THI RD DI VI SI ON

DI L LA RD, P. J.

, GOBEI L and HODGES, 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

M ar ch 9, 2020



# I n th e Co u r t o f

A p p eals o f

G eo r g ia

A1 9 A2 05 6 . IN RE ESTATE OF LOUISE RAY BURKHALTER.

D I LLA R D , Pres i d i n g J u d g e.

W i l l i am Bu rk h al t er, ex ecu t o r o f th e es t at e o f Lo u i s e Ray Bu rk h al t er, ap p eal s

t h e p ro b at e co urt ’ s gran t o f a d ecl arat o ry ju d g m en t 1 t o Geo rg e Bu rk h al t er an d Nan cy

W ard

, ben efi ci ari es o f L o u i s e’ s es t at e (“ ap p el l ee s ”). 2 In g ran t i n g t h e d ecl arat o ry

ju d g m en t

, t h e p ro b at e co urt m ad e s ev eral d ecl arat i o ns ad v ers e t o W i l l i am wi t h reg ard

t o t h e en fo rceab i li t y o f t h e i n t erro rem cl au s e i n Lo u i s e’ s wi l l

. A n d i n do i n g s o,

1 Th e co u rt part i al l y d en i ed t h e p et i t io n fo r a d ecl arat ory j u d gm en t as t o i s s u es

t h at are n o t rel ev an t t o t h i s ap p eal

.

2 A s ex p l ai n ed m o re fu l l y b el o w, t h i s i s t h e seco n d t i m e t h i s cas e h as b een

b efo re u s. S

ee In r e Es ta te o

f Bu r kh al t er

, 3 4 3 Ga. Ap p

. 4 1 7, 4 18 (8 0 6 SE2 d 8 7 5 )

(2 0 1 7) (“ B u r kh a lt er I

”). In Bu r

kh a l t er I

, we rem an ded th e cas e fo r fu rt h er

p ro ceed in g s

, an d W i l l i am n o w ap p eal s t h e pro b at e co u rt ’ s ru l i n g o n t h e ap p el l ees ’

p o s t -rem an d am en d ed p et i t io n fo r a d ecl arat o ry ju d g m en t. Id

.W i ll i am arg u es t h e p ro b at e co u rt erred i n fai l i n g t o ad d res s h i s co un t ercl ai m t h at t h e

ap p el l ees v i o l at ed t h e i n t erro rem cl au s e, an d as a res u lt

, h av e b een d i s in h eri t ed

.

W i ll i am al s o m ai n tai ns t h e p ro b at e co u rt erred by decl ari n g t h at (1 ) t h e i n t erro rem

cl au s e i s i n v al id as t o an at t ack b y an h ei r o r b en efi ci ary o n t h e ad m i n i st rat i o n o f t h e

es t at e; (2 ) th e i n t erro rem cl au s e i s i n v al id as t o an at t ack b y an h ei r o r b en efi ci ary o n

t h e m an ag em en t o r ex p en di t u res of t h e Bu rk h al t er Fam i l y T r u s t ; (3 ) W i l l i am m u s t

p ro v id e, wi t h i n 60 d ay s of t h e co u rt ’ s o rd er, a co m p l et e acco u n t in g o f t h e cal cu l at i o n

o f t h e l o s s s u s t ai n ed as referen ced i n a c e r t a i n p r o v i s i o n i n t h e wi ll ; an d (4 ) t h e

ap p el l ees m ay pro ceed wi t h a p e t i t i o n fo r an acco u nt i n g o r fo r rem o v al o f t h e

ex ecu t o r wi t h o u t v io l at i n g t h e i n t erro rem cl au s e. Fo r t he r e a s o ns n ot ed i n f r a

, we

affi rm

.

T h e r eco rd s h o ws t hat Lo u i s e d ied o n M arch 1 8

, 2 0 1 5

, an d h er w i l l was

ad m i t t ed t o p ro b at e. 3 On J u ne 1 0

, 2 0 1 5

, t h e pro b at e co u rt i s s u ed l et t ers t es t am en t ary

q u al i fy in g W i l l i am as t h e ex ecu t o r o f t h e es t at e. 4 Sh o rt l y t hereaft er, o n J u ne 1 5

, t h e

3 Bu r kh a l t er I , 3 4 3 Ga. Ap p. at 4 1 8

.

4 Id

. at 4 1 9

. In i t ial l y

, W i l l i am an d J o h n B u r k h al t er were bo t h n am ed as

e x e c u t o rs o f Lo u i se’ s es t at e, b u t J o h n p as sed away d u ri n g t h e p en d en cy o f t h i s

p ro ceed in g an d was rem o v ed as an ex ecu t o r. Id

. Fo r eas e o f referen ce

, we r efer to

W i ll i am as th e s o l e ex ecu t o r t h ro u g h o u t th i s o p i n i o n ev en t h ou g h s o m e o f t h e

u n d erl y i n g p ro ceed i n g s o ccu rred wh en t h ere were t wo ex ecu t o rs

.

2a p p e l l ees fi l ed a p et i t i o n fo r a decl arat o ry ju dg m en t, s eek i n g d ecl arat i o n s t h at t h e y

m ay fi l e fu tu re d ecl arat o ry act i on s reg ard i ng t h e wi l l

, as wel l as a p et it i on t o rem o v e

W i ll i am as ex ecu t o r, w i t ho u t v io l at i n g t h e w i l l’ s i n t erro rem cl au s e. 5 Bu t w i th res p ect

t o t h e i n t erro rem cl au se, t h e ap p el l ees d i d n ot fi le co pi es o f an y p ro po s ed act i o n s

t h ey i nt en d ed t o fi l e i n t hes e p ro p os ed s u b seq u en t act i o n s

. 6

Rel ev an t to t h i s a p p e a l

, “ It em IX” o f Lo u i s e’ s 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 id es , i n rel ev an t p art :

I n o r d e r t o as s u re t h ere wi l l b e n o d i s p ut e b et w een m y ch i l d ren

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 ecl are t h at I h av e p ers o n al l y au t h o ri zed t h es e t ran s a c ti o ns

. . . . I

ab s o l u tel y d o n o t w i s h fo r m y ch i l d ren t o en g ag e i n l eg al di 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 on wh et h er n am ed as a ben efi ci a r y u n d er m y Las t W i l l an d

Tes t am en t or b eco m i ng an h ei r o f m y es t at e b y o p erat i o n o f l aw o r an y

o t h er m ean s wh o at t ack s i n an y co u rt o f l aw an y p ro v i s io n o f m y L a s t

W i l l an d Tes t am en t

, o r t h e a d m i n i s t rat i o n o f m y es t at e, or th e

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

s p eci fi cal ly d i s i n h eri t ed 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

5 Id

.

6 Id

.

