Opinion ID: 837289
Heading Depth: 4
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Second Clause

Text: Paragraph A's second clause includes the phrase to the survivor or survivors thereof, which is analogous to the phrase to my brother[s] and sisters that survive me in that both phrases begin with the word to and then conclude with language identifying a class of persons. This analogous formulation indicates that the class identified in the second clause, like the class defined in the first clause, should be understood as a class entitled to recover under the will. [S]urvivor or survivors thereof again defines a class of persons who outlive another individual. In this context, unlike with regard to the earlier reference in the paragraph to brothers and sisters who survive me,  the death that one must outlive to be a survivor is the death of a predeceased sibling. Upon testator's death, two events were possible with respect to each one of testator's siblings. One event was that the sibling was still alive. The sibling would then be entitled to recover as one of the brother[s][or] sisters that survived [testator]. The second event is that the sibling had predeceased testator, which would mean that the sibling's descendants still living would be survivors of that sibling because they had outlived the sibling. This interpretation of survivor or survivors thereof is supported by testator's use of the word or to separate the two clauses in paragraph A. This term communicates an intent to set forth alternative classes of beneficiaries in these clauses. The classes defined in these clauses, therefore, must be distinct, rather than redundant, in order that testator's will be given effect. The instant interpretation of survivor or survivors thereof achieves this with the first class comprised of brothers and sisters who survive testator and the second class comprised of descendants of brothers and sisters who did not survive testator.