{ "id": 2504339, "name": "R. GENE EDMUNDSON, EXECUTOR, of the Estate of C. Julian Wilson (Deceased) v. MARGUERITE W. MORTON, JOE B. MORTON, EDWIN B. WILSON, W. W. MASON, L. L. MASON, LOUISE TOLLEY, CAROLYN W. JONES, W. H. STOVALL, JAMES A. HOWARD, ROBERT W. HOWARD, GEORGIA HOWARD POMETTO, JOHN HOWARD, GLADYS SYKES WALLACE, ELIZABETH D. SYKES and NANCY B. McKEE", "name_abbreviation": "Edmundson v. Morton", "decision_date": "1992-09-04", "docket_number": "No. 333PA91", "first_page": "276", "last_page": "288", "citations": [ { "type": "official", "cite": "332 N.C. 276" } ], "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": "404 S.E.2d 890", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "year": 1991, "opinion_index": -1 }, { "cite": "103 N.C. App. 253", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C. App.", "case_ids": [ 8520313 ], "year": 1991, "opinion_index": -1, "case_paths": [ "/nc-app/103/0253-01" ] }, { "cite": "187 S.E.2d 5", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "weight": 4, "year": 1972, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "7" }, { "page": "7" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "280 N.C. 705", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 8573439 ], "weight": 3, "year": 1972, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "708" }, { "page": "707" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/280/0705-01" ] }, { "cite": "111 S.E.2d 627", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "year": 1959, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "631" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "251 N.C. 439", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 8626007 ], "year": 1959, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "444" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/251/0439-01" ] }, { "cite": "131 S.E.2d 875", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "year": 1963, "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "260 N.C. 22", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 8572922 ], "year": 1963, "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/260/0022-01" ] }, { "cite": "143 S.E. 835", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.", "year": 1928, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "838" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "195 N.C. 822", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 8632289 ], "year": 1928, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "828" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/195/0822-01" ] }, { "cite": "107 S.E. 12", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.", "year": 1921, "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "181 N.C. 311", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 8655896 ], "year": 1921, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "313" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/181/0311-01" ] }, { "cite": "98 S.E.2d 298", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "year": 1957, "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "246 N.C. 314", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 8626118 ], "year": 1957, "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/246/0314-01" ] }, { "cite": "117 S.E.2d 465", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "weight": 2, "year": 1960, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "468" }, { "page": "468", "parenthetical": "emphasis added" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "253 N.C. 515", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 8626129 ], "weight": 2, "year": 1960, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "520" }, { "page": "520-21" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/253/0515-01" ] }, { "cite": "299 S.E.2d 207", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "weight": 2, "year": 1983, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "211", "parenthetical": "quoting Clark v. Connor, 253 N.C. 515, 520, 117 S.E.2d 465, 468 (1960)" }, { "page": "211", "parenthetical": "emphasis added" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "307 N.C. 485", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 8563923 ], "weight": 2, "year": 1983, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "492", "parenthetical": "quoting Clark v. Connor, 253 N.C. 515, 520, 117 S.E.2d 465, 468 (1960)" }, { "page": "492-93" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/307/0485-01" ] }, { "cite": "404 S.E.2d 890", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "year": 1991, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "893" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "103 N.C. App. 253", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C. App.", "case_ids": [ 8520313 ], "year": 