Court Opinion

ID: 9643658
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-22 20:36:50.304477+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:11:02.159763
License: Public Domain

On Appellant’s Motion for Rehearing.
Careful consideration has been given to appellant’s motion for a re-hearing herein, but we are still of the opinion that the original disposition of the case was correct.
It is said that our disposition of the instant case conflicts with Norman v. Jenkins, Tex.Civ.App., 73 S.W.2d 1051, 1053. Careful consideration was given to that case on the original hearing, and a careful re-examination has been made in the consideration of the motion for re-hearing. A careful reading and consideration of that case will demonstrate, we think, there is no conflict between our disposition of this case and the disposition there made. Under the facts it is our belief the question of perpetuity was in no way involved in the above case. The express provision of the life of the trust was provided for by Section B, paragraph 4 of the will. Therein the trustee had active duties only until the five beneficiaries named had each received one-fifth of the value of the testator’s estate. Under *605the payments provided by the will each of the five beneficiaries would have received one-fifth of the value of the estate within less than 21 years after the testator’s death. The following is from the opinion in that case:
“As was shown, the property of G. ■C. Rowe, as appraised, and being his separate property, consisted of one house and lot of the value of $1,500; household furniture and kitchen utensils of the value of $800; cash in bank $2,189.80; and various accounts and notes to the aggregate amount of $10,-749.02.”
The total value of the estate was $15,238.82. The smaller of the respective payments provided was $15 per month, to continue until the beneficiary had received one-fifth of the value of the estate. By value of the estate the testator must have meant value at the time of his death. The trust would end before the expiration of twenty-one years, If this is a correct construction of the will under the facts of the case the question of perpetuity was not presented therein.
It is thought the rule is well and firmly 'established in Texas that perpetual trust for other than charitable purposes are invalid. Invalid for the reason that thereby the Constitution is violated. McIlvain v. Hockaday, 36 Tex.Civ.App. 1, 81 S.W. 54; (writ refused); West Texas Bank & Trust Co. v. Matlock, Tex.Com.App., 212 S.W. 937; Bockel v. Fidelity Development Co., Tex.Civ.App., 101 S.W.2d 628; Brooker v. Brooker, 130 Tex. 27, 106 S.W.2d 247; Powers v. First Natl. Bank of Corsicana, 138 Tex. 604, 161 S.W.2d 273; Moore v. Sellers, Tex.Civ.App., 201 S.W.2d 248, (wr. ref.).
The two deeds of trust admit of no construction limiting the lives of the two trusts established within the period denounced as transgressing the rule against perpetuities. Appellee asserts that the trusts in question are not spendthrift trusts. The beneficiaries of the trusts are denied the power to convey. This was our basis for denominating them spendthrift trusts. However, it is thought that it is immaterial.
It is ordered that appellee’s motion for a re-hearing be in all things overruled.