3t 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 i s i on beco m es op erat i v e, I d i rect t h at an y p o rt io n o f m y es t at e

t h at i s i n v o l v ed be ad d e d t o t h e res i du e an d be di s t ri b u ted t o th e

rem ai ni ng b en efi ci ari es

, acco rd in g t o t h i s

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

. 7

On Au g u s t 15

, 2 0 15

, t h e p ro b at e co u rt h el d a h eari n g o n t h e ap p el l ees ’ p et i t i o n,

aft er wh i ch i t m ad e t h e fo l l owi n g ru l i n g s : “ i t d en ied t h e p e t i ti o n as t o It em IV (t h e

s h are cal cu l at i on p ro v is i o n ), g ran t ed t h e p et i t i o n t o fi l e a s eco n d p et i ti o n as t o It em

IX (t h e in t erro rem p ro v i s io n ), an d g ran t ed t h e p et i t i o n t o f i l e a s eco n d p et i t i o n fo r

t h e rem o v al o f th e ex ecu t o r [ ]. ” 8 S p eci fi cal l y

, as t o It em IX, t h e co u rt h el d t h at “ a

l eg at ee m ay seek cl ari t y as t o th e ‘ v al i d i t y o f’ an i n t erro rem cl au se.” 9 To t h at en d

, t h e

co u rt “ g ran t ed t h e p et i t i o n t o fi le an o t h er p et i t i o n fo r 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 e r r o r em cl au s e i n It em IX of t h e w il l.” 1 0 Las t l y

, t h e co u rt

c o n cl u d ed t h at a p et i t io n fo r t h e rem ov al of t h e ex ecu t o r wo u l d n o t i n v o k e t h e i n

7 Id

. at 4 1 9

.

8 Id

.

9 Id

. at 4 2 0

.

1 0 Id

.

4t erro rem cl au s e becau s e su ch a cl au s e d o es n o t ap p l y t o “ an act i o n fo r an acco u n t i n g

an d /o r rem o v al o f an ex ecu to r.” 1 1

W i l l i am

, as ex ecu to r of t es t at o r’ s wi l l

, ap p eal ed

, ch al l en g in g th e p ro b at e

co u rt ’ s ru l i n g s th at t h e p et i t i o n ers m ay fi l e (1 ) a f u t u re p et i ti o n fo r a d ecl arat o ry

ju d g m en t reg ard i n g t he val i d i t y o f t h e in terro rem cl au s e wi t h ou t v i o l at i ng t h e cl au s e

i t sel f; an d (2 ) a fu t u re p et i t i o n t o rem o v e th e ex ecu t o r wi t h o u t v i o l a t i n g t h e in

t erro rem cl au s e. 1 2 Ul t i m at el y

, t hi s Co urt co n cl u d ed t h at t h e ap p el l ees ’ cl ai m s an d t h e

p ro b at e co u rt ’ s ru li n g s o n t hes e m at ters are “ fl awed as a m at t er o f law.” 1 3 In d o i n g s o,

we fi rs t fo u n d “ n o au th o ri t y s up p o rt i n g a p ro ced u re b y wh i ch an i n t eres t ed p art y m ay

fi le o ne d ecl arat o ry ju d g m en t act i o n t o det erm i n e wh et h er i t m ay fi l e a s eco n d

d ecl a r at o ry ju d g m en t act i o n t o d et erm i n e t h e v al i d i ty o f an i n t erro rem cl au s e.” 1 4

In s t ead

, a q u es t i o n reg ard i n g t h e “ v al i d i t y o f an i n terro rem cl au s e s h ou l d b e res o l v ed

i n t he fi rs t d ecl arat ory ju d g m en t act i o n rai si n g t h at i s su e.” 1 5 An d b ecau s e we fo u n d

1 1 Id

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

1 2 Id

.

1 3 Id

.

1 4 Id

. at 42 1 (1 ).

1 5 Id

.

5n o l aw al l o wi n g a s eco n d d ecl arat o ry -ju d g m en t act io n o n t h e q u es t i o n of t h e v al id i t y

o f a n i n t e rro rem cl au s e, t h e p ro b at e co u rt ’ s o rd er was “ v acat ed o n t h i s is s u e a n d

rem an ded fo r t h at d et erm i n at i o n .” 1 6

In Bu r kh a l t er I

, we al s o h el d th e p ro b at e co u rt erred i n d ecl ari n g t h at “ a fu t u re

p et i t i o n t o rem o v e t h e ex ecu t o r[ ] wo u ld n o t v i o l at e t h e i n t erro rem cl au se fo u n d i n

t h e wi l l

. ” 1 7 Sp eci fi cal l y

, w e n o t ed t hat t h e p e t i t io n fai l ed to s peci 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 r s uffi ci en t fo r th e p ro b at e co u rt t o h av e d et erm in ed t h at

t h o s e cl ai m s wo u ld n ot v i o l at e t h e i n t erro rem cl au s e. 1 8 Fu rt h erm o re, t he p et i t i o n d id

n o t i n cl u d e a p ro p o s ed co m pl ai n t o r ot h erwi s e s t at e t h e bas i s fo r a s u i t t o rem o v e t h e

ex ecu t o r. 1 9 Un d er s u ch ci rcu m s t an ces

, w e h el d t hat t he reco rd

, as i t t hen ex i s t ed

, d id

n o t s u p p o rt t h e p ro b at e co u rt ’ s co n cl u s i o n t h at t he p et i t i o n ers ’ p ro po s ed p et i t i o n t o

rem o v e t h e e x e c u t or wo u l d n ot v i o l at e t h e i n t erro rem cl au s e. 2 0 T hu s

, th e p ro b at e

1 6 Id .; s ee Kes l er v. W

a t t s

, 2 1 8 Ga. Ap p . 1 0 4 , 1 0 6 (2 ) (4 6 0 SE2 d 8 2 2 ) (1 9 9 5 )

(rem an d i n g a cas e i n a d ecl arat o ry -ju d g m e n t a c t i o n co n cern in g v al id i ty o f an in

t erro rem cl au s e fo r t h e t ri al co u rt t o m ak e t h at d et erm i n at io n ).

1 7 Bu r kh a l t er I , 3 4 3 Ga. Ap p . at 4 2 1 (2 ).

1 8 Id at 4 2 3 (2 ).

1 9 Id

.

2 0 Id

.

6co u rt d i d n o t e x am i n e wh et h er th e p ro p o s ed cl ai m s ag ai n st t h e ex ecu t o r w o u l d v i o l at e

t h e i n t erro rem cl au se, o r wh et her— b as ed o n t h e p art i cu l ar al leg at i on s t h e ap p el l ees

i n t en d ed t o m ak e— t he ap p li cat i o n o f t h e i n t erro rem cl au s e wo u l d b e v oi d

. 2 1 Fo r al l

o f t hes e reas o ns

, we h el d t h at “ t h e [p ro b at e] co u rt er r e d i n i t s r u l i n g s as t o t h e

p et i t i o n ers ’ p ro p o s ed p et i ti o n s fo r d ecl arat o ry ju d g m en t reg ard i ng It em IX of t h e wi l l

an d rem ov al o f t he ex ecu t o r[ ] wi t h o u t v io l at i n g t h e in t erro rem cl au s e.” 2 2 Th erefo re,

we v acat ed t he p ro b at e co urt ’ s ju d g m en t as to t h i s ru l in g as wel l