1991, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "258" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc-app/103/0253-01" ] } ], "analysis": { "cardinality": 997, "char_count": 26947, "ocr_confidence": 0.785, "pagerank": { "raw": 1.3608438240779088e-07, "percentile": 0.6361784026790751 }, "sha256": "d2f9153227365310c9220fc8b8cc6cde4f5ce67fdf81d67953d8ab5329037fae", "simhash": "1:2ba652d2772f8c16", "word_count": 4540 }, "last_updated": "2023-07-14T21:54:56.199642+00:00", "provenance": { "date_added": "2019-08-29", "source": "Harvard", "batch": "2018" }, "casebody": { "judges": [], "parties": [ "R. GENE EDMUNDSON, EXECUTOR, of the Estate of C. Julian Wilson (Deceased) v. MARGUERITE W. MORTON, JOE B. MORTON, EDWIN B. WILSON, W. W. MASON, L. L. MASON, LOUISE TOLLEY, CAROLYN W. JONES, W. H. STOVALL, JAMES A. HOWARD, ROBERT W. HOWARD, GEORGIA HOWARD POMETTO, JOHN HOWARD, GLADYS SYKES WALLACE, ELIZABETH D. SYKES and NANCY B. McKEE" ], "opinions": [ { "text": "LAKE, Justice.\nThis case presents essentially a question of interpretation of a will, involving accessions (accretions) to certain bequeathed property and whether the testator intended the bequest directly in question to be general or specific in nature.\nThe bequest directly in question was of certain stocks and bonds inherited by testator from his wife and bequeathed by him as a collective unit. The essence of the question is the determination of the proper legatees of normal accessions to the shares of these corporate stocks, which accessions occurred by way of routine stock splits and dividend reinvestments between the times of testator\u2019s acquisition thereof, his execution of the will and his death. As such, this is a case of first impression in North Carolina.\nThe plaintiff, executor of the estate of C. Julian Wilson, brought this action for declaratory judgment in Superior Court, Granville County seeking an interpretation of the testator\u2019s will and a declaration of the rights of the beneficiaries under the will with respect to the bequests set forth in Items Five and Nine of the will. The case was submitted to the trial court upon stipulated facts.\nThe testator, C. Julian Wilson, died 11 September 1983. His last will, dated 22 March 1979, was duly submitted for probate. In Item Five, testator bequeathed \u201call of the stocks and bonds which I may own as inherited by me from my wife, . . .\u201d share and share alike, to his wife\u2019s family. Item Five provides as follows:\nITEM Five: I give and bequeath to my nephews-in-law and my nieces-in-law who may be living at the time of my death, and Elizabeth Sykes, widow of my nephew-in-law, Arthur Sykes, share and share alike, all of the stocks and bonds which I may own as inherited by me from my wife, Rachel H. Wilson, and for identification purposes such stocks and bonds which I inherited from my wife are as follows:\n228 Shares American Telephone and Telegraph Company, common\n120 Shares American Tobacco Company, common\n5 shares Carolina Power & Light Company, preferred\n494.590 Shares Investors, Mutual, Inc., common\n131.189 Shares Investors Variable Payment Fund, Inc., common\nU.S. Savings Bonds, Series E\nNumber Date Maturity Value\nL4004877933E Dec. 1943 $ 50.00\nQ4008735615E May 1943 25.00\nC4003195302E Sept. 1943 100.00\nC4003195303E Jan. 1943 100.00\nC4003195304E Jan. 1943 100.00\nC4003195305E Jan. 1943 100.00\nC4003195306E Jan. 1943 100.00\nC4003195307E Jan. 1942 100.00\nC4003026589E Feb. 1942 100.00\nC4003195308E March 1942 100.00\nC114698955E Dec. 1945 100.00\nC114698956E Dec. 1945 100.00\nC114698957E Dec. 1945 100.00\nC114698958E Dec. 1945 100.00\nC146275941E April 1949 100.00\nC146275942E April 1949 100.00\nC146275943E April 1949 100.00\nC146275944E April 1949 100.00\nC146275945E April 1949 100.00\nC146275964E April 1949 100.00\nC146275966E April 1949 100.00\nC146275967E April 1949 100.00\nC9340623E Juen [sic] 1944 500.00\nThe shares of stock specified in Item Five represented the total shares of stock testator inherited from his wife, Rachel H. Wilson. The 228 shares of American Telephone and Telegraph Company were held by testator at the date of execution of his will and the same number continued to be held at the date of his death. The 120 shares of American Tobacco Company were held at the date of execution of the will, and 240 shares of this stock were held at the date of death as a result of a stock split. The 5 shares of Carolina Power & Light Company preferred stock were held at the date of execution of the will, and 20.877 shares of this stock were held at the date of death as a result of dividend reinvestments. The 494.590 shares of Investors Mutual, Inc. had increased to 850.59 shares at the date of execution of the will as a result of dividend reinvestment, and 850.59 shares of this stock continued to be held at the date of death. The 131.189 shares of Investors Variable Payment Fund, Inc. had increased to 202.231 shares at the date of execution of the will, and 277.791 shares of this stock were held at the date of death, all of which increases resulted from dividend reinvestments.