Court Opinion

ID: 7807323
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2022-09-07 17:08:07.927882+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T16:30:21.919867
License: Public Domain

Wood, J., (after stating the facts). The only question is as to whether or not O. K. Badgett, Sr., has title to the lands in controversy under the will.  (1) In Jarman on Wills, at page 998, we find this statement: “Many of the early authorities proceeded on the principle that the heir was not to he disinherited except by clear words. At the present day, however, more respect is paid to the intention of testators, and in seeking to ascertain, in any particular case, what the intention is the court proceeds on the theory that aman who makes a will does not, as a general rule,’ wish to die intestate as to any part of his property.” In Webb v. Webb, 111 Ark. 54, we said: “This court early announced that ‘the leading rule in the construction -of wills is to give effect to what appears to be the intention of the testator in view of'all the provisions of the will. ’ ’ ’  (2) This court has often announced the familiar rulé, ‘ ‘ That in the construction of wills, there is -always a presumption against partial intestacy, unless such intention clearly appears from the language used in the instrument.” Patty v. Goolsby, 51 Ark. 61; Gregory v. Welch, 90 Ark. 152; Booe v. Vinson, 104 Ark. 439; Galloway v. Darby, 105 Ark. 568-572; Webb v. Webb, 111 Ark. 54. In the latter case, after quoting the above rule from former cases, we said: “But in Patty v. Goolsby, supra, and other cases in which this rule was -announced, the language of the will construed showed a purpose to dispose, by will, of the entire estate of the testator. ’ ’ The same thought is well expressed in Gallagher v. McKeague, 110 Am. St. Rep. 821, as follows: “Whenever the words of a will, fairly construed, are such as to carry the whole estate, it will he presumed that the testator intended to dispose of all of his property, and not to die intestate as to any part of it.” And the court adds: “But the intention to pass the whole estate ¡must be expressed in some form, arid such presumption will not prevail when the language of the will, fairly construed, is insufficient to carry the whole estate.” The language of this will, as .a whole, indicates that it was written by one who was not familiar with the use of the legal and technical language in which wills are usually couched when drawn by those well versed in such language. For instance, the words “give,” “devise” and “bequeath” are not used in the entire instrument to express the intended conveyance or transfer of the testatrix’s property. Instead thereof, she' expressed her testamentary disposition in these words: “I most earnestly desire that my dear husband, O. K. Badgett, shall be my sole legatee, and shall take possession of all or any property, both real, personal or mixed, of which I am now possessed or have any interest in.”  (3) It is manifest that the testatrix used the language, “shall take possession of all or any property, both real, personal or mixed,” for the purpose of devising all of her real estate and bequeathing all of her personal property to her husband, O. K. Badgett. The language of the will shows plainly an intention on the part of the testatrix to dispose of her entire estate. She uses the words, “shall take possession of all or any property,” in the sense of investing the title in such property in her husband. When she says “he shall take possession of” she evidently means that he shall be seized and possessed of, using the words “take possession of” in the sense of transferring the title in the property to 'him. When the term legatee is construed in connection with these other words, denoting the disposition which she intends to miaike of her entire estate, it is plain that the testatrix did not intend to use the word legatee in its restricted legal and technical sense of beneficiary only of the personal estate bequeathed under the will. This word legatee, when used with reference to the other words of .the context, will not justify the construction that it was intended that O. K. Badgett should take only the personal estate mentioned. , It was rather used in the sense that he should be the sole beneficiary of the testatrix; that is, as if she had said, “I most earnestly desire that my dear husband, 0. K. Badgett, shall be my sole beneficiary.” To give it any other interpretation would render meaningless the other words used in the immediate context by which the testatrix evidently intended to make final disposition of her entire estate.  (4) In Bell & Carlton v. Welch, 38 Ark. 139-147, we said: “The term ‘sole legatee’ is generally used to describe those to whom .there has been a bequest of personal property, but it may include a devise of real estate also. ’ ’ In that case it was held that it was so meant. The same in this case when the whole context is considered. Mr. Jarman says that, “Words applicable exclusively to personal estate have sometimes, by force of the context, been held to include land.” 1 Jarman on Wills, p. 1015. See, also, 40 Cyc., pp. 1405-1407, and cases cited. “The word legacy may be so extended as to include realty or interest therein when this is necessary * * * to effectuate the purpose of the testator as expressed in his will.” Black’s Law Dictionary, page 707, and cases cited under the word “Legacy.” See, also, Anderson’s Law Dictionary, “Legacy,” page 607, and note 10. Other authorities are cited in appellee’s brief.  (5) The familiar presumption that the heir at law will not be disinherited unless the words used by the testator evince a clear intent to devise his real estate is overcome by the language used by the testatrix, to the effect that it was her desire that O. K. Badgett “shall take possession of all or any property, both real, etc., of which. I 'aim now possessed or have any interest in. ’ ’ This construction is further strengthened by reference to the clause in the will in which she names her children. By expressly naming them she shows that she had them in mind, and in failing to devise ¡or bequeath to them any part of' her estate she shows that it was not her intention to do so, but to vest her entire estate, at her death,- in her husband. We are of the opinion, therefore, thait the chancellor was correct in his construction of the will, and his decree is in -all respects affirmed.