Opinion ID: 1111210
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 6

Heading: Effect of Will

Text: Having concluded that the property was validly conveyed to the trust, we reach Copeland's final argument that Lohrie intended that the will should revoke the trust, and the district court erred in its determination that it did not. Revocation may only be exercised in the manner specified. Matter of Estate of Sanders, 261 Kan. 176, 929 P.2d 153, 158 (1996) (citing 76 AM.JUR.2D Trusts § 97 at 134). The provision in Lohrie's trust that reserved the power to revoke reads as follows: ARTICLE IV POWERS RESERVED TO GRANTOR A. Grantors, and the survivor of them, reserve full and complete power to alter, amend, modify or revoke this Trust at any time during Grantors' lives, by an instrument in writing executed by Grantors and delivered to Trustee.... A trust agreement is governed by the plain meaning contained in the four corners of the document. Hronek, 866 P.2d at 1307. Plainly, the provision requires the revocation to occur during the lifetime of the last of the settlors. Lohrie's will was not effective until after his death and cannot have revoked the trust during his lifetime. Furthermore, the trust was not revoked by his execution of the will. The general rule is that a will cannot revoke a trust unless it specifically states that intention. Estate of Sanders, 929 P.2d at 162; John P. Ludington, LL.B., Exercise by Will of Trustor's Reserved Power to Revoke or Modify Inter Vivos Trust, 81 A.L.R.3d 959 (1977); 4 WILLIAM F. FLETCHER, SCOTT ON TRUSTS § 330.8 at 364 n. 10 (4th ed.1989). Concerning the effect of a will on a revocable trust, we further adopt the majority rule as stated in Sanders: the settlor of an inter vivos revocable trust who has reserved the power to amend or revoke the trust during the settlor's lifetime by a writing delivered to the trustee which specifies the terms of such amendment or revocation, does not amend or revoke the trust by the execution of a will void of any statement or provision relating to the existing trust. Id. 929 P.2d at 162. Lohrie's will made no mention of his trust at all and, under this rule of law, cannot have revoked the trust during Lohrie's lifetime. The order of the district court is affirmed.