, an d rem an d ed t h e

cas e fo r fu rt h er p ro ceed i n g co ns i s t en t wi t h o u r o p in i o n

. 2 3

Up o n rem an d

, t h e ap p el l ees fi led an am en d ed p et i t i o n fo r a d ecl arat o ry

ju d g m en t

, as k i n g t h e pro b a t e c o u rt t o (1 ) accep t t h e am en ded pet i t i on ; (2 ) d eci d e

wh et h er t h e i n t erro rem cl au s e i n It em IX i s v al id ; (3 ) d ecl are th at t hey are p erm i t t ed

t o fi l e a “ Pet i ti on fo r En fo rcem en t o f Las t W i l l an d Tes t am en t o f [Lo u i s e] an d Fo r an

Acco u n t i n g o r, i n t h e al t ern at iv e, fo r Rem o v al of Ex ecu t o r wi t h o u t b ei n g in vi o l at i o n

o f t h e i n terro rem cl au s e i n IX o f t h e [w] i ll ”; (4 ) d ecl are t h at t h e fi l i n g o f a

d ecl arat ory act i o n is no t an at t ack u p o n t he w i l l i t s el f; an d (5 ) g ran t s uch o t h er rel i ef

2 1 Id

.

2 2 Id

. at 42 4 (2 ).

2 3 Id

.

7as t h e co u rt m ay d eem j u s t an d p ro p er. As an ex h i b it t o t h e am en d ed p et i t i o n

, t h e

ap p el l ees at t ach ed a “ p et i ti o n fo r en fo rcem en t o f l as t w i l l an d tes t am en t o f [t es t at o r]

an d fo r an acco u n t in g o r, i n t h e al t ern at i v e, fo r rem o val o f ex ecu t o r.” Th e ap p el l ees

fi led a s up po rt i n g b ri ef, an d W i l l i am fi l ed a res p o ns e.

Fo l l o w i n g a h eari n g

, th e p ro b at e co u rt en t ered an o rd er o n t he ap p el l ees ’

p et i t i o n an d m ad e t h e fo ll o wi n g f i n d i ng s : (1 ) t h e i n t erro rem cl au s e i n It em IX o f

t es t at o r’ s wi ll i s v al i d as t o an at t ack by an h ei r o r b en efi ci ary o n an y p ro vi s i o n i n t h e

wi l l ; (2 ) t h e i n t erro rem cl au se i s i n v al i d as to an at t ack o n an h ei r o r ben efi ci ary o n

t h e ad m i n i st rat i o n of t h e es t at e, o r t h e m an ag em en t o f ex p en d i t u res o f t h e Bu rk h al t er

Fam i l y Tru s t; (3 ) W i l l i a m

, as t h e ex ecu t o r, m u s t pro v i d e— wi t h i n 6 0 d ay s o f t h e

c o urt ’ s o rd er— a co m

p l et e acco u n t i n g o f t h e cal cu l at i o n o f l o s s s u st ai n ed as

referen ced i n It em IX 2 4 o f t h e wi l l an d p ro v i d e sam e t o t h e co u rt an d th e ap p el l ees ;

a n d (4 ) t h e ap p el lees m ay fi l e a p et i ti o n fo r an acco u n t in g

, o r i n t h e al t ern at i ve,

rem o v al of t h e ex ecu t o r wi t h o u t v i o l at i n g t h e i n t erro rem cl au s e o f t h e w i l l, s h o u ld

t h ey deem su ch is n eces sary aft er recei p t o f t h e l o ss cal cu l at io n s fro m t h e ex ecu t o r.

Th i s ap p eal fo l l o ws

.

2 4 S ee i n fr a n o t e 3 4

.

8A p ro b at e co u rt ’ s fi n d i n g s o f fact a f t er a d ecl arat o ry ju d g m en t h eari n g are

“ an al o g o u s t o a ju r y v e r di ct an d wi l l n o t b e i n t erfered wi t h i f t h ere i s an y ev i d en ce

t o s up p o rt t h em ; 2 5 b u t we r e v i e w t h e p ro b at e co u rt ’ s co n cl u s i o n s o f l aw d e n o vo

. 2 6

Beari n g th i s s t an d ard o f rev i ew i n m i n d, we t u rn t o W i l li am ’ s cl ai m s o f erro r.

1

. W i l l iam arg u es t h e p ro b at e co u rt erred b y fai l i n g t o ad d res s h i s co u n t ercl ai m

t h at t h e a p p e l l ees v i o l at ed t h e i n t erro rem cl au s e i n Lo u is e’ s wi l l an d are t h erefo re

d i s i n h eri ted . W e d i s ag ree.

W h i l e t h e p ro bat e co u rt d i d n o t ex p res s l y referen ce W i l l i am ’ s co u n t ercl ai m

,

i n s ub s t an ce, t he co u rt res o l v ed al l o f t h e rel ev an t i s s u es re g a r d i n g t he i n t erro rem

cl au s e an d d et erm i n ed t h at t h e ap pel l ees were no t d i si n h eri t ed m erel y b ecau s e t h ey

s o u g ht d ecl arat o ry

rel i ef reg ard i n g t h at p ro v i s i o n

. An d i n deed , i n Bu r kh al t er I , t h i s

Co u rt ex p res s l y i ns t ru ct ed t he p ro bat e co u rt t h at t h e fi l i ng o f a d ecl arat ory -ju d g m en t

act i on reg ard i n g t h e v al id i t y o f an i n t erro rem cl au s e “ i s no t i t s el f a v i o l at i o n o f t h e

i n t erro rem

cl au s e at i s s ue[.] ” 2 7

2 5 S t r a n g e v. To wn s

, 33 0 Ga. A p p

. 8 7 6

, 87 6 (7 6 9 SE2 d 60 4 ) (2 0 1 5 )

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

2 6 S ee i d

.

2 7 Bu r kh a l t er I , 3 4 3 Ga. Ap p . at 4 2 1 (1 ).

9In ad di ti o n t o cl ai m i n g t h at t h e ap p el l ees s ho u l d b e d i s i n h eri t ed m er e l y fo r

i n i t i at i n g t hi s act i on

, W il l i am ’ s co u n tercl ai m co m p lai n ed t hat th e ap p el l ees “ b eg an

t h i s act i o n t o rem o v e [e] xecu t o r[ ] t h e d ay aft er t h e ex ecu t o r[ ] [was ] i n s t al l ed wi t h o ut

an y o b ject i o n t o [h i s ] in s t al l at i o n b y [t h e ap pel l ees ] o r ot h erwi s e an d wi t h o u t t h e

ex ecu t o r[ ] y et t a k i n g an y act i o n wh at s o ev er t o gi v e ri s e t o [h i s ] rem o v al .” Bu t t h e

p ro b at e co u rt ex p res s l y ad d res s ed t h i s al l eg at i o n an d ev en i n d i cat ed t h at i t s h ared

W i ll i am ’ s co n cern s . Sp eci fi cal l y , t h e d ecl arat o ry ju d g m en t s t at ed

,

Th i s co u rt an d [W i l l i am ] q u es t i o n t h e i n t en t o f t h e m o v a n t s i n fi l in g a

[d ] ecl arat o ry [j ] udgm e n t p et i t i on co n cern i n g an acco u n t i n g an d rem o val

o f ex ecu t or[ ] a m ere fi v e d ay s aft er t h e ex ecu t or[ ] [was ] ap p o i n t ed .[ 2 8 ]

.