\nItem Nine of the will is a residuary bequest wherein testator bequeathed all the rest and residue of his property to his own brother and sister and to his nieces and nephews. Item Nine provides as follows:\nItem Nine: I bequeath and devise the rest and residue of the property which I may own at the time of my death, real and personal, tangible and intangible of every nature and wherever situated, including all property which I may acquire or become entitled to after the execution of this will to my brother and sister and nieces and nephews, in the following proportions:\n(a) To my nephew, W.W. Mason, an undivided one-eighth share;\n(b) To my nephew, L.L. Mason, Jr., an undivided one-eighth share;\n(c) To my brother, William R. Wilson, an undivided one-fourth share;\n(d) To my sister, Marguerite W. Morton, an undivided one-fourth share;\n(e) To my nephew, Edwin B. Wilson, an undivided one-eighth share;\n(f) To my nephew, Joe B. Morton, an undivided one-eighth share.\nAccording to the Stipulation of Facts entered into by the parties and submitted to the trial court, after testator\u2019s execution of the will and before his death, certain of the U.S. Savings Bonds, Series E, listed in Item Five (having a maturity value of $1,775) were \u201cexchanged,\u201d along with other Series E Bonds, for certain Series HH bonds (having a maturity value of $16,000) by L.L. Mason, \u201cattorney in fact for C. Julian Wilson, said L.L. Mason being a beneficiary pursuant to Item 9 of the referenced Will.\u201d On 24 October 1991, after this case was docketed in this Court, the defendantappellees filed motion to supplement the record with the affidavit of L.L. Mason attesting that he had no recollection of having a power of attorney for any purpose by C. Julian Wilson, that he did write checks for Wilson from time to time, that Wilson decided to sell certain of the \u201cE\u201d bonds, that be observed Wilson sign these bonds for purposes of sale, and that when the proceeds of the sale of these bonds went into Wilson\u2019s checking account upon request by Wilson he and a bank officer advised Wilson to purchase \u201cHH\u201d bonds. The Court determines this motion should be allowed and the affidavit considered with the case. For the reasons hereinafter set forth, this affidavit, while considered, does not affect our decision in this case.\nThe trial court, upon the stipulated facts, ruled that Item Five of the will \u201cis a general bequest, and that the beneficiaries thereof shall receive the entirety of the bequest, including any accessions resulting from stock splits and stock dividends, as well as the Series E Bonds.\u201d The defendant beneficiaries under Item Nine of the will (the residuary clause) appealed to the Court of Appeals contending the bequests under Item Five were specific bequests and that all accretions from the date of the will to the death of the testator passed to them under Item Nine.\nThe Court of Appeals interpreted the language of Item Five of the will to \u201cindicate\u201d a specific bequest and held that the Item Five beneficiaries take only the specified number of each of the stocks therein listed, with all accessions thereto occurring by way of stock split or stock dividends between the execution of the will and testator\u2019s death passing to the Item Nine beneficiaries. The Court of Appeals, also relying upon the stipulated facts, further held that the transfer of the Series E bonds by the testator\u2019s attorney-in-fact did not work an ademption, and thus the Item Five beneficiaries \u201care entitled to the entirety of the original bequest of Series E bonds.\u201d Edmundson v. Morton, 103 N.C. App. at 258, 404 S.E.2d at 893. The defendant beneficiaries under Item Five (the family of testator\u2019s wife) petitioned this Court for discretionary review, contending the Item Five bequests were general bequests which passed all such accessions to the designated stocks, before and after the testator\u2019s death, to them.\nWe agree with the holding of the Court of Appeals that the Item Five beneficiaries take the specified number of each of the stocks therein listed, together with all accessions to those stocks occurring since testator\u2019s death. However, for the reasons herein set forth, we reverse that portion of the Court of Appeals\u2019 decision holding that the accessions to the corporate stocks occurring between the time of execution of the will and testator\u2019s death do not pass along with the bequest.\nWhen engaging in the troublesome area of interpretation of a will it is, of course, axiomatic, and this Court has stated, that \u201c[i]t is an elementary rule in this jurisdiction \u2018that the intention of the testator is the polar star which is to guide in the interpretation of all wills ....