rt

, M o l l y ’ s ad o pt i o n o f t h e M ors es d o es n o t co n s ti t ut e a v i o lat i o n o f t h e

s p en dt h ri ft p ro v is i o n b ecau s e (1 ) t h e ad o p t i o n was n ev er ap p eal ed an d t h erefo re i s

v al i d

, see El ro d

, 28 4 Ga. at 8 7 2 ; (2 ) th e ad u l t ad o pt i o n s t at u t e p l ai n l y t reat s ad o p t ed

ad u lt s as “ n at u ral bo d i l y i ss u e o f” t h e ad o pt i n g p aren t “ i n al l res p ect s,” i n cl u d i n g fo r

p u rp os es o f i nh eri t an ce o r g i ft s , u n l es s t h e g ov ern i n g d o cu m en t ex p res s l y ex cl u d es

20ad u lt ad op t ees

, s ee Ga. Co d e An n

. § 7 4-4 2 0 ; E l r od

, 2 8 4 Ga. at 87 0 -8 7 1; (3 ) M o i M

.

M o n ro e’ s wi l l d oes n o t s p eci fi cal l y ex cl u d e ad u l t ad o p t ees ; an d (4 ) t he ad u lt ad o p t i o n

s t at u te d o es n o t co n t ai n a s u b t erfu g e ex cep t i on

. Bas ed on t h es e fact ors

, M o l l y ’ s ad u l t

ad o pt i o n i s n o t a “ tran s fer” o f i n t eres t fo r p u rp os e s o f a s p en dt h ri ft pro v i si o n

. Her

ad o pt i o n o f t h e M ors es is as i f s h e b ore t h e M o rs es h ers el f. Fo l l o wi n g t h e Ap p el l ees ’

“ t ran s fer” arg um en t t o i t s l o g i cal co n cl u s i o n

, t h e b i rt h (o r ad o p t i o n ) o f an y ch i l d t o

(o r b y ) an y t ru s t b e n e fi ci ary wo u l d be an i m p ro per t ran s fer i n v i o l at i on o f t h e

s p en dt h ri ft p ro v is i o n

, an d t h e Ap p el l ees d o n o t co n ten d t h at i n h eri t an ce b y a n at u ral

b o rn ch i l d wo u l d b e s u b

j ect t o t h e s p en d t h ri ft p ro v is io n . In d eed

, M o i M

. M o n ro e’ s

wi l l ex p res s l y p ro v i d es t h at i f o n e o f t h e d e s i g n a t e d b en efi ci ari es b ecam e a p aren t

,

“ t h e i n co m e o f each t ru s t s h al l b e d i s t ri b u t ed t o t h e p ri m ary ben efi ci ary o f s u ch t ru s t

an d to each ch i l d o f t h e pri m ary b en efi ci ary o f su ch t ru s t

, i n eq u al s h ares

, ” an d u p o n

t h e d eat h o f a p ri m ary b en efi ci ary

, th e ben efi ci ary ’ s i n t eres t i s p as s ed t o h i s o r h e r

d es cen dan ts

.

Acco rd i ng l y

, t he t ri al co u rt erred i n co n cl u d i ng t h at M o l l y ’ s ad u l t ad o p t i o n o f

t h e M o rs es v i ol at ed t he s p en dt h ri ft p ro v i s i o n o f M o i M . M on ro e’ s wi l l

.

(b ) Go o d f

a i t h p r o vi s io n

. M o i M

. Mo n ro e’ s wi l l al s o i n cl u des a g o o d fai th

p ro v is i o n : “ I wo u l d ex p res s l y e n jo i n m y fam i l y

, i n cl u d i n g al l d es cen d an t s wh et h er

21n o w i n l i fe o r h ereaft er b o rn e, t o d eal i n fai rn es s an d i n g o od fai th i n al l m at t ers

, an d

p art i cu l arl y w i t h r e s p e ct t o m y p ro b at e es tat e an d t h e t ru s t es t at es h erei n creat ed .”

Th e t ri al co u rt fo u n d t h at M ol l y ’ s ad u l t ad o p t i o n o f t h e Mo rs es v io l at ed t h i s p ro v i s i o n

b ecau s e M o l l y ’ s ad m i t t ed p u rp o s e i n ad o p t i n g t h e Mo rs es w a s t o m ak e t h em

b en efi ci ari es o f t he 1 9 6 7 Tru s t . W e d i s ag ree.