On i t s face[,] t he p et i t i o n ap p ears [t o b e] an an t i ci p at o ry act ; h o wev er,

[W i l l i am ] [h as ] n ev er den i ed t h at t h e b en efi ci ary / m o v an t

, Gay l e W ard

,

was n ev er go in g t o recei v e a d is t ri bu t i o n u n d er t h e wi ll

. In o th er wo rd s

,

Gay l e W ard al read y k n ew as s o o n as t he wi l l was p ro b at ed t h at s h e w as

n o t g o i n g t o recei v e a d is t ri b u t io n u n d er t he es t at e . . . .

Th e p ro bat e co u rt ex p lai n ed t h at t h e reas o n W ard wo u ld n o t recei v e a d is tri b u t i o n

was rel at ed t o a cal cu lat i o n o f l o s s u n der a cert ai n wi l l p ro vi s i o n

, an d s h e was s i m p l y

2 8 W hil e W i l l i am an d th e co urt ap pear t o di s ag ree ab o u t w h et h er th e d ecl arat o ry

ju d g m en t was fi led o n e d ay o r fi v e d ay s aft er t h e ex ecu t o r w as ap p o i n t ed

, t h i s

d i s crep an cy i s no t rel ev an t t o t h e q u e s t i o n o f wh et her t h e co u rt a d d res s ed t h e

co u nt ercl ai m

i n i t s o rd er.

10as k i n g t o k n o w h o w t h e ex ecu to r m ad e t h e cal cu lat i o n

. Acco rd i n g t o t h e co u rt , as a

b en efi ci ary

, sh e h ad t h e ri g h t t o d o s o

. An d W i l li am d o es n o t ch al l en g e t h e su b s t an ce

o f t h e co urt ’ s ru l i n g i n t h i s reg ard

, b u t cl ai m s o n l y t h at it fai l ed to ad d res s t h e i s s ue.

Bu t t h e reco rd p lai n l y s h o w s t h at t h e co u rt d i d s o

, an d a s a r e s u l t

, th i s cl ai m i s

wi t h o u t m eri t

.

2

. W i l l i am h as ab an do n ed h i s n ex t t hree cl ai m s o f erro r b e c a u s e h e fai l s to

p ro v id e rel ev an t au th o ri t y o r m ak e co g n i zab l e l eg al arg u m en t s t o s u p p ort t h em

.

(a) W il l i am fi rs t co n t en d s t h e p ro b at e co u rt erred i n fi n d i n g t h at t h e i n t erro rem

cl au s e i s i n v a l i d as to an at tack by t h e ap pel l ees o n t h e ad m i n i s t rat i o n o f t h e

d eced en t ’ s es t at e.

In t h e t wo p ag es W i l l i am d ev o t es t o t h i s arg u m en t

, t h e o n l y au t ho ri t y h e ci t es

i s part o f a s en ten ce i n La n ier v. La n i er

, 2 9 n o t i n g “ t h ere i s a l i m i t at i o n o v er t o s o m e

o t h er p ers o n ; in wh i ch ev en t t h e l at t er s h al l t ak e.” 3 0 Bu t r a t h e r t h an ex p l ai n h o w

La n i er ap p l ies to t h i s cas e, h e s u m m ari l y co n ten d s

, “ h ere, t h e [c] o ur t fo u n d t h at

2 9 2 1 8 Ga. 1 3 7 (1 2 6 SE2 d 7 76 ) (1 9 6 2 ).

3 0 Id

. at 1 4 6 (5 ). W i l l i am p ro v i d es o n ly a p o rt i o n o f th e sen t en ce h e q u o t es fro m

La n i er

. Th e co m

p l et e s en t en ce h e referen ces s t at es

, “ Co d e § 11 3

- 8 2 0 p r o v i d es

, ‘ A

co n di t i o n i n t erro rem s h al l b e v o i d

, u n l es s t h ere i s a li m i tat i o n o v e r t o s o m e o t h er

p ers o n ; i n wh i ch ev en t t h e l at t er s h al l t ak e.’ ” Id

. at 14 5 -4 6 (5 ) (p un ct u at i o n o m i t t ed ).

11l i m i ti n g an at t ack b y a ben efi ci ary ag ai n st th e ad m i n i s trat i o n o f t h e wi l l i s ag a i n s t

p u b l i c p o l i cy

. . . . No t h in g co u l d b e f u rt her t h an th e t ru t h

. ” W il l iam t h en p res en t s

s ev eral a s se r

t i o n s u n s u p po rt ed b y au t h o ri t y o r referen ces t o t h e reco rd

, an d co m p l ai n s

t h at t h e p ro b at e co u rt fai l ed to s p eci fy t h e p u b li c po l i cy t h at s u p po rt ed i ts ru l i n g

. 3 1

Su ffi ce i t t o s ay

, W il l i am h as fai l ed t o p ro v i d e a di scern ab l e arg u m en t t o s u p p o rt h i s

b are as s ert i o n th at t h e p ro b at e co u rt erred i n fi n d i ng t h e i n t erro rem cl au s e i s i n v al id

as t o an at t ack b y t he ap p el l ees o n t h e ad m i n i s t rat i o n o f t h e d e c e d en t ’ s es t at e, an d

t h erefo re, h e h as ab an d o n ed t h i s cl ai m o f erro r. 3 2

3 1 W i l li am co nt en d s, i n p as s i n g, t h at t h is cas e i s l i k e “ S in cl ai r ,” b u t he d o es n ot

ci t e t o an y p art i cu l ar p o rt i o n o f t h e o p in i o n o r p r o v id e an y d i s cu s s i on of t hat cas e.

Al t h o u g h W i l l i am si m

p l y refers t o t h e cas e as “ S i n cl ai r ,” a rev ie w o f h i s bri ef as a

wh o l e s u g g es t s t hat he i n t en ds t o referen ce S i ncl a i r v

. S i n c l a ir

, 2 8 4 Ga. 5 0 0 (6 7 0

SE2 d 5 9 ) (2 0 08 ). Bu t as ex p lai n e d b el ow, a m ere referen ce t o a cas e ci t at i o n to

s u p p ort a co ncl u s o ry al l eg at i on i s n o t t h e t y p e o f m ean i n g fu l arg um en t co n tem p l at ed

b y o u r ru l es

. S

ee i n f r a n ot e 3 2

.

