Opinion ID: 2435790
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Construction of the Residuary Clause

Text: The rules of contract law govern the construction of a property settlement agreement incorporated into a divorce decree. If the agreement is worded so that we can give it a certain or definite legal meaning, it is not ambiguous and we construe it as a matter of law. Coker v. Coker, 650 S.W.2d 391, 393 (Tex.1983). Here the residuary clause is clear and unambiguous. It unambiguously includes the community property part of Norbert's military (and Civil Service) retirement benefits. Under Texas law when the parties divorced, a divorce decree's property settlement provisions could divide or assign the community portion of the retirement benefits. Under the terms of the residuary clause, Norbert surrendered [his] community interests in this retirement benefits property because the words used unambiguously include them. See Partin v. de Cordova, 464 S.W.2d 956, 957 (Tex.Civ.App.Eastland 1971, writ ref'd); see also Phillips v. Parrish, 814 S.W.2d 501, 503 (Tex.App. Houston [1st Dist.] 1991, writ denied).