Court Opinion

ID: 9561568
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-21 18:12:07.808305+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T09:13:57.211738
License: Public Domain

HiggiNS, J.,
dissenting:
A study of the will involved in this proceeding convinces me that all issues were correctly resolved by the trial judge and by the Court of Appeals. I must dissent from any decision or opinion to the contrary.
Item Two of the will furnishes a key to the intent of the testators. “We, and each of ns, devise and bequeath all of his or her property, unconditionally and in fee simple, to the survivor, in the event that one of us survives the other.” (Emphasis added) Necessarily, there must be a survivor in order for Item Two to become controlling. Item Two, in the absence of simultaneous death, leaves to the survivor a full, absolute and final disposition of all the other’s property. However, had there been no survivor, that is, a simultaneous death, Item Two would be inapplicable and the subsequent items would control. Actually there was a survivor and in my judgment the subsequent dispositive items of the will are inapplicable. It seems clear that Item Two was intended to govern in case there was a survivor, and that the subsequent items were intended to control in case of simultaneous death, but not otherwise. This construction is borne out by the will, which admittedly is not free from some ambiguities.
Item Two begins “We and each of us devise and bequeath all of his or her property, unconditionally and in fee simple, to the survivor . . .” and when properly construed is the separate will of each maker of his property to the other, if there is a survivor. If there is no survivor, that is in case of simultaneous death, there is no one to take under Item Two, and there being no taker, the rules of intestacy would dispose of the property of each. In order to obviate this situation, the subsequent items of the will were intended to take over in such contingency, that is, no survivor. While Item Two begins “We and each of us,” all subsequent items begin “We”. The words “each of us” in Item Two indicate that Item Two is the sep*466arate will of each, but in the subsequent items the beginning is “We devise and bequeath”, which shows the joint will of both. This indicates to me that Items Three through Twelve, inclusive, were only-intended to apply in case of simultaneous death, when neither could take under Item Two.
The rules of interpretation applicable here are stated in a number of our cases. In Morris v. Morris, 246 N.C. 314, 98 S.E. 2d 298, this Court held: “The discovery of the intent of the testator as expressed in his will is the dominant and controlling objective of testamentary construction, for the intent of the testator, as so expressed, is his will.” (Citing authority) “And greater regard is to be given to the dominant purpose of the testator than to the use of any particular words.” (Citing authority)
In Worsley v. Worsley, 260 N.C. 259, 132 S.E. 2d 579, the Court said: “The general rule is, that where real estate is devised in fee, or personalty bequeathed unconditionally, a subsequent clause in the will expressing a wish, desire, or direction for its disposition after the death of the devisee or legatee will not defeat the devise or bequest, nor limit it to a life estate. ... In construing a will every word and clause will be given effect if possible, and apparent conflicts reconciled, and irreconcilable repugnancies resolved by giving effect to the general prevailing purpose of testator.” (Citing authority)
Under these rules, notwithstanding inconsistencies, it is my conclusion that the intent of Dr. Olive and his wife was to give to the survivor all the other’s property “unconditionally and in fee simple”. But if neither survived the other, then Items Three through Twelve, inclusive, were intended as their joint will and disposed of all property owned by both. I vote to affirm the decision of the Court of Appeals.
Bobbitt, C.J., joins in dissenting opinion.