Court Opinion

ID: 9680755
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-24 07:38:09.795812+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:17:30.284426
License: Public Domain

O’QUINN, Justice,
dissenting.
It is my studied opinion that the judgment of the trial court should be affirmed, and therefore I do not agree with the majority in reversing that judgment and rendering a contrary judgment. I do concur, however, in overruling the contention of appellants that the district court was without jurisdiction to entertain the suit for construction of the will.
The testator devised to his wife Josephine Slator cash and certain bonds in paragraph 2 of the will, and in paragraph 3 gave his wife the Winters Ranch of nearly 3,600 acres and all livestock grazing on the land at the testator’s death.
In paragraph 4 the testator devised jointly to two of his brothers the Six Mile Ranch of nearly 3,800 acres and all livestock grazing on the ranch at the testator’s death.
The rest and residue of testator’s property was devised in equal portions to named persons in paragraph 5, including his wife, a nephew and a niece, and five great nephews and nieces. Delivery under this paragraph could be made only “after delivery of the specific bequests made in Paragraphs 2, 3 and 4 of this will . . . ” and the residue was to be “exclusive of the specific bequests in said Paragraphs 2, 3 and 4 hereof . . . ”
Under paragraph 6 the testator made clear his intention not only to dispose of his separate property and his interest in the community held with his wife, but also to dispose of his wife’s share of the community and to put her to an election under the will. The testator there stated that the bequests to his wife were made “upon the condition that she waive any and all claims to any interest she may have in our community property, and thereby recognize the disposition of said Community property of said community estate as herein made . . ” Delivery to his wife of the bequests was further conditioned “ . . . upon the execution of such a release and waiver . to said Community estate . . . ” The testator provided further that “otherwise my said wife shall only receive . . . ” his interest in the community.
The language of the will is clear and unambiguous, and distribution of the property, with or without the waiver and release by the surviving wife, could have been made as plainly provided in the will. The problem in this case is that the testator did not die first. Josephine Slator died on February 17, 1973, and eight days later, on February 25, 1973, J. D. Slator, Jr., the testator, died. It is obvious that much of the language of the will became inapplicable by reason of the sequence of death of the testator and his wife.
The testator made no provision in his will specifying what disposition should be made of the property if Josephine Slator should die first thereby terminating their community estate and rendering it impossible for her to make the election required under paragraph 6. It appears clear that under paragraph 6 the testator intended that his wife’s survival be a condition precedent to application and operation of that paragraph. Since Josephine Slator died first, paragraph 6 became ineffective.
Earlier in the will, under paragraph 5, the testator clearly declared his intention that the bequests to Josephine were excluded, along with the bequests to the brothers under paragraph 4, from distribution under the residuary clause. The residue was described as property left “after the delivery of the specific bequests made in Paragraphs 2, 3 and 4,” and “exclusive of the specific bequests in said Paragraphs . . . ”
*855The trial court held that all property bequeathed to “ . . Josephine Slator under said Paragraphs 2, 3 and 5 passed under the laws of descent and distribution equally to the four heirs at law of J. D. Slator, Jr., such heirs at law being his brother Paul Slator ... his brother E. H. (Eric) Slator . .his brother C. H. Slator . . and his sister Myra Slator Petsch . . . ”
The plain language of the will, as viewed by the trial court, would bar any contention that the will provides an alternative disposition of the bequests to Josephine Slator, and I would affirm the trial court’s judgment that all such property passed under the laws of descent and distribution to the testator’s four heirs at law.