Opinion ID: 2338420
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Validity of the bequest for the care of cemetery lots.

Text: Item IV of the will provides as follows: Having already made arrangements for the perpetual upkeep of the family burial lots of my father, Paris T. Carlisle, in Barratt's Chapel Cemetery, near Frederica, Delaware, I give, devise and bequeath unto the Delaware Trust Company, a corporation of the State of Delaware, One Thousand Dollars ($1,000.00) which is to be invested by it and kept invested, the net income therefrom to be used for the annual cleaning and repair of tombstones, monuments, markers and enclosures located or to be located on said lots in said Barratt's Chapel Cemetery. Being in doubt, the executor and trustee requested instructions whether this provision was a valid bequest of a charitable trust, or was void as a violation of the rule against perpetuities. The validity of the bequest was not challenged by any beneficiary under the will. The Chancellor received briefs upon the point, the executor and trustee attacking the validity of the bequest, and one of the Carlisle heirs upholding it. Upon the authority of Trustees of Methodist Episcopal Church v. Williams, 6 Boyce 62, 96 A. 795, he decided that the bequest was valid. Delaware Trust Co. v. Delaware Trust Co., Del.Ch., 95 A.2d 569, 575-576. From that part of the judgment which embodies this holding the executor and trustee has appealed. The Carlisle heir upholding the validity of the bequest moves in this Court to dismiss the appeal on the ground that the appellant is the trustee of the bequest and may not be permitted to attack it. We do not reach this question, since we think that the motion must be granted for another reason. The issue presented to the court below concerned the existence of a charitable trust. To a suit involving this issue the Attorney General is a necessary party. Trustees of New Castle Common v. Gordy, Del.Sup., 91 A.2d 135. That case concerned the administration of a trust conceded to be charitable, but we see no difference in principle between such a case and a case involving the validity of a bequest attempting to create such a trust. Indeed, if the public interest requires the appearance of the Attorney General when questions of administration only are involved, it would seem that a fortiori he must be a party when the very existence of the charity is assailed. The motion to dismiss will be granted, on the ground that a necessary party is not before the Court, but without prejudice to the right of the executor and trustee to take further proceedings if it so desires.