{ "id": 8574849, "name": "HELEN L. RIEGEL, Executrix of the Will of HARRY J. RIEGEL, Deceased, and HELEN L. RIEGEL, Individually, Plaintiffs v. WILLIAM D. LYERLY, Individually and as a Representative of the Class of all Adult Persons now in Being and who Might be Heirs at Law of HELEN L. RIEGEL, at the Time of Her Death, and all Unborn Persons, Unknown Persons and all Other Persons, Whether now in Being or Hereafter Coming into Being Which Under the Laws of the State of North Carolina Might now or Might Hereafter Acquire Such Status as to Become Heirs of HELEN L. RIEGEL at the Time of her Death, Defendants, and JOHN D. SHAW, Guardian Ad Litem for Unknown Heirs, Additional Defendant", "name_abbreviation": "Riegel v. Lyerly", "decision_date": "1965-07-23", "docket_number": "", "first_page": "204", "last_page": "209", "citations": [ { "type": "official", "cite": "265 N.C. 204" } ], "court": { "name_abbreviation": "N.C.", "id": 9292, "name": "Supreme Court of North Carolina" }, "jurisdiction": { "id": 5, "name_long": "North Carolina", "name": "N.C." }, "cites_to": [ { "cite": "190 S.E. 719", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.", "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "211 N.C. 456", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 8627543 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/211/0456-01" ] }, { "cite": "12 S.E. 2d 688", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "219 N.C. 20", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 8620691 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/219/0020-01" ] }, { "cite": "47 S.E. 2d 703", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "229 N.C. 120", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 12164882 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/229/0120-01" ] }, { "cite": "54 S.E. 2d 918", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "230 N.C. 603", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 8631354 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/230/0603-01" ] }, { "cite": "134 S.E. 401", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.", "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "192 N.C. 156", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 8618907 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/192/0156-01" ] }, { "cite": "103 S.E. 2d 510", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "248 N.C. 428", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 8624066 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/248/0428-01" ] }, { "cite": "264 N.C. 531", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 8574208 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/264/0531-01" ] }, { "cite": "53 So. 2d 149", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "So. 2d", "case_ids": [ 10046448, 3040661 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/so2d/53/0149-01", "/la/219/0415-01" ] }, { "cite": "77 N.W. 2d 703", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "N.W.2d", "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "75 S.E. 2d 303", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "237 N.C. 387", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 8611935 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/237/0387-01" ] }, { "cite": "31 S.E. 705", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.", "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "123 N.C. 154", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 8658004 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/123/0154-01" ] }, { "cite": "85 N.C. 60", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "59 N.C. 276", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 8682431 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/59/0276-01" ] }, { "cite": "57 N.C. 441", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 2083008 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/57/0441-01" ] }, { "cite": "58 N.C. 231", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 8690268 ], "weight": 2, "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/58/0231-01" ] }, { "cite": "57 N.C. 277", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 2082941 ], "weight": 2, "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/57/0277-01" ] }, { "cite": "56 N.C. 39", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 8683952 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/56/0039-01" ] }, { "cite": "52 N.C. 145", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 2088604 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/52/0145-01" ] }, { "cite": "50 N.C. 91", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 11276396 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/50/0091-01" ] }, { "cite": "47 N.C. 74", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 8681312 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/47/0074-01" ] }, { "cite": "37 N.C. 245", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 8681753 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/37/0245-01" ] }, { "cite": "29 N.C. 217", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 8690297 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/29/0217-01" ] }, { "cite": "22 N.C. 455", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 8693425 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/22/0455-01" ] }, { "cite": "20 N.C. 616", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "opinion_index": 0 }, { 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"parties": [ "HELEN L. RIEGEL, Executrix of the Will of HARRY J. RIEGEL, Deceased, and HELEN L. RIEGEL, Individually, Plaintiffs v. WILLIAM D. LYERLY, Individually and as a Representative of the Class of all Adult Persons now in Being and who Might be Heirs at Law of HELEN L. RIEGEL, at the Time of Her Death, and all Unborn Persons, Unknown Persons and all Other Persons, Whether now in Being or Hereafter Coming into Being Which Under the Laws of the State of North Carolina Might now or Might Hereafter Acquire Such Status as to Become Heirs of HELEN L. RIEGEL at the Time of her Death, Defendants, and JOHN D. SHAW, Guardian Ad Litem for Unknown Heirs, Additional Defendant." ], "opinions": [ { "text": "RodmaN, J.\nThe widow\u2019s assertion of absolute ownership calls for answers to these questions: (1) Does the rule in Shelley\u2019s case or a similar rule apply to the disposition of personal property in this State? (2) If so, does the widow, by Item 4 of the Riegel will, acquire absolute ownership in one-third of the residuary estate?\nThe law in this State, settled by a uniform line of decisions, is that a grant, devise or bequest to A for life, remainder in fee or absolutely to the heirs-at-law of A vests A with an estate in fee simple or absolute unless it is made to appear from other portions of the instrument transferring title that the grantor or testator used the words \u201cheirs-at-law\u201d as descriptio personae, and not as words of limitation. It makes no difference whether the grant or gift is real property, real and personal property, or personal property alone. Stated differently, the rule in Shelley\u2019s case has been consistently applied in North Carolina to the disposition of personal property where the language would require application of the rule in a disposition of real estate.\nSeemingly, the earliest case in our reports presenting the question is Cutlar v. Cutlar, 3 N.C. 154, decided in 1801. It was there held that a gift of slaves to a mother and son \u201cfor their lives, and the life of the longest liver or survivor, remainder to the heirs of the survivor,\u201d vested the survivor with title absolute.\nThe Cutlar case was followed in 1812 by Nichols v. Cartwright, 6 N.C. 137. There, the court was called upon to pass on the rights of B, under a deed by A which \u201clent\u201d B, his sister, a female slave for B\u2019s natural life, and \u201cat her death I give the said girl and her increase unto the heirs of my said sister, lawfully begotten of her body, forever.\u201d Taylor, C.J., speaking for the court, said: \u201cA rule applied to chattels is, that where a remainder is limited by such words as if applied to realty would constitute an estate tail, the person to whom it is given takes the property absolutely.\u201d\nIn Ham v. Ham, 21 N.C. 598, decided in 1837, the court was called upon to construe a will which devised real estate to Caren Ham and bequeathed a negro man and a negro woman to Caren \u201cduring her lifetime or widowhood; and then I give them to her lawful heirs for them and their heirs forever.\u201d Daniel, J., speaking for a court composed of Ruffin, Daniel and Gaston, said: \u201cThe land mentioned in the recited clause of'the will, we think, is clearly and absolutely given in fee to Mrs. Ham. And if the subsequent words in the clause which relates to the slaves, had related to the land, then there would be no doubt but Mrs. Ham would be entitled to the whole fee, by force of the rule in Shelley\u2019s case.\u201d He cites numerous English cases to support his assertion. He then says: \u201cDoes the rule in Shelley\u2019s case extend to chattels personal? On this point authorities are not so plenty as they are in the case of terms for years, yet we think, they are not wanting. As it is well established, that the rule extends to terms for years, which, on the death of the termor, go to the executor, and not to the heir; we cannot see, why the rule should not extend to chattels personal, when there is-nothing in the-will which shows that the testator meant by the word \u2018heirs,\u2019 children, next of kin, or any other class of persons.\u201d He cites, in support of his conclusion, Kent\u2019s Commentaries and Gettings v. McDermott, 7 Cond. End. Ch. Rep. 268, decided by Lord Chancellor Brougham in 1834.\nThe will interpreted in Floyd v. Thompson, 20 N.C. 616, contained a bequest of slaves in language similar to the language involved in Ham v. Ham, supra. The conclusion reached in the Ham case was reaffirmed. Chief Justice Ruffin, citing Ham v. Ham, said: \u201cWe then looked into all the cases in the books within our reach and felt obliged to hold that in such dispositions of personal chattels as this, the entire property vests in the first taker.