3 2 S e e F a r mer v. Dep ’t o

f Co r r

. , 3 4 6 Ga. Ap p

. 3 8 7

, 3 9 4 (2 ) (8 1 6 SE2 d 3 7 6 )

(2 0 1 8) (“ [M ] ere co n cl u s ory s t at em en ts are no t t h e t y pe o f m ean i n g fu l arg u m en t

co n tem p l at ed b y o u r ru l es .” (p u n ct uat i o n o m i tt ed )); W o o d s v. H a l l

, 31 5 Ga. Ap p

. 9 3,

9 6 (7 2 6 SE2 d 5 9 6 ) (2 0 1 2 ) (“ [A] n as s ert io n of erro r fo l l o wed b y a cas e ci tat i o n i s n ot

l eg al arg u m en t

, w h ich req u i res

, at a m i n i m u m

, a d i s cu s s io n of t he ap p ro p ri at e l aw as

ap p li ed t o t h e rel ev an t fact s ” (p un ct u at i o n o m i t t ed )); Fl emi ng v

. A d v anc e d St o r es Co

. , 3 0 1 Ga. Ap p

. 7 3 4

, 7 3 5 (6 8 8 SE2 d 4 1 4 ) (2 0 0 9 ) (“ It is n o t t h e fu n ct i o n o f t h i s [C] o u rt

t o cu l l t h e reco rd o n b eh al f o f a p art y i n s earch of i n s tan ces of erro r.” (p u n c t u a t i o n

o m it t ed )); Di

xo n v. Met r o

. At l an t a R a

p i d Tr an s it Au t h

., 2 4 2 Ga. Ap p

. 2 62

, 2 6 6 (4 )

(5 2 9 SE2 d 3 9 8 ) (2 0 0 0) (“ Rh et o ri c i s n o t a s u b s t i t u t e fo r co g en t l eg al an al y s i s

, wh i ch

i s

, at a m i n i m

u m

, a d i s cu s s io n o f t h e ap p ro pri at e l aw as ap pl i ed t o t h e rel ev an t

12(b ) N e x t, W i l l i am co nt en d s t h e p ro b at e co u rt erred i n fi n d i n g th at t h e in

t erro rem cl au s e is in v al i d as t o an at t ack b y an hei r o r b en efi ci ary o n t h e m an ag em en t

o r ex p en d i t u res o f t he Bu rk h al t er Fam i l y T ru s t

. Bu t ag ai n

, o th er t h an s t at i n g t h at t h e

ar g u m e n t s m a d e as t o Di v i s io n 2 (a), s u p r a

, ap p l y t o t h i s cl ai m o f erro r, W i l l i am

p ro v id es n o au th o ri t y o r referen ces t o t h e reco rd

. In d eed

, i n t h e hal f p ag e o f h i s b ri ef

d ev ot ed t o t h i s cl ai m

, W i l l i am m erel y p ro v i d es a s t ri n g of co n cl u so ry s t at em en t s

,

wi t h o u t m ak i n g an y di s cern ab l e arg u m en t o r ap p l y i n g an y rel ev an t au t h o ri t y t o t h e

ci rcu m s t an ces i n t h is cas e. Th u s , h e h as l ik ewi s e ab an do n ed h i s co n t en t i o n t h at t h e

p ro b at e co u rt erred i n fi n d i ng t h e ap p el lees wo u ld n o t v i ol at e t h e i n t erro rem cl au s e

i f t h ey at t ack ed t h e m an ag em en t o r ex p en d it u res o f t h e Bu rk h al t er Fam i l y Tru s t

. 3 3

(c) W i l l i am al s o m a i n t a i n s t h e p ro bat e co urt erred i n d ecl ari n g t h at h e m u s t

p ro v id e t o t h e pro b at e co u rt an d ap p el l ees

— wi t h i n 6 0 d ay s o f t h e d at e of i t s o rd er— a

co m p l et e acco u n t i n g o f t he cal cu lat i o n o f l o s s s u s t ai n ed (as referen ced i n t h e in

t erro rem cl au s e). 3 4

fact s.”).

3 3 S ee s u p r a n o t e 3 2

.

3 4 A l t h o ug h th e p ro b at e co u rt i nd i cat es t h at It em IX o f Lo u i s e’ s wi l l

— t h e in

t erro rem cl au s e—

p ro v i d es fo r a cal cu l at i o n o f l o s s

, i t ap p ears t h at t h e co u rt m ean t to

referen ce It em IV, wh i ch p ro v i d es , i n p art , t h at :

13As t o t h i s cl ai m o f erro r, W i l l i am d et ai ls h i s v ers i on o f cert ai n fact s un d erl y i n g

[I] t i s m y d es i re t h at an eq ui t ab l e d i s t ri b u t i o n o f m y e s 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 gh ter, Nan cy Gay l e Bu rk h al t er 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 th 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 des i re th 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 o ss 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 th at t h i s cal cu l at i on 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 i rect th 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 s i d ered

, fo r th e

l i m i t ed p u rp o s e o f d i s t ri b u t i o n

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

d au g h t er, Nan cy Gay l e Bu rk h al ter. Each of m y o t h er ch i l dren are

en t i t l ed t o t h e s am e b en efi t

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

d i s t ri b u t i on

, an am o u n t e q ual t o th i s cal cu l at io n b e d i s tri b ut ed t o each

o f m y ot he r c h i l d ren

, W i l l i am T h o m as Ray Bu rk h al t er, J oh 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.

Bu r kh a l ter I

, 3 4 3 Ga. Ap p . at 4 1 8 (p u n ct u at i o n o m i t t ed ).

W i ll i am ap p ears t o s ug g es t t h at t h ere i s n o n eed fo r a cal cu l a t i o n o f l o s s b ecau s e i t

“ p res u p p o s es ” W ard was d is i n h eri t ed fo r v i o lat i n g th e i n t erro rem cl a u s e

. Bu t t h e

p ro b at e co u rt d i d n o t fi n d t h at W ard v i o l at ed t h e i n t erro rem cl au s e an d n ei t h er h as

t h i s Co u rt

.

14t h i s ap p eal

, b u t c i t e s t o o n l y t w o pag es o f t h e reco rd to s up p o rt i t. An d y et ag ai n,

W i ll i am fai l s t o p ro v i d e ev en a s i n g l e referen ce t o au th or i t y, m u c h l es s ap p l y t h at

a u t h o ri ty t o t he fact s o f t h i s cas e o r m ak e a co g n i zab l e arg um en t t o su p p o rt h i s

co n ten t i o n s

. As a res u l t, W i l l iam has al s o ab an d o n ed h is cl ai m t h at t h e p ro bat e co u rt

erred b y o rd eri n g h i m t o p ro v i d e a c o m p let e acco u n t in g o f t h e cal cu l at i on o f l o ss

s u s t ai n ed wi t h i n 6 0 d ay s o f i t s o rd er. 3 5

3

. Fi n al l y

, W i l l i am arg u es t h e p ro b at e co urt erred i n d ecl ari n g t h at t h e

ap p el lees m ay fi l e a p et i t io n fo r an acco un t i n g

, or i n t h e al t ern at i v e, fo r rem o v al o f

t h e ex ecu t o r wi t h o u t v i ol at i n g t h e in t erro rem cl au s e, sh o ul d t hey d eem i t i s n eces s ary

aft er recei p t o f t he l o s s cal cu l at i o n . Yet ag ai n , we d is ag ree.