\u2019\u201d Pittman v. Thomas, 307 N.C. 485, 492, 299 S.E.2d 207, 211 (1983) (quoting Clark v. Connor, 253 N.C. 515, 520, 117 S.E.2d 465, 468 (1960)). These two decisions are helpful in the\" difficult and disquieting task which we now face in the instant case \u2014of determining what a person now deceased meant by particular words he used in life for the disposition of his property to take effect at his death. Morris v. Morris, 246 N.C. 314, 98 S.E.2d 298 (1957). The decisions in Pittman and Clark are relevant in setting forth certain rules of interpretation or construction which are particularly applicable to the circumstances of the case at hand.\nIn Pittman this Court stated:\nIn a sentence which has been frequently quoted, this Court has said: \u201cThe will must be construed, \u2018taking it by its four corners\u2019 and according to the intent of the testator as we conceive it to be upon the face thereof and according to the circumstances attendant.\u201d Patterson v. McCormick, 181 N.C. 311, 313, 107 S.E. 12 (1921). In referring to the \u201ccircumstances attendant\u201d we mean \u201cthe relationships between the testator and the beneficiaries named in the will, and the condition, nature and extent of [the testator\u2019s] property.\u201d Wachovia Bank and Trust Co. v. Wolfe, 243 N.C. at 473, 91 S.E.2d at 250.\nPittman, 307 N.C. at 492-93, 299 S.E.2d at 211 (emphasis added).\nIn the instant case we find the \u201crelationships\u201d between the testator and his named beneficiaries to be significant, particularly with respect to the way in which the beneficiaries were grouped or classed according to the \u201cnature and extent\u201d of the property each group was designated to receive. The entirety of the will reveals that, other than taking care of perfunctory, administrative matters in Items One, Two, Ten and Eleven, and one specific bequest of his tractor and cultivator in Item Eight, the testator has grouped or categorized his beneficiaries into two classes, each according to their relationship to him as a class and according to the origin of the property which each class, as a collective unit or group, was designated to receive. The two classes are: (1) members of his own family (a brother, a sister and four nephews) to whom he gives his family property in Items Three and Four, and (2) members of his wife\u2019s family (his nephews-in-law and nieces-in-law) to whom he gives the property that belonged to his wife in Items Five and Six of the will.\nIn Clark this Court stated:\nIn ascertaining this intention [of the testator] the language used, and the sense in which it is used by the testator, is the primary source of information, as it is the expressed intention of the testator which is sought.\nIsolated clauses or sentences are not to be considered by themselves, but the will is to be considered as a whole, and its different clauses and provisions examined and compared, so as to ascertain the general plan and purpose of the testator, if there be one. ... If, when so considered, the intention of the testator can be discerned, that is the end of the investigation.\nClark, 253 N.C. at 520-21, 117 S.E.2d at 468 (emphasis added) (citations omitted).\nIn considering the will of C. Julian Wilson as a whole, under these fundamental rules of testamentary interpretation or construction, we do indeed perceive a \u201cgeneral plan and purpose\u201d on the part of the testator. This general plan and purpose was to keep the original properties of the two families, which had come into his ownership and care during his lifetime, whole, separate and, if not sacrosanct, secure for the sole benefit and inheritance of those members of each family from which the properties came who were living at his death, without regard to the monetary value or any appreciation or depreciation of those properties at the time of his death.\nWhile we also consider the determination of whether a bequest in question is a general bequest or a specific bequest frequently helpful in ascertaining the testator\u2019s intention, we agree with the Court of Appeals that such determination in this or any given case of interpretation is not per se dispositive or to be given any more weight than other factors and circumstances to be considered. In this case, however, we consider that the bequest directly in question (Item Five), in light of its wording and the factors above set forth, is in fact a general bequest as held by the trial court.\nThe general rules for determining whether a bequest is general or specific in nature are relatively clear, but their proper application to the innumerable variations in wording and circumstances presented by testators to the courts is much less certain. A specific legacy is defined as a gift of a particular fund or object \u2014 \u201ca particular thing or money specified and distinguished from all of the same kind, as of a horse, a piece of plate, money in a purse, stock in the public funds, a security for money, which would immediately vest with the assent of the executor.