Court Opinion

ID: 5579495
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2022-01-11 01:34:45.748027+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T08:36:02.828633
License: Public Domain

Fish, C. J.
Emeíine M. Chapman was given by Will a ■ life estate in certain lands, and at her death, the will declared, the . land “shall passf to and become the property in equal shares of the children or representatives of children (including Joseph L. Chapman) [the husband of Eineiine] of the said Emeline Chapman.” At the death of the'testator, Emeline had six children in life, one of whom was Fannie Chapman, who subsequently married Suddeth. Fannie, after the death of the testator and during the life of the life-tenant, conveyed all her interest under the will, to . Sanders. Fannie died during the life of the life-tenant, Emeline, leaving children who survived the life tenant, one of whom was the plaintiff. 3eld: Whether the remainder estate in the children of Emeline be treated as vested, subject to be devested as to any child who might die before the termination of the. life-estate, with a substitution of the representatives of such child in that event, or whether it be construed as a contingent remainder, the devise did noi create an absolute and indefeasible vested estate in the children of Emeline. Fields v. Lewis, 118 Ga. 573 (45 S. E. 437) ; Sumpter v. Carter, 115 Ga. 893 (42 S. E. 324, 60 L. R. A. 274) ; Bowen v. Hackney, 136 N. C. 187 (48 S. E. 633, 67 L. R. A. 440).
(a) Where, during the continuance of the life-estate, one of the children of the life-tenant - conveyed her interest, and died leaving children who were in life at the termination of. the life-estate, the purchaser did not acquire a perfect title, but, after the death of the life-tenant, the children of such child would have a right of action.
(b) This case does not conflict with the decision in Wilbur v. McNulty, 75 Ga. 458, or that in Crossley v. Leslie, 130 Ga. 782 (61 S. E. 851, 14 Ann. Cas. 703), or Burney v. Arnold, 134 Ga. 141 (67 S. E. 712), when the difference in the-language of the will involved in the present ease, and that employed in the instrument under consideration in each ofy those eases, and the exact question involved in each are considered-
(c) The expression, “including Joseph L. Chapman, the husband” of the said Eméline-' Chapman (the-life-tenant);-does not alter, this'construction. It simply operated -to include the husband as if he had been one of the children. Judgment, reversed.

All the Justices concur.