In Geo rg i a, an y p ers o n i n t eres ted as a l eg at ee, h ei r, o r b en efi ci ary o f t h e es t at e

o f a d eced en t

, b y s t at u t e, “ m ay h a v e a d e c l arat i o n o f ri gh t s o r l eg al rel at i o n s in

r e s p ect th eret o an d a d ecl arat o ry ju d g m en t t o d et erm in e an y q u es t i o n ari s i 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 d i n g qu es t io n s o f c o n s t ru ct i o n o f w i l ls an d o t h er

wri t in g s .” 3 6 An d t h is s t at u t e i s t o b e co n s tru ed “ [u n s t i n t i n g l y ] an d ad m i n is tered s o as

3 5 S ee s u p r a n o t e 3 2

.

3 6 Bu r kh a l t er I

, 3 4 3 Ga. Ap p

. at 4 2 0 (1 ) (p u nct u at i o n o m i t t ed ); s ee OCGA § 9

-

4 -4 (a) (“ W i t h o u t l i m i t i n g t h e g en eral i t y o f Co d e Sect i o n s 9 -4 -2

, 9 -4 -3

, 9 -4 -5 t h ro u g h

9 -4 -7

, an d 9 -4 -9

, a n y p e r s o n in t eres t ed as o r t h ro u g h an ex ecu t or, ad m i n i s t rat o r,

15t o affo rd rel i ef fro m u n cert ai n t y an d i n s ecu ri t y wi t h res p ect t o ri g h t s

, s t at u s, an d o t h er

l eg al rel at i o ns

. ” 3 7

Th u s

, u n d er OCGA § 9 -4 -4 (a) (3 ), “ an i n t eres t ed part y m ay s eek a decl arat i o n

co n cern in g t h e v al i d i t y o f an i n t erro rem cl au se.” 3 8 An d an i nt eres t ed p art y fi l i n g s u ch

an act i o n i s “ n o t i t s el f a v i o l at i o n of t he i n t erro rem cl au s e at i s s u e” b ecau s e “ [t ] h e

s e a r ch fo r t h e t ru e m ean i ng o f a w i l l i s n o t an at t ack u p on i t .” 3 9 Fu rt h erm o r e

, t h e

Su p rem e Co u rt o f G e o r g i a “ san ct i o n s t h e u s e o f a d ecl arat o ry ju d g m en t act i o n to

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

t ru s t ee, g u ard i an

, o r o t h er fi d u ci ary

, cred i t o r, d ev is ee, l eg at ee, h ei r, ward

, nex t o f k i n,

o r b en efi ci ary i n t h e ad m i n i s t rat i o n o f a t ru st o r o f t he es t at e o f a deced en t

, a m i n o r,

a p ers o n wh o i s l eg a l l y i n co m p et en t b ecau s e o f m en t al i ll n es s o r i n t el l ect u al

d i s ab i l i t y

, o r an i n s o l v en t m ay h av e a d ecl arat i o n o f ri g h t s o r l eg al rel at i o n s in res p ect

t h eret o an d a d ecl arat o ry ju d g m en t : (1 ) To as cert ai n an y cl as s o f cred i to rs

, d ev i s ees

, l eg at ees

, h ei rs

, n ex t o f k i n, or o t h ers ; (2 ) To d i rect t h e ex ecu t o r, ad m i n i s t rat o r, o r

t ru s t ee t o d o or ab s t ai n fro m do i n g an y p art i cu l ar act i n h i s fi d u ci ary cap aci t y ; o r (3 )

To d et erm i n e an y q u es t io n ari s i n g i n t h e a d m i n i st rat i o n o f t h e es t at e o r t ru s t

, i n cl u d i n g q u es t i o n s o f co n s t ru ct i o n o f wi l ls an d o t h er wri t i n g s

. ”).

3 7 Bu r kh al t er I

, 3 4 3 Ga. Ap p

. at 4 2 0 (1 ) (p u n ct u at io n o m i t ted ); a cco r d S i n cl a i r

v. S in cl a i r

, 2 84 G a. at 5 0 1 (1 ); Kes l er , 2 1 8 Ga. Ap p

. at 1 05 (2 ); see OCGA § 9 -4 -1

(s t at i n g t h e p urp o s e o f t h e Decl arat ory J u d gm en t Act ).

3 8 Bu r kh a l t er I , 3 4 3 Ga. Ap p . at 4 2 1 (1 ).

3 9 Id

. at 4 2 1 (1 ) (p un ct u at i o n o m i t t ed ); s ee S i n cl a i r

, 2 8 4 Ga. at 5 0 4 (2 ) (“ [T] h e

fi li n g o f a d ecl arat o ry act i on b y Ap pel l an t was n o t an at t ack u po n t h e wi l l .”

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

16t erro rem cl au s e.” 4 0 An d as we h av e ex p lai n ed

, “ [t ] y p i cal l y t h es e p ro p o s e d act i on s

i n v o l v e q u es t i on s o f wh et h er an d h o w an i n t eres t ed p art y m ay ch al len g e act i o n s by

an ex ecu to r, t ru st ee o r o t her fi d u ci ary i n t h e face o f an i n t erro rem cl au se.” 4 1

In S i n cl a i r v. S i n cl a i r

, 4 2 t h e Su p rem e Co u rt o f Geo rg i a ex pres s l y h el d t h at “ an

act i on fo r acco u nt in g an d rem o v al o f [e] xecu t o r cl earl y wo u l d n o t am o un t t o a co n tes t

o f t h e wi ll b y o b

ject i ng to i t s p ro b at e; an d s u ch p ro ceed i n g was cl earl y n o t an effo rt

t o b reak t h e wi ll .” 4 3 Th e Si n cl a ir Co u rt fu rt h er ex p l ai n ed t h at t he rel ev an t wi l l wo u ld

n o t b e b ro k en i f a b en efi ci ary “ s u cceed s i n o b t ai ni n g an acco u n ti n g an d rem o v al o f

Ex ecu t or. Th e effect o f [h er] s u cces s wo ul d l eav e t h e wi l l i n fu ll fo rce an d effect .” 4 4

4 0 B ur kh a l t e r I

, 3 4 3 Ga. Ap p

. at 4 2 1 (1 ); s ee S i n cl ai r

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

(h o l d i n g th at a b en efi ci ary d i d no t v i o l at e an i n t erro rem cl au s e b y fi li n g “ a co m p l ai nt

fo r decl arat o ry ju d g m en t

, s eek i n g t o d et erm i n e wh et h er h e wo u l d v i o l a t e t h e in

t erro rem cl au s e b y b ri n g i n g an ap p ro p ri at e act i o n in g o o d fai t h ag ai n s t Ex ecu t o r fo r

h i s rem o v al “ ); Co h en v. Rei s ma n

, 2 03 Ga. 6 8 4

, 6 8 5 (4 8 SE2 d 1 1 3 ) (1 9 4 8 ) (h o l d i n g

t h at “ t h e t ri al co u rt p ro p erl y en tered ju d g m en t decl ari ng t h at th e p lai n t i ff b en efi ci ary

co u ld m ai n t ai n an act i o n i n t h e p ro p er t ri b u n al t o b ri n g t h e ex ecu t or t o acco u n t o n t h e

g ro u nd s s et o u t i n t h e pet i t i o n

, an d al s o c o r r e c t l y ru l ed t h at t h e b en efi ci ary d i d n ot

fo rfei t her leg acy u n d er th e wi l l b y reas o n o f h av i n g i n st it u t ed t h e p res en t act i o n fo r

a d ecl arat o ry ju d g m en t”).

