Opinion ID: 1821705
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: paragraph h:

Text: Out of the moneys belonging to my estate to make the following payments, to-wit: SECTION ONE: To use in and about the education, support and maintenance of each of my children, whether born before or after my death, until he or she shall become twenty-one years of age, such sums of money as said executrix shall consider reasonably necessary therefor. SECTION TWO: To pay to herself, from time to time, and at least semi-annually, such sums of money as said executrix shall consider reasonably necessary for her support and maintenance. Said payments shall be made to her in addition to the property bequeathed to her in Paragraph G hereof, and not out of the proceeds thereof. SECTION THREE: When all of my children shall have become thirty years of age, or should my wife, Marguerite H. Nicholson, be living at that time, then and in that event, at the death of my wife, all the property belonging to my estate shall be distributed equally among my children who are then living, including any child or children born after my death, share and share alike. The lawful issue of any of my deceased children surviving at the time any distribution is actually made in pursuance of this paragraph shall take per stripes [sic] the share to which the father or mother of such issue would have been entitled if she or he were still living. The share to which any of my children would be entitled if living at the time of any distribution authorized in this paragraph shall, in the event of the death of such child without issue before such distribution is actually made, be distributed among my other children, share and share alike, as hereinabove directed, just as if said child had never been born. (Emphasis added.) The parties stipulated there was approximately $55,000 income earned by the testamentary trust which accumulated and was not distributed to Marguerite Nicholson. There was no evidence presented concerning the time at which this income was earned; however, the evidence was clear this accumulated income had not been distributed as of the date of Marguerite Nicholson's death. It is not clear from the evidence whether any income from the trust was ever distributed to Marguerite Nicholson; however, the evidence did show she had a substantial separate estate. After the death of Marguerite Nicholson, Marjorie N. Currie, daughter of Ralph and Marguerite Nicholson, petitioned, as permitted by § 19-3-212, Code 1975, the Jefferson County Circuit Court for appointment as successor-trustee of the testamentary trust of Ralph Nicholson, deceased. She was appointed and then filed a complaint seeking: instructions, construction of the will, and declaratory relief. She alleged that any income of the trust, which had not in fact been paid to Marguerite Nicholson during her lifetime, was an asset of the trust and subject to distribution to the beneficiaries of the trust pursuant to paragraph H, section 3, of Ralph Nicholson's will. The complaint also requested the court to determine whether the property bequeathed to Marguerite Nicholson under paragraph G of the will had in fact already been distributed to her. See these provisions of the will supra. First National Bank answered and cross-claimed, alleging the accumulated income under the trust was not subject to distribution to the beneficiaries of the trust and asserting it was entitled to the accumulated income as executor of the will of Marguerite Nicholson. The answer and cross-claim also put at issue the question of whether the securities bequeathed under paragraph G were in fact distributed to Marguerite Nicholson. An ore tenus hearing was conducted and final judgment entered in favor of Currie, granting each relief for which she prayed.