Jackson v. Von Zedlitz

Morton, C. J. It was held in Pacific National Bank v. Windram, 133 Mass. 175, that, if a person settles his property in trust to pay the income to himself for life, a provision restraining his right of alienating the income by anticipation is invalid, as being against the policy of the law, and that the rule applies to a settlement of her estate by a married woman made after marriages. The case proceeded upon the ground that a married woman, during coverture, was by our laws sui juris as to her property, except as to dealings with her husband; that she is put upon the same footing as if she were a feme sole; that the common law disabilities of married women as to holding and dealing with property are removed; that the reasons for the exception to the rule forbidding restraints of alienation, invented by the English courts of equity, in favor of married women, have ceased to exist; and therefore that the exception is unnecessary and against sound policy. The reasons of that decision apply with equal force to a settlement by a woman, in contemplation of marriage, of her own property for her own benefit. A man could not, under the form of a marriage contract, make a settlement of his property in trust to pay him the' income for his life, and, by a restraint of his power of alienation, put the income beyond the reach of his [344] creditors. There is no more reason why a feme sole about to marry should have the power to make a settlement, by virtue of which she retains the beneficial use of her property and yet makes it inalienable by her and exempt from liability for her debts, than there is why a woman after marriage should have such power. The case of Pacific National Bank v. Windram seems to us decisive of the case at bar. The defendants rely upon the section 'of the statute which provides that “ nothing contained in the preceding sections shall invalidate any marriage settlement or contract.” Pub. Sts. c. 147, § 15. Gen. Sts. c. 108, § 10. It cannot be contended that the purpose of this provision was to make valid all stipulations which parties might see fit to include in contracts made in contemplation of marriage, however repugnant to public policy and law. Its intention was to prevent lawful marriage contracts from being invalid, although they make dispositions of property different from those provided by the statute; but it does not give life and validity to a provision restraining alienation, which is against public policy and contrary to our law. We are therefore of opinion that the provision in the settlement we are considering, restraining the power of the cestui que trust to alienate the income payable to her under it, is invalid. Decree affirmed.