\u201d Shepard v. Bryan, 195 N.C. 822, 828, 143 S.E. 835, 838 (1928); Wiggins, Wills and Administration of Estates in North Carolina \u00a7 140 (2d ed. 1983) [hereinafter Wills and Administration]. See also Trust Co. v. Dodson, 260 N.C. 22, 131 S.E.2d 875 (1963). In order to avoid having to apply the principle of ademption, courts usually presume that the testator intended to create a general legacy when he fails to make his intention clear. Wills and Administration, \u00a7 140. \u201cThe tendency of the courts is to hold that a bequest is not specific unless the intent clearly appears in the will.\u201d Moore v. Langston, 251 N.C. 439, 444, 111 S.E.2d 627, 631 (1959).\nA general bequest is defined as \u201ca gift of property which does not specify the exact unit of property which the legatee is to receive.\u201d Wills and Administration, \u00a7 140. Generally, use of the word \u201cmy\u201d with the designation of a particular object of testator\u2019s property strongly indicates a specific bequest, but when the words \u201cmy property\u201d are preceded by the word \u201call,\u201d e.g., \u201call my property,\u201d the presumption is that the testator intended to make a general bequest. Wills and Administration, \u00a7 140.\nIn the instant case the key or most significant language of the bequest directly in question (Item Five), where the testator provides for his wife\u2019s family on a share and share alike basis, is: \u201cI give and bequeath . . . all of the stocks and bonds which I may own as inherited by me from my wife, Rachel H. Wilson, . . . .\u201d (Emphasis added.) Clearly, if the testator had stopped the bequest here there would be no doubt that he intended his wife\u2019s family who survived him to receive \u201call\u201d of the stocks she owned and left to him which he might own at his death. His use of the words \u201cwhich I may own\u201d clearly demonstrates his intent to give such stocks, share and share alike, to this class of beneficiaries, without regard to any number of shares of such stocks (more or less) which he might ultimately own at his death. Any doubt or question of this intent arises only from the immediately succeeding language: \u201cand for identification purposes such stocks and bonds which I inherited from my wife are as follows: . . . .\u201d (Emphasis added.) We consider this succeeding language and the following listing of certain numbers of shares of certain stocks to be precisely as labeled \u2014a mere identifier of what the testator inherited from his wife, and as such designed to serve only as an advisory supplement to, rather than a modifier of, the preceding key words of bequest. We thus find this language in Item Five of the will to be consistent with a general bequest and the \u201cgeneral plan and purpose\u201d of the testator to be gleaned from the will as a whole.\nA careful examination of the will \u201cfrom its four corners\u201d quite clearly reveals that \u201cfamily\u201d and heritage were of utmost importance to C. Julian Wilson. As noted above, in general gifts he takes care of his family in Items Three and Four, and in like manner he takes care of his wife\u2019s family in Items Five and Six. In Item Three he devises \u201call of my real estate\u201d to the identical beneficiaries named in the Item Nine residuary clause and in the same proportions, and he then states: \u201cSince this farm has been in the Wilson family since the Civil War, it is my desire that it will remain in the Wilson family.\u201d In Item Four he devises in trust \u201cthe Wilson Family Cemetery lot . . . to be used as a family cemetery lot for the Wilson Family . . . .\u201d After giving the stocks and bonds inherited from his wife to her nephews and nieces in Item Five, he bequeathes to his wife\u2019s nephews and nieces in Item Six \u201call of my household and kitchen furniture which formerly belonged to my wife, Rachel H. Wilson . . . .\u201d These four provisions constitute the heart of this will and together they are clearly a plan carefully designed to provide for each \u201cfamily\u201d according to its heritage. To interpret Item Five of this will in such manner as would separate from the specified stocks inherited from Rachel the natural investment growth and proceeds derived solely from Rachel\u2019s stocks, and give these proceeds to the other family, would indeed work an unnatural result and frustrate the testator\u2019s overall purpose.