Opinion ID: 3173394
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Ambiguity of Devise

Text: ¶ 27. Appellant-executors also argue that the civil division erred by granting appellee’s motion for summary judgment on their claim that the will is ambiguous in its devise of property. The testamentary phrase disputed by the parties concerning the intended devise is: “I wish to bequeath you all of the property & personal belongings divided equally to the six of you & to the seven grandchildren.” The civil division agreed with appellee and the probate division that the language unambiguously creates an equal thirteen-part devise between the children and grandchildren and that extrinsic evidence to determine testator’s intent was therefore inadmissible. We agree with the civil division and affirm its determination that the testator intended a thirteen-part devise. ¶ 28. We review summary judgment decisions de novo using the same standard as the trial court. See Wentworth v. Fletcher Allen Health Care, 171 Vt. 614, 616, 765 A.2d 456, 459 (2000) (mem.). Summary judgment is appropriate “if the movant shows that there is no genuine dispute as to any material fact and the movant is entitled to judgment as a matter of law.”