4 1 Bu r kh a l t er I , 3 4 3 Ga. Ap p . at 4 2 1 (1 ).

4 2 2 8 4 Ga. 5 0 0 (6 7 0 SE2 d 5 9) (2 0 0 8 ).

4 3 Id

. at 50 2 (2 ) (p u n ct u at i o n o m i t ted ).

4 4 Id

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

17M o reo v er, o u r Su p rem e Co u rt co n cl u d ed th at i t “ wo u l d vi ol at e p u b li c p o l i cy to

co n st ru e t h e c o n d i t i o n i n t erro rem s o as to req u i re t h e fo rfei t u re o f a b en efi ci ary ’ s

i n t eres t fo r b ri n g i n g an act i o n fo r acco u n t in g an d r e m o v a l of t h e ex ecu t o r.” 4 5

U l t i m at el y

, t h e Co u rt h el d t hat “ t he t ri al co u rt s ho u ld h av e g ran t ed s u m m ary

ju d g m en t i n f

a v o r o f [t he b en efi ci ary ] becau s e t h e i n t erro rem cl au s e i n [t h e

d eced en t ’ s ] w i l l d o es n o t an d can no t req u i re fo rfei t u re o f hi s i n t eres t i f he fi l es t h e

p ro p os ed act i o n fo r acco u n t i n g an d rem o val o f [e] x ecu to r.” 4 6

Th u s

, u n d er Si n cl a i r

, t h e p ro b at e co u rt d i d n o t err i n decl ari ng t h e ap p el l ees

co u ld fi l e a fu t u re p et i t i o n fo r an acco u n t i n g, or i n t h e al t ern at i v e, fo r rem ov al o f t h e

ex ecu t o r, wi t h o u t vi o l at in g th e i n t erro rem cl au s e. Nev ert h el es s

, in Bu r kh a lt er I

, t h i s

Co u rt ack n o wl ed ged o u r Su p rem e Co u rt ’ s h o ld i n g i n S i n cl a ir , b u t d i s t in g u i s h ed i t

.

Sp eci fi cal l y

, we fi rs t n o ted th at

, i n S i n cl a i r

, t h e b en efi ci ary s o u g ht t o b ri n g an act i o n

ag ai n s t t h e ex ecu t o r fo r h i s rem o v al b as ed “ on t h e g ro u nd s o f h o s t i l i t y

, i n co m p et en ce,

s el f-d eal i n g

, fl ag ran t ab u s es o f fi d u ci ary res p o ns i b il i t i es an d o t h er wr o n g s

, an d fo r

an acco u n t i n g an d o t her rel i ef fo r b reach es o f t ru s t, co l l us i o n

, an d n eg l ig en ce i n t h e

4 5 Id

.

4 6 Id

. at 50 4 (2 ).

18p erfo rm an ce o f hi s d u t i es u n d er t h e wi l l .” 4 7 Th u s

, we co n cl ud ed t hat t h e S i n c l a i r

Co u rt h ad t o “ b o th co n s t r u e t h e rel ev an t in t erro rem cl au se an d co m p are i t t o t h e

act i on p ro p o s ed b y t h e p et i t i o n er i n t h e d ecl arat ory ju dg m en t act i o n .” 4 8 W e al s o

ex p lai n ed t h at

, “ S i n cl ai r n o ted t h at a d ecl arat i o n t ha t a p r o p o s ed act i o n wi l l n ot

v i o l at e an i n terro rem cl au s e i s l i m i t ed t o t h e t y p e o f pro p o s ed act i o n t h a t t h e

p et i t i o n e r h a s d

es cr i b ed

. ” 4 9 In Bu r

kh a l t er I

, t h e o ri gi n al p et i t i o n fo r a d ecl arat o ry

ju d g m en t

, wh i ch was am en ded u p o n rem an d, “ fai l [ed ] t o s p eci fy t h e p ro p o s ed cl ai m s

a g a i n s t t he ex ecu t o r[ ] s u ffi ci en t fo r t he tri al co u rt t o h av e d et erm i n ed t h at t h o s e

cl ai m s wo u l d n o t v io l at e t h e i n t erro rem cl au s e.” 5 0 Th u s

, t he p ro b at e co u rt fai l ed t o

ex am i n e wh et h er an y p ro p o s ed al l eg at i o n ag ai n s t t h e ex ecu t o r “ w o u ld b e a vi o l at i o n

o f t h 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 i o n o f t h e in

t erro re m c l a u s e wo u l d b e v o i d .” 5 1 In rem an di n g t he cas e, we h el d t h at t h e p ro b at e

4 7 Bu r kh a l t er I , 3 4 3 Ga. Ap p . at 4 2 2 (2 ), q u o t i ng S i ncl a i r , 2 84 Ga. at 5 0 0

.

4 8 Id . at 42 3 (2 ).

4 9 Id

. at 42 2 (2 ).

5 0 Id . at 42 3 (2 ).

5 1 Id

.

19co u rt erred i n fai l i n g “ t o an al y ze t h e i s s u e o f t h e p et i t i o ners ’ p ro p o s ed cl ai m ag ai n s t

t h e ex ecu t o r[ ] . . . .” 5 2

As ex p l ai n ed s u

p r a

, fo l l o wi n g o ur rem an d o f t hi s cas e i n Bu r kh a l t er I

, t h e

ap p el l ees fi l ed an am en d ed p et it i o n fo r a d ecl arat ory j u d gm en t

, req u es ti n g

, i n t er a l i a

,

a d ecl ara t i o n t h a t t h ey co u ld fi l e a p et it i on fo r an acco u n t i n g

, o r i n t he al t ern at i ve,

rem o v al o f t h e ex ecu t o r, wi t h o u t v i o l at i n g t h e i n t erro rem cl au s e d e t a i l ed s u p r a

.

Al t h o u g h th e am en d ed p et i t i on d i d n o t det ai l th e s p eci fi c c l a i m s t h e ap p el l ees

i n t en d ed t o as s ert ag ai n st W i ll i am

, as t h e ex ecu t o r, t h ey at t ach ed a p ro p o s ed p et i t i o n

fo r an acco u n t i n g or rem o v al of ex ecu t o r as an ex h i b i t t o t he p et it i on

. In t h e p ro p o s ed

p et i t i o n

, t h e a p p el l ees al l eg e t h e ex ecu t o r fai l ed to co m p l y wi t h an d carry o u t t h e

d i s p o s i t i ve p ro vi si o n s o f L o u i s e’ s wi l l

. Th ey al s o al l eg e t h e e x ecu t o r “ fai l ed to

ex erci s e g o o d fai t h, care, an d d i l i g en ce i n t h e m an ag em en t an d ad m i n i s trat i o n o f t h e

E s t a t e.” A n d as t o p o ten t i al m i s co n d u ct b y W i l l i am

, t h e p ro b at e co u rt ex p res s ed

co n cern t h at he ad m i t ted t o d i s t ri b u t i n g th e es t at e t o o t h er b en efi ci ari es an d

d et erm i n i n g t h e ap p el l ees ’ act i o n s v i o lat ed t he i n t erro rem p ro v i s i o n, al l wh i l e t h es e

i s su es were p en di n g b efo re t h e co u rt

. Th e co u rt co n cl u d ed t h at t h i s c o n d u ct “ g i v es

a l eg i t i m at e qu es t i o n of s et t lem en t o f acco u n t s b y [t h e] ex ecu t o r t o t h e b en efi ci ari es .”