\nThe defendant-appellees argue the ruling of this Court in Bank v. Carpenter, 280 N.C. 705, 187 S.E.2d 5 (1972) should be controlling in this case. We disagree. In Bank v. Carpenter the testator in two identical provisions bequeathed specifically \u201cten (10) shares of my stock\u201d in his company to two of his employees on condition each was still employed with the company at the time of testator\u2019s death. After execution of the will and prior to testator\u2019s death the company was restructured and recapitalized. As a result of this, all of testator\u2019s 900 shares in the company were retired and 250,000 shares of new stock were issued to testator. There was no infusion of new capital. It was held under these circumstances that the testator intended that each beneficiary should receive only the 10 shares bequeathed and not any increase in number of shares resulting from the restructure. This case presents a substantially different scenario from the \u201ccircumstances attendant\u201d in the instant case, both in terms of the discernible \u201cintention\u201d of the testators and in the nature or manner of occurrence of the gain or increase in the stock involved.\nIn Bank v. Carpenter, the stock involved was not in a publicly held company, but rather was in a closely held and controlled company. The testator owned one-half of the company, and with his co-owner decided to restructure the company. This restructure presumably had nothing to do with normal financial operation, involving either gain or loss, retained earnings or distribution of profits to the owners or shareholders of the company, either through cash or stock dividends or dividend reinvestments. Likewise, it had nothing to do with the usual basis for a stock split in a publicly owned company traded on a stock exchange, i.e. a reduction in the market price with concomitant, proportionate increase in number of shares to enhance trading in the stock. With respect to the testator\u2019s intent and overall control, the Court notes that the restructure was completed over a year after the will was executed and that the testator lived one year, nine months and eleven days thereafter, \u201c[w]ith full knowledge of the increase in the number of his shares [and] permitted the bequest to remain at ten shares for each legatee.\u201d Bank v. Carpenter, 280 N.C. at 708, 187 S.E.2d at 7.\nFurther, in Bank v. Carpenter, unlike the instant case, the primary issue was whether pursuant to N.C.G.S. \u00a7 31-41, with respect to testamentary intent, \u201cthe will should speak as of the date of its execution rather than the date of the testator\u2019s death.\u201d Bank v. Carpenter, 280 N.C. at 707, 187 S.E.2d at 7. On this issue the Court maintained our consistent rule that \u201ca will becomes effective at the testator\u2019s death unless a contrary intent appears from the language of the will.\u201d Id. In so doing, the Court noted as to the testator\u2019s intention that the bequests were each conditioned on the legatees\u2019 employment by the company at testator\u2019s death, thus clearly showing the gift was to be determined at date of death.\nThe question of whether accessions to stock, occurring after execution of the will and prior to death of the testator, pass to the legatee, when such accessions occur routinely in the normal course of business by way of stock splits, stock dividends or dividend reinvestments, is one which has presented considerable difficulty to the courts of other jurisdictions. This conflict and relevant commentary thereon is expressed as follows in Wills and Administration, \u00a7 145:\nSince the courts are not in agreement on the question of dividends declared on specific bequests prior to the death of the testator, the draftsman should move in this area with the utmost caution. The intent of the testator in regard to stock splits and stock dividends should be stated explicitly in the instrument with as little as possible left to conjecture.\nIn case of a division or a splitting of stock, the change is really one of form and not of substance with the interest of the testator being merely represented by more shares. Thus, if the testator bequeaths \u201cmy five hundred shares in a named corporation\u201d and after the execution of the will the stock is split two-for-one with 500 shares being given to the testator, the legatee should be entitled to 1,000 shares, since the split results in a mere formal change.\nIn the absence of any expression of intent in the will to the contrary, the fact the legatee was designated by the testator to receive the particular stock should be sufficient reason for the legatee to receive stock dividends, whether declared prior to, or subsequent to, the death of the testator.