\u201d\nIn Payne v. Sale, 22 N.C. 455, Gaston, J. said: \u201cThe doctrine is confessedly founded upon a settled principle of construction, that whatever disposition would amount to an estate tail in land gives the whole interest in personal property. Now, it is a fundamental rule of law that where an ancestor, by any gift or conveyance, takes an estate of freehold in land, and in the same gift or conveyance there is a limitation by way of remainder to the heirs of his body, these words are words of limitation of the estate, and not words of purchase; and, therefore, such remainder is immediately executed in possession in the ancestor so taking the freehold.\u201d\nSimilar conclusions and statements of the law are made in Coon v. Rice, 29 N.C. 217; Bradley v. Jones, 37 N.C. 245; Sanderlin v. Deford, 47 N.C. 74; Worrell v. Vinson, 50 N.C. 91; Hodges v. Little, 52 N.C. 145; Boyd v. Small, 56 N.C. 39; Williams v. Houston, 57 N.C. 277.\nIn Williams v. Houston, supra, Chief Justice Pearson said: \u201cIt is unnecessary to enter more fully into the reason of \u2018the rule,\u2019 or to refer to the numerous cases in which it has been held to extend to personal property; it is sufficient to say it is well settled as \u2018a law of property,\u2019 and our case falls directly within its operations.\u201d\nThe application of the rule to personalty, as well as realty, was recognized in Pless v. Coble, 58 N.C. 231, but not applied because it appeared from the instrument transferring title that the word \u201cheirs\u201d was not used in its technical sense but as descriptio personae.\nChief Justice Pearson\u2019s declaration that it was \u201cwell settled as \u2018a law of property\u2019 \u201d that the rule of Shelley\u2019s case was as applicable to personal property as to real property was made in 1858. Seemingly, the statement then made has been accepted as the law of this State. We have found no decision since that time which challenges that statement. Cases -have arisen in which it was necessary to decide whether the rule applied to a particular factual situation, e.g., Thompson v. Mitchell, 57 N.C. 441; Pless v. Coble, supra; Chambers v. Payne, 59 N.C. 276; King v. Utley, 85 N.C. 60; but none deny the application of the rule to personalty.\nIn Hooker v. Montague, 123 N.C. 154, 31 S.E. 705, decided in 1898, the court recognized the rule as applicable to personalty where the estates were of the same character, but the majority held that the rule was not there applicable because the life tenant\u2019s estate was equitable and the estate in remainder was legal. This difference in character of the estates prevented a merger.\nLooking beyond our borders, we find English cases decided prior to the Revolutionary War hold the rule includes both real and personal property. See Butterfield v. Butterfield, decided in 1748, 1 Ves. 132, 153; Theebridge v. Kilburne, decided in 1750, 2 Ves. 232; Garth v. Baldwin, decided in 1755, 2 Ves. 646.\nEngland in 1925, by statute, Halsbury\u2019s Statutes of England, 2d Ed., Vol. 20, \u00a7 131, abolished the rule in Shelley\u2019s case by providing that the word \u201cheirs,\u201d or similar words in instruments thereafter executed, should operate \u201cas words of purchase and not of limitation.\u201d\nAn examination of cases decided by appellate courts of sister states shows a marked divergence of opinion with respect to the inclusion of personalty in the rule. See Simes and Smith, The Law of Future Interests, 2d Ed., Vol. 1, \u00a7 367; 47 Am. Jur. 808, 809; 96 C.J.S. 303. Several states have enacted statutes similar to the English statute.\nUnwilling as we are to change the law of property by judicial fiat, we answer the first question in the affirmative. If public policy requires a change, we think it should be made by the-Legislature. Williams v. Hospital, 237 N.C. 387 (391), 75 S.E. 2d 303; Menne v. City of Fond Du Lac, 77 N.W. 2d 703; Bond v. Midstates Oil Corp., 53 So. 2d 149. The change, if made, should apply to instruments thereafter executed. Trust Co. v. Andrews, 264 N.C. 531; Bennett v. Cain, 248 N.C. 428, 103 S.E. 2d 510; Wilkinson v. Wallace, 192 N.C. 156, 134 S.E. 401.\nNowhere in Mr. Riegel\u2019s will is there anything to indicate that the words \u201cheirs-at-law\u201d in the bequest reading: \u201cUpon the death of my said wife * * * I give and bequeath in fee simple to the heirs-at-law of my said wife the remaining one-third (%) of the then balance of the corpus of my estate,\u201d were intended to define the grantee. It follows that the widow took an absolute, \u201cfee simple\u201d estate and that the second question must also be answered \u201cyes.\u201d Tynch v. Briggs, 230 N.C. 603, 54 S.E. 2d 918; Ratley v. Oliver, 229 N.C. 120, 47 S.E. 2d 703; Rose v. Rose, 219 N.C. 20, 12 S.E. 2d 688; Rowland v. Building & Loan Assn., 211 N.C. 456, 190 S.E. 719; Floyd v. Thompson, supra.