Court Opinion

ID: 9452271
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-04 17:35:08.487043+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T17:33:08.681444
License: Public Domain

ON PETITION FOR CLARIFICATION OF OPINION AND FOR REHEARING
PER CURIAM:
Appellants insist that Articles II and III(k) of Mrs. Stavely’s will, which are quoted at the beginning of part II of our opinion, put Mr. Stavely to an election, that he elected to take under the will, and hence that his estate is entitled to a deduction under 26 U.S.C.A. § 2043(a) as construed in Vardell’s Estate v. C. I. R., 5 Cir. 1962, 307 F.2d 688. Our opinion on original hearing does not cover that issue.
The pertinent rule of construction has been well stated as follows:
“Where a testator was only part owner of property disposed of by will, the question as to whether the other part owner, having accepted the provisions of the will, is to be deemed to have elected to renounce his rights as co-owner depends on the showing as to whether the testator intended to dispose of the entire property. The court will presume primarily that the testator intended to confine the devise or bequest to his part of the property, and where the language of the will is ambiguous in this respect the instrument should be considered as referring only to the interest that the testator might lawfully dispose of.
“Since the law will deprive no person of his property by conjecture, a testator will be deemed to have intended to dispose of both his and his co-owner’s share of property only where the intention is expressed in the will in clear and unequivocal language that is open to no other reasonable construction.”
61 Tex.Jur.2d § 276, Wills.1
Article II of Mrs. Stavely’s will was expressly limited to “all my right, title and interest” in their home, the fixtures, appurtenances, furnishings and effects. It seems clear that Article III (k) should be similarly construed. Mrs. Stavely did not undertake to dispose of *214Mr. Stavely’s property by her will, and he was not put to any election. With the opinion so clarified, the petition for rehearing is
Denied.

. See also Avery v. Johnson, 1917, 108 Tex. 294, 192 S.W. 542; Ford v. Bachman, Tex.Civ.App.1947, 203 S.W.2d 630; Ottenhouse v. Paysinger, Tex.Civ.App.1951, 244 S.W.2d 714; 96 C.J.S. Wills § 751.