As p rev i o u s l y s t a t ed

, M o i M

. M o n ro e’ s wi l l d oes n o t ex p res s l y ex cl u d e

ad o pt ed pers o n s

— i n cl u d i n g ad o p t ed ad ul t s — fro m b en efi t ti n g u n d e r th e 1 9 6 7

Tr u s t

, M o l l y p ro p erl y ad o p t ed t h e M o rs es

, an d u n der t h e ad u lt ad o p t i o n st at u t e t h e

M o rs es are n o w treat ed as i f t h ey were M o l l y’s n a t u r a l b o rn ch i l d ren

. Do i n g wh at

b o t h t h e law an d t h e wi l l au t h o ri zed

— ad op t in g ad u lt s s o t h ey co u ld b en efi t u n d er

t h e wi ll

— d o es n o t d em o n s t rat e b ad fai t h as a m at t er o f l aw. In f act

, fo l l o wi n g t h e

Ap p el l ees ’ “ go o d fai t h ” arg um en t t o i t s l o g i cal co n cl us i o n wo u l d req u i re an i n q u i ry

i n t o wh et h er an y

o t h er b en efi ci ari es h ad g i v en b i rt h t o t h e i r b i o l og i cal ch i l d ren fo r

t h e p u rp o s e o f m ak i n g s uch ch i l d ren b en efi ci ari es o f t h e t ru s t

.

Th i s Co u rt rep eat ed l y h as h el d i n o t h er co n t e x t s th at “ a co n tract i n g p art y

can n ot b reach an im

p l i e d co v en an t o f g o o d fai th wh ere it h as do n e wh at t h e

p ro v is i o n s o f t he co n t ract ex pres s l y p erm i t it t o d o .” Gr een wa l d v. Co lu m b u s Ba n k

& Tr u s t

, 2 2 8 Ga. Ap p

. 5 27

, 5 2 9 (4 9 2 SE2 d 2 4 8 ) (1 9 9 7 ) (fi n d i n g t h at a b an k d i d n ot

22b r e a c h i t s d ut y o f g o o d fai t h wh ere t h e term s o f a g u aran ty p erm i t t ed i t t o act a s i t

d i d ); s ee al s o Med i ca l As s n

. o f Ga

. v. Bl ue Cr o s s & Bl u e S h i el d o f Ga

. , 2 4 4 Ga. Ap p.

8 0 1

, 8 0 3 (1 ) (5 36 SE2 d 1 8 4 ) (2 0 0 0 ) (fi n d i n g t h at an i n s u ran ce co m p an y

, b y ch an g i n g

i t s d efi n i ti o n s of u s u al

, cu st o m ary

, an d reas o n ab l e, “ d i d n o th i n g m o re t han wh at t h e

co n tract s an d ru l es ex p res s l y al l o wed ” an d t h erefo re di d n o t b reach it s d u t y t o act in

g o o d fai t h ). In fact

, t h e Su p rem e Co u rt o f Geo rg i a sp eci fi cal ly h a s h el d t h at t h e

m o ti v e o f an i n d i v i d u al wh o m u s t act i n g oo d fai th “ i s i m m at er i a l ” w h e r e t h e

i n d i v i d u al h as d o n e wh at a co n t ract ex p res s l y g i v e s h i m t h e ri g ht t o d o

. Ma r a t h o n

U.S

. Rea l t i es v. Ka l b

, 2 4 4 Ga. 3 9 0

, 3 9 2 (2 6 0 SE2 d 8 5 ) (1 9 7 9 ) (fi nd i n g an es cro w

ag en t’ s m o t i v e i rrel ev an t s i n ce h i s act io n s were p erm i t t ed by t h e co n t ract ); acco rd

Au t o m a t i c S

pr i nkl er Co r

p

. v. A n d er s o n

, 2 43 Ga. 8 6 7

, 8 6 9 (2 57 SE2 d 2 8 3 ) (1 9 7 9 )

(“ [A] ri g h t can b e ex erci s ed wi t h o u t i n c u r r i ng l i ab i l i t y reg ard l es s o f t h e m o t i v e fo r

s o d o i n g .”) (ci tat i o n an d p u n ct u at i o n o m i t t ed ).

Becau s e M o l l y d i d no t h i n g m o re t h an w h at t h e ad u l t ad op t i o n s tat u te an d M oi

M

. M on ro e’ s wi l l al l owed

, t h e t ri al co u rt erred i n fi n d i n g t h at s h e v i o l at ed th e g o o d

fai t h pro v i s i o n i n t h e wi l l

.

5

. Si n ce o u r ab o v e h o l d i n g s rev ers e t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s o rd er, we n eed n o t ad d res s

t h e M o rs es ’ rem ai n i n g as ser t i o n t hat th e t ri al co u rt erred b y co n s i deri n g p aro l

23ev i d en ce, s u ch as t h e ci rcu m s t an ces s u rro u n d i ng th ei r ad o p t i o n

, in d eci d i n g t h e

Ap p el l ees ’ m o t i on fo r s u m m ary ju d g m en t

.

Fo r each o f th e ab o v e reas o n s

, we rev ers e t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s j u d gm en t

. Th e

M o rs es

, as t h e ad o p t ed so n s o f M o l l y

, are en t i t l ed as a m at t er o f l aw t o i n heri t u n d er

t h e 1 9 67 Tru s t t o t h e s am e ex t en t as n at u ral b o rn ch i l d ren o f M ol l y

.

Ju d g men t r ever sed . Do yl e, P. J., a nd

Rees e, J., co n cu r

.

24