5 2 Id

. at 42 4 (2 ).

20Un l i ke t h e p et it i o n at is s u e i n B u r kh a lt er I

, th e ap p el l ees ’ am en d ed p e t i t i o n

p ro v id ed t h e cl ai m s th at th ey in t en d ed t o as s ert i n a fu t u r e p e t i t i o n t o rem o v e t h e

ex ecu t o r, an d t h e p ro bat e co u rt ex p res s ed i t s s p eci fi c co n cern s o v er W i l l i am ’ s act i on s

as ex ecu t o r. Th us

, u n d er S i n cl a i r

, t he p ro b at e co u rt d i d n o t err i n co n cl ud i n g t h at

fi li n g t h e p ro p o s ed p et i t i o n fo r a n a c c o u n ti ng

, o r i n t he al t ern at iv e, rem o v al o f

ex ecu t o r wo ul d n o t v i o l at e t h e wi l l ’ s i n t erro rem cl au se. 5 3

No t wi t h s t an d i n g o u r Su p rem e Co urt ’ s ho l d i ng i n Si n cl a i r

, W i l l i am s u m m ari l y

co n cl u d es t h e ap p el l ees wi l l v i o l at e t h e in terro rem cl au s e i f t h ey fi l e a p et i t i o n to

rem o v e th e ex ecu t o r “ fo r a fri v ol o u s reas o n

, or fo r n o reas o n at al l

. . . . ” W i l l i am al s o

as s ert s t h at “ [t ] h ere s eem s l i t tl e q u es t i o n [ ] t hat [h i s ] act i on s . . . h av e b een t ak en i n

d i rect acco rd an ce wi t h t h e wi s h es o f t h e [t ] es t at o r t h ro ug h h er wr i t t e n [ w] i l l .” Bu t

t h o s e q u es t i o n s were n o t b efo re t h e p ro b at e c o u rt

, wh i ch on l y decl ared t h at t h e

5 3 S ee No r ma n v. G o b e r

, 29 2 Ga. 3 5 1

, 3 5 4 (1 ) (7 3 7 SE2 d 30 9 ) (2 0 1 3 )

(i nt erp ret i n g S i n cl a i r as h o l d in g t h at a p et i t i on fo r acco u n t i n g o r fo r t h e rem o v al o f

an ex ecu t o r d o es n o t c on s t i t u t e a wi l l co n t es t b ecau s e it fi rs t affi rm s t h e v al i d i t y o f

t h e w i l l); S i n cl a i r

, 2 8 4 Ga. at 5 0 3 (2 ) (h ol d i n g t h at “ t h e t ri al co u rt s h o u l d h av e

g ran t ed s u m

m ary ju d g m en t i n fav o r o f [t h e b en efi ci ary ] b e c au s e t h e in t erro rem

cl au s e i n [t ] es t at ri x’ s wi ll d o es n o t an d can n ot req u i re fo rfei t u re o f h i s i n t eres t i f h e

fi les t h e p ro 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 [e] xe c u to r”); Bu r kh a l t er I

, 3 4 3 Ga. Ap p

. at 4 2 3 (2 ) (“ Th e [Su p rem e] [C] o u rt i n S i ncl a i r

. . . st ri ct ly co n s tru ed t h e

i n t erro rem cl au s e, as req u i red

, an d d et erm i n ed t h at i t ap p l i ed ‘ o n ly to an act u al wi l l

co n tes t ’ an d no t t o t he p ro p os ed act i o n b y th e p et i t i o ner, wh i ch s o u g ht an acco u n t i n g

an d rem ov al o f t h e ex ecu t o r fo r cau s e.” (fo o tn o t e o m it t ed )).

21ap p el l ees co u l d i n i t i at e a f u t u r e act io n ch al l en gi n g W i l li am ’ s p o t en t i al m i s co n d u ct

as ex ecu t o r. M oreo v er, W i l l i am ci t es t o n o l eg al au t h ori t y su g g es t i n g t h at a p ro b at e

c o u r t i s req u ired t o d et erm i ne wh et h er t h e ap pel l ees ’ p ro po s ed cl ai m s ag ai n s t a n

ex ecu t o r are m eri t o ri o u s b efo re d et erm i n i n g th e po t en t i al cl ai m s t h em s el v es wo u ld

n o t v i o l at e t h e i n t erro rem cl au s e.

In S i n cl a i r

, o ur Su p r e m e Co u rt h el d t h at an act i on fo r an acco u n t in g o r to

rem o v e an ex ecu to r d o es n o t v io l at e an i n t erro rem cl au se, ex p l ai n in g t h at “ n o t h i n g

h erei n ru l ed rel at es t o th e qu es ti o n as t o wh et h er t h e p ro p o s ed act i on wo ul d b e g o o d

o r b ad i n l aw o r eq u i t y .” 5 4 Fu rt h erm o re, t h e S i n cl ai r Co u rt ex p l ai n ed t hat “ [i ] t i s n ot

m at eri al t o t h i s [d ecl arat o ry -ju d g m en t ] su i t t h a t

, i n t h e p ro p o s ed act i o n

, [t h e

b en efi ci ary ] co u ld co n cei v ab l y ch o os e to ri s k a fo rfei t u 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 b ey o n d th at wh i ch i s o u tl i ned i n h i s c o m p l a i n t f o r d ecl arat o ry

ju d g m en t .” 5 5 Si m il arl y

, h ere, i t i s i m m at eri al th at t h e ap p el l ees ’ cl ai m s m i gh t fai l i n

a fu tu re p ro ceed i ng o r th at t h ey m i g h t b ri n g cl ai m s n o t d et ai led i n t h ei r d ecl arat o ry

ju d g m en t p et i t i o n

. An d g i v en th e bi n d i n g preced en t s i n S i n cl a i r an d B u rkh a l t er I

,

d i s cu s s ed s u

p r a

, t he pro bat e co u rt d i d n o t err in d ecl ari n g t h at th e ap p el l ees co u l d fi l e

5 4 S i n cl a i r , 2 8 4 Ga. at 5 0 3 (2 ).

5 5 Id

.

22a fu t ure pet i t i o n fo r an acco u n t i n g

, or i n t h e al t ern at i v e, rem ov al o f t h e ex ecu t o r

wi t h o u t v i o l at i n g t h e i n t erro rem cl au s e i n t h e d eced en t ’ s wi ll

. 5 6

Fo r al l t hes e reas o n s

, we affi rm t h e p ro b at e co u rt ’ s o rd er g ran t i n g t h e

ap p el l ees ’ p et i t io n fo r a d ecl arat o ry ju d g m en t

.

Ju d g men t a f f i r m ed . Go b ei l

a n d Ho d g es , JJ., co n cu r

.

5 6 S ee s u p r a n o t e 5 3

.

23