\nAffirmed.", "type": "majority", "author": "RodmaN, J." } ], "attorneys": [ "John D. Shaw for defendant appellants.", "Helms, Mull\u00eds, McMillan & Johnston; E. Osborne Ayscue, Jr.; William H. Bobbitt, Jr., for plaintiff appellees." ], "corrections": "", "head_matter": "HELEN L. RIEGEL, Executrix of the Will of HARRY J. RIEGEL, Deceased, and HELEN L. RIEGEL, Individually, Plaintiffs v. WILLIAM D. LYERLY, Individually and as a Representative of the Class of all Adult Persons now in Being and who Might be Heirs at Law of HELEN L. RIEGEL, at the Time of Her Death, and all Unborn Persons, Unknown Persons and all Other Persons, Whether now in Being or Hereafter Coming into Being Which Under the Laws of the State of North Carolina Might now or Might Hereafter Acquire Such Status as to Become Heirs of HELEN L. RIEGEL at the Time of her Death, Defendants, and JOHN D. SHAW, Guardian Ad Litem for Unknown Heirs, Additional Defendant.\n(Filed 23 July, 1965.)\n1. Wills \u00a7 32\u2014\nThe Rule in Shelley\u2019s Case applies to personalty as well as really.\n2. Constitutional Law \u00a7 6\u2014\nSettled law may not be changed by judicial fiat, questions of public policy being uniquely the province of the legislative branch of the government.\n3. Wills \u00a7 32\u2014\nA devise and bequest of the remainder of the estate to testator\u2019s wife for the term of her natural life with a limited power to invade the corpus if the income from the estate were insufficient for her support, with later provision that upon the death of the wife two-thirds of the estate should go to testator\u2019s mother and one-third \u201cin fee simple to the heirs at law of my said wife,\u201d held to transmit to the wife a life estate in two-thirds and a fee simple in one-third of the estate under the Rule in Shelley\u2019s Case.\nAppeal by defendants from Biddle, S.J., October 5, 1964 Non-Jury Civil Session of Mecklenbtjhg.\nHarry J. Riegel (Riegel), a resident of Mecklenburg County, died testate, March 2, 1961. His will has been probated in Mecklenburg County.\nPlaintiff, widow of testator, instituted this action, as a legatee and as executrix, to secure a judgment declaring her individual rights in the property passing under the will.\nItem 1 directs plaintiff, the executrix, to pay testator\u2019s debts; and Item 2 directs payment of inheritance and other death taxes out of the general funds of the estate, using for that purpose either income or principal, as executrix deems advisable.\nItems 3, 4 and 5 read as follows:\n\u201cItem III. All the rest, residue and remainder of my estate, real, personal, mixed and otherwise, of which I die seized or possessed, to which I am in any way entitled at the time of my death, or over which I then have any power of appointment by will, I give, devise and bequeath to my beloved wife, Helen L. Riegel, for the term of her natural life, the net income therefrom to be used and enjoyed by her so long as she shall live.\n\u201cIf the net income payable to my said wife under the terms of this item of my will, supplemented by income, funds and property available to her from other sources, shall not be sufficient comfortably to maintain and support my wife, or to defray medical, surgical or hospital expenses of my wife, then and in that event she shall be permitted to use such sum or sums out of the principal of my estate as shall from time to time be needed for the purposes aforesaid; provided, however, that the amount of principal shall not during any one year exceed the sum of Eighteen Hundred ($1800.00) Dollars.\n\u201cItem IV. Upon the death of my said wife,' Helen L. Riegel, I give and bequeath in fee simple to my mother, Mrs. Goldie R. Cook, of New Lebanon, Ohio, two-thirds (%) of the then balance corpus of my estate, and I give and bequeath in fee simple to the heirs-at-law of my said wife the remaining one-third (%) of the then balance of the corpus of my estate.\n\u201cItem V. If my said wife and I should die in or as the result of a common disaster, then I give and bequeath in fee simple all of the rest, residue and remainder of my estate, real, personal, mixed and otherwise, of which I die seized or possessed, to the persons, and in the proportions, as follows:\n\u201c(a) One-half (%) to my mother, Mrs. Goldie R. Cook, of New Lebanon, Ohio;\n\u201c(b) One-half (%) to my father-in-law and mother-in-law, Mr. and Mrs. William B. Lyerly, of Charlotte, North Carolina, share and share alike, or to the survivor, if one of them should predecease me.\u201d\nMrs. Riegel has no descendants. Her mother, Mrs. William Lyerly, died in 1948. Her father\u2019s correct name is William D. Lyerly.\nThe court adjudged plaintiff the owner of an estate for her life in the properties passing under Item 3 of the will, with the additional right to use the corpus to the extent authorized in the second paragraph of Item 3; and by Item 4, the absolute owner of an undivided one-third interest in the residuary estate.\nDefendants Lyerly and Shaw, as guardian ad litem, excepted and appealed.\nJohn D. Shaw for defendant appellants.\nHelms, Mull\u00eds, McMillan & Johnston; E. Osborne Ayscue, Jr.; William H. Bobbitt, Jr., for plaintiff appellees." }, "file_name": "0204-01", "first_page_order": 244, "last_page_order": 249 }