Donald R. Luke v. Andrew H. Luke ( 2020 )

THIRD DIVISION
MCFADDEN, C. J.,
DOYLE, P. J., and HODGES, J.
NOTICE: Motions for reconsideration must be
physically received in our clerk’s office within ten
days of the date of decision to be deemed timely filed.
https://www.gaappeals.us/rules
DEADLINES ARE NO LONGER TOLLED IN THIS
COURT. ALL FILINGS MUST BE SUBMITTED WITHIN
THE TIMES SET BY OUR COURT RULES.
June 29, 2020
In the Court of Appeals of Georgia
A20A0022. LUKE et al. v. LUKE et al.
MCFADDEN, Chief Judge.
This appeal challenges a trial court’s finding that a provision of a will is
unambiguous and shows the testator’s clear intent to devise a one-fourth interest in
certain real property to her son. While evidence of the testator’s intent may authorize
that finding, in order to find and give effect to that intent, the trial court must consider
parol evidence and use that evidence to resolve a latent ambiguity. So we vacate the
trial court’s order and remand for consideration of that parol evidence.
1. Facts and procedural posture.
The will at issue is Edith Luke’s. She and Andrew Luke were married and had
five children. During the marriage, Andrew Luke conveyed a joint one-half interest
in certain farm property to Edith Luke and their son, Andy Luke. Andrew Luke
retained ownership of the other one-half interest in the farm property.
Andrew Luke and Edith Luke subsequently divorced. After the divorce,
Andrew Luke conveyed his one-half interest in the farm property to the Andrew W.
Luke Revocable Living Trust. His children are beneficiaries of that trust. Edith Luke
was not. Andrew Luke died in 2001.
Although she is not a beneficiary of Andrew Luke’s trust, Edith Luke’s last
will and testament, executed in 2009, purports to bequeath a life estate in a one-fourth
interest in that trust. It provides at Item Four,
I will, give, grant, bequeath and devise a life estate of my one-fourth (1/4)
share of the ANDREW LUKE IRREVOCABLE TRUST to ANDY LUKE, for
his lifetime, however, subject to his paying one-half (½) of rents and one-half
(½) of timber sales to TOMMIE CLARK each year. Upon ANDY LUKE’s
demise this one-fourth (1/4th) shall continue to be paid to TOMMIE CLARK
for her lifetime, and upon TOMMIE CLARK’S demise this one-fourth (1/4th)
interest shall remain and be a part of the ANDREW W. LUKE
IRREVOCABLE TRUST and subject to the provisions thereof.
Edith Luke died in 2012. Litigation ensued. Andy Luke, his sister Tommie
Clark, and others filed a petition against their siblings and others seeking, among
other things, construction of Edith Luke’s will. Tommie Clark later withdrew from
the case. Andy Luke filed a motion for partial summary judgment.
2
Andy Luke contends that Item Four of Edith Luke’s will should be construed
to leave him a life estate in his mother’s interest in the farm property (subject to the
provisions in favor of his sister Tommie Clark). The trial court granted the motion,
finding that Item Four of the will “is unambiguous, and that the testator’s clear intent
was to leave her share of the farm property to her son, Andy Luke for his life, subject
to the provisions regarding the care of Tommie [Clark].” At another point in its order,
the trial court found that “it was the clear intent of Edith Luke to devise her interest
in the Andrew W. Luke Revocable Trust to her son, Andy, for his life, subject to the
provisions regarding the care of Tommie Clark.” The defendants appeal.
2. Construing the will.
“The construction of a will is a question of law, which we review de novo.”
DeMott v. DeMott, 353 Ga. App. 190 (836 SE2d 612) (2019).
The cardinal rule in construing the provisions of a will is to determine
the intent of the testator. It is well settled, however, that there is no room
for construction when the meaning of the words used in the will is so
plain and obvious that it cannot be misunderstood. This is true even if
the words used in the will express a meaning entirely at variance with
the real intention of the testator. The plain and unambiguous terms of a
will must control and parol evidence cannot be used to contradict or give
new meaning to that which is expressed clearly in the will. Equally
important, the entire document is to be taken together, and operation
should be given to every part of it. Where the will is ambiguous, the
court should apply the rules of construction and may consider parol
3
evidence of circumstances surrounding the testator at the time of
execution of the will in order to ascertain the testator’s intent.
Id. at 191 (citations and punctuation omitted).
In resolving ambiguities, “the court may hear parol evidence of the
circumstances surrounding the testator at the time of execution to explain all
ambiguities, whether latent or patent.” OCGA § 53-4-56. “A patent ambiguity is one
that appears on the face of the will, whereas a latent ambiguity is not apparent on the
face of the will, but only appears when the words of the will are put into operation.”
Redfearn Wills and Administration in Georgia, § 7:10 (2019-2020 Ed.). See also
Board of Regents v. Bates, 262 Ga. 307 (1992); Citizens & Southern Nat. Bank v.
Clark, 172 Ga. 625, 630 (158 SE 297) (1931); Scheridan v. Scheridan, 132 Ga. App.
210 (207 SE2d 691) (1974). So courts have “considered parol evidence to correct
[latent ambiguities of] misnamed or misidentified property and/or beneficiaries in a
will[.]” Smith v. Ashford, 298 Ga. 390, 393 (2) (782 SE2d 251) (2016) (citations
omitted). See Redfearn Wills and Administration in Georgia, § 7:10 (2019-2020 Ed.)
(“Parol evidence is admissible to assist in determining the intention of the testator if
the property has been incorrectly described in the will.”).
4
In this case, the trial court erred in finding that Item Four of the will is
unambiguous. While Item Four is not patently ambiguous on its face, it contains
latent ambiguities concerning the property devised that appear only when its words
are put into operation. As an initial matter, the parties agree that there is no
instrument known as the “Andrew W. Luke Irrevocable Trust” as referenced in Item
Four. Nevertheless, we agree with the trial court’s finding that this was merely a
scrivener’s error in referencing the “Andrew W. Luke Revocable Trust.” See Benedict
v. Snead, 271 Ga. 585, 586 (519 SE2d 905) (1999) (scrivener’s error not permitted
to defeat clear intent).
A more serious latent ambiguity arises from the fact that Edith Luke undertook
to bequeath an interest in the trust even though she had no such interest. The bequest
cannot be put into operation without resolving that ambiguity. Parol evidence must
be considered to determine the testator’s intent in devising a life estate of a one-fourth
share of the trust. “In this situation, parol evidence of all of the facts and
circumstances respecting persons and property to which the will relates are admissible
as legitimate evidence to show the intention and application of the words used.”
Legare v. Legare, 268 Ga. 474, 476 (490 SE2d 369) (1997). “Accordingly, we [vacate
the trial court’s order] and remand this case for further proceedings consistent with
5
this opinion.” DeMott, supra at 193 (remanding case for trial court to consider parol
evidence to resolve ambiguity in will and determine testator’s intent in conveying
certain property rights). See also Ovrevik v. Overvik, 242 Ga. App. 95, 100 (4) (527
SE2d 586) (2000) (remanding case to trial court to hear parol evidence to explain
ambiguity and determine intent of trust language distributing property).
Judgment vacated and case remanded with direction. Doyle, P. J., and Hodges,
J., concur.
6