\nWe find this reasoning persuasive, not only with respect to the case at hand \u2014 where for the reasons above stated upon the \u201ccircumstances attendant\u201d we hold the testator intended precisely in accord with the above commentary \u2014 but also with respect to cases generally where the accessions to publicly held stocks occur routinely in the normal course of the company business. Thus, where the above admonition has not been followed and the intent of the testator is not stated explicitly, we conclude that, absent any expression of intent in the will or compelling circumstance to the contrary, accessions to publicly held stocks by way of stock splits, stock dividends or dividend reinvestments occurring in the normal course of business between date of execution of the will and date of testator\u2019s death, should pass to the beneficiary of the stock named in the will.\nThis case was accepted by the Court upon' defendant-appellants\u2019 petition for discretionary review (treated as a writ of certiorari due to late filing of petition) on the single issue of whether the Court of Appeals incorrectly ruled as to the accessions to the stocks bequeathed under Item Five of the will. The defendant-appellees later moved to amend the record with respect to the bequest of the bonds under Item Five and added this issue in their brief filed with this Court. We conclude this issue is not properly before this Court, but notwithstanding this posture, the issue has been, in effect, resolved by our holding that the trial court was correct in designating Item Five as a general bequest.\nUpon the foregoing, the decision of the Court of Appeals is\nAffirmed in part and reversed in part.", "type": "majority", "author": "LAKE, Justice." } ], "attorneys": [ "Cheshire, Parker and Butler, by D. Michael Parker, for defendant-appellants James A. Howard, Robert W. Howard, Georgia Howard Pometto, John Howard, Gladys Sykes Wallace, Elizabeth D. Sykes and Nancy B. McKee.", "Perry, Kittrell, Blackburn & Blackburn, by Charles F. Blackburn and Charles M. White, III, for defendant-appellees Marguerite W. Morton and Joe B. Morton, Executors of the Estate of Marguerite W. Morton, Joe B. Morton, Edwin B. Wilson, W.W. Mason, L.L. Mason, Louise W. Tolley and Carolyn W. Jones." ], "corrections": "", "head_matter": "R. GENE EDMUNDSON, EXECUTOR, of the Estate of C. Julian Wilson (Deceased) v. MARGUERITE W. MORTON, JOE B. MORTON, EDWIN B. WILSON, W. W. MASON, L. L. MASON, LOUISE TOLLEY, CAROLYN W. JONES, W. H. STOVALL, JAMES A. HOWARD, ROBERT W. HOWARD, GEORGIA HOWARD POMETTO, JOHN HOWARD, GLADYS SYKES WALLACE, ELIZABETH D. SYKES and NANCY B. McKEE\nNo. 333PA91\n(Filed 4 September 1992)\n1. Wills \u00a7 58.1 (NCI3d)\u2014 bequest of stock \u2014general bequest \u2014 stock splits and dividend reinvestments \u2014right to accessions\nA bequest of corporate stocks was intended to be a general bequest, and the beneficiaries were thus entitled to receive accessions to the stocks from routine stock splits and dividend reinvestments, where testator bequeathed \u201call of the stocks . . . which I may own as inherited by me from my wife\u201d to the wife\u2019s nieces and nephews, share and share alike, and thereafter listed \u201cfor identification purposes\u201d the number of shares of each stock that he inherited from his wife; the entirety of the will reveals that testator grouped or categorized his beneficiaries into two classes according to their relationship to him and the origin of the property which each class was to receive; and testator devised and bequeathed his family property to members of his own family and property that had belonged to his wife to members of the wife\u2019s family.\nAm Jur 2d, Wills \u00a7 1535.\n2. Wills \u00a7 58.1 (NCI3d)\u2014 bequest of stock \u2014 right to stock splits, stock dividends, and dividend reinvestments\nAbsent any expression of intent in the will or compelling circumstances to the contrary, accessions to publicly held stocks by way of stock splits, stock dividends or dividend reinvestments occurring in the normal course of business between the date of execution of the will and the date of testator\u2019s death should pass to the beneficiary of the stock named in the will.\nAm Jur 2d, Wills \u00a7 1535.\nOn writ of certiorari to review the decision of the Court of Appeals, 103 N.C. App. 253, 404 S.E.2d 890 (1991), modifying and remanding the judgment for defendant-appellants entered by Johnson (E. Lynn), J., on 6 February 1990 in Superior Court, GRANVILLE County. Heard in the Supreme Court on 12 March 1992.\nCheshire, Parker and Butler, by D. Michael Parker, for defendant-appellants James A. Howard, Robert W. Howard, Georgia Howard Pometto, John Howard, Gladys Sykes Wallace, Elizabeth D. Sykes and Nancy B. McKee.\nPerry, Kittrell, Blackburn & Blackburn, by Charles F. Blackburn and Charles M. White, III, for defendant-appellees Marguerite W. Morton and Joe B. Morton, Executors of the Estate of Marguerite W. Morton, Joe B. Morton, Edwin B. Wilson, W.W. Mason, L.L. Mason, Louise W. Tolley and Carolyn W. Jones." }, "file_name": "0276-01", "first_page_order": 304, "last_page_order": 316 }