Opinion ID: 1153076
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 13

Heading: the chancellor was incorrect in holding the six year statute of limitations applicable to the trust

Text: Alvarez argues that the chancellor incorrectly applied the six-year general statute of limitations, Miss. Code Ann. (1972) § 15-1-49 to this cause of action, and further erred in holding that the statue of limitations was triggered by Vernard's revocation of the trust instrument on August 12, 1982. Alvarez argues that the chancellor should have applied the ten-year statute of limitation, Miss. Code Ann. (1972) § 15-1-39. Finally, Alvarez argues that because the trust had become irrevocable upon Dixie's death, Vernard's attempted revocation was a nullity; therefore, it could not trigger the running of the statute of limitations. Coleman argues that the ten-year statute of limitations is applicable only to purely equitable causes of action, and that since Alvarez chose to seek relief on a breach of contract theory, an action at law, the six-year, rather than the ten-year statute applies. Further, Coleman contends that the statute began to run upon Vernard's notice of August 12, 1982, that he was revoking the Trust. Coleman argues that Alvarez took no action concerning the revocation until more than six years later, in October of 1982 when the 1981 will was filed for probate; therefore the statute had run. Miss. Code Ann. § 15-1-39 (Supp. 1993) provides: Bills for relief, in case of the existence of a trust not cognizable by the courts of common law and in all other cases not herein provided for, shall be filed within ten years after the cause thereof shall accrue and not after, saving, however, to all persons under disability of infancy or unsoundness of mind, like period of time after such disability shall be removed. However, the saving in favor of persons under disability of unsoundness of mind shall never extend longer than thirty-one years. Miss. Code Ann. (1972) § 15-1-49 provides: All actions for which no other period of limitation is prescribed shall be commenced within six years next after the cause of such action accrued, and not after. [11] Two questions arise under this assignment of error: 1) which statute of limitations applies, and 2) at what point did the statute begin to run.