Williams v. Tolbert

Crawford, Justice. Elijah Williams, in February, 1872, made and executed his last will and testament, in due form of law, disposing of all his property. On the 14th February, 1879, he executed eleven papers by which he disposed of his real estate in that many parcels to his children. The regular will and nine of these papers were offered for probate. The will was admitted to record, but the papers were rejected by the ordinary, upon the ground that they were not testamentary. An appeal was taken to the superior court, where upon the trial, they were considered and adjudged not to be wills nor testamentary in their character, and it is to this judgment that the propounders assign error. The papers offered were in the form of deeds, attested by a justice of the peace and two other witnesses. 1. The line of separation between what constitutes a deed and a will is sometimes so shadowy as to make it extremely doubtful whether it is the one or the other. The law of this state prescribes a rule by which the courts are to be governed, but even that is neither infallible nor satisfactory. It declares that in all cases, to determine the character of an instrument, whether it is testamentary or not, the test is the intention of the maker, from the whole instrument, read in the light of surrounding circumstances. If the intention be to convey a present estate, though the possession be postponed until after his death, the instrument is a deed ; if an interest accruing and having an effect after his death, it is a will. 'Applying, then, as well as we may, this test to the papers in hand, we find that in 1872 a will was made by [129] the deceased, disposing of all his property, both real and personal, directing that his lands be sold by his executors .and the proceeds divided equally between his children. But in January, 1879, he had his lands all surveyed, divided into as many parts as he had children, had plats thereof regularly made, with the exact metes and bounds of each, and about the time of the completion, to-wit, on the 14th of February, 1879, he made and executed to his .said children conveyances in severalty to the said lands. The language employed was : “ This indenture, made this the i4th day of February, 1879, between Elijah Williams of the one part, and Elizabeth Cheatham of the other, witnesseth, that the said Elijah, for and in consideration ol the natural love and affection which he bears to his daughter, Elizabeth, has given, granted and conveyed (on the terms and limitations hereinafter expressed) and does by these presents give, grant and convey unto the said Elizabeth for life, with remainder to her children, all that tract of land situate, etc. * * * * A plat of the same is hereto annexed for a fuller description of the same, and it is hereby expressly stipulated and agreed between the parties to this deed of gift, that the said Elijah reserves to himself a life estate in the tract of land herein and hereby conveyed, to have, use, occupy and enjoy the same during his natural life, and to take and enjoy the rents, issues and profits of the same during his life only.” The said paper then closes with the words of a fee simple deed, the usual warranty of title and the attestation of an ordinary deed, except that there were two witnesses besides the justice of the peace. Does this paper convey a present interest to Elizabeth Cheatham ? It declares itself an indenture, made and entered into between the parties; it gives, grants and conveys; the grantee is to have and to hold forever in fee simple; the title is -warranted; it -purports to be signed, sealed and delivered. What is there, then, to take it out of the ordi [130] nary signification and legal effect of these.words? That clause by which he reserves the use and occupation, and the right to take the rents during his life ? If this were eliminated, of course there would be no question about it. But is this reservation at all inconsistent with the conveyance of a present estate so far as title is concerned, .though the possession be postponed until after the death of the grantor? We think not. Besides, in the reservation itself is to be found the words: “ It is hereby expressly stipulated and agreed between the parties to this deed of gift that the said Elijah is to have in the tract of land herein and hereby conveyed,” etc. The above is not the language of a will, nor that where the conveyance is intended to operate as one. Indeed, the whole terms of the instrument indicate the intention' to pass the title to the property at once to the donee, and not to retain it in the donor. He retains the right to use it and take the rents 'only, but nowhere indicates any reservation of title. And this is the principle ruled in 32 Ga., 589, and reaffirmed upon a paper containing almost the identical words, in 52 Ga., 531. Nor is it at- all affected by the ruling in 55 Ga., 369, but is in perfect harmony therewith. The paper, then, indicating a deed, do the surrounding circumstances change its character?' Had the maker desired or intended the paper to be testamentary he would doubtless have added a codicil simply to his acknowledged will, with one paper and a single signature, instead of eleven different papers and as many signatures. In addition to this- he had a plat of each child’s land attached to his deed and made a part thereof, delivered them all to his two sons, who were present, and they immediately accepted them as deeds, never offering theirs for probate. That a lawyer, who was present, upon hearing the grantor sáy that he had reserved the use- of the land during his life, and that they were to have it only after his death, suggested another witness, thereby male [131] ing three, does not, in our judgment, overcome or change the effect of all the other surrounding circumstances. 2. Up'on the assignment of error as to the costs, we think that they properly follow the verdict and judgment. Judgment affirmed.