Massachusetts Co., Inc. v. Berger

• Decision Date: 26 December 1973
• Citation: 1 Mass.App.Ct. 624,305 N.E.2d 123
• Parties: The MASSACHUSETTS COMPANY, INC., trustee, v. Sidney E. BERGER et al.
• Court: Appeals Court of Massachusetts

Page 123

305 N.E.2d 123

1 Mass.App.Ct. 624

The MASSACHUSETTS COMPANY, INC., trustee, v. Sidney E. BERGER et al.

Appeals Court of Massachusetts, Suffolk.

Argued Nov. 20, 1972.

Decided Dec. 26, 1973.

Philip R. White (Philip R. White, Jr., Boston, with him), for Sidney E. Berger and others.

William J. Cheeseman, Allston, for Martin Berger and others.

Before HALE, C.J., and ROSE, KEVILLE, GOODMAN and ARMSTRONG, JJ.

ARMSTRONG, Justice.

This petition for instructions was brought by the trustee of two revocable inter vivos trusts located in Massachusetts and expressly made subject to administration in accordance with the laws of Massachusetts. The settlor, who was a Florida domiciliary, was declared incompetent by a Florida Court, which appointed a Florida guardian, and which directed the guardian to 'do such acts or execute such documents as may be necessary' to exercise the settlor's power to revoke. The Florida guardian by letter to the trustee purported to revoke the trusts. The trustee replied that the guardian should seek appointment as guardian in Massachusetts under G.L. c. 201, § 30. The Florida guardian instead began a proceeding under G.L c. 204, § 3, for a license to receive the trust property, but the settlor died before that proceeding concluded. The rival claimants are beneficiaries under the settlor's will, who contend that the letter of revocation had the effect of terminating the trusts, and beneficiaries under the trusts, who contend that the revocation by the Florida guardian was of no legal effect. We are of the opinion that the purported revocation was of no effect. Whatever power a guardian might have had to revoke these trusts must derive from G.L. c. 201, § 45. Parry v. Parry, 316 Mass. 692, 695--696, 56 N.E.2d 875 (1944). The Florida guardian could derive no authority from § 45 until he had been appointed guardian under G.L. c. 201, § 30; for § 45 does not by its terms confer any power on a foreign guardian and 'at common law the authority of a guardian . . . is local, and is restricted to the limits of the State in which he is appointed.' Gardiner v. Thorndike, 183 Mass. 81, 82, 66 N.E. 633 (1903). The proceeding begun under G.L. c. 204, § 3, could confer no authority to revoke.

Decree affirmed. Costs and expenses of this appeal to be in the discretion of the Probate Court.

This case was initially heard by a panel composed of ROSE, GOODMAN and ARMSTRONG, JJ., and was thereafter submitted on the record and briefs to the Chief Justice and KEVILLE, J., both of whom took part in this decision in accordance with the provisions of Rule 1:18 of this court.

GRANT, J., took no part in the consideration or decision of the case.

GOODMAN, Justice (concurring in result).

I reach the result in this case by a different route since I cannot accept as a general proposition the premise that our courts will not recognize the act of a foreign guardian as effective to entitle him to property in this state. It is true that, since the trust instruments provide for administration in accordance with the laws of Massachusetts and since the trust property and the trustee are in any event located in Massachusetts, Massachusetts law determines what, if any, effect should be given to the Florida guardian's letter to revoke the trusts. National Shawmut Bank v. Cumming, 325 Mass. 457, 463--464, 91 N.E.2d 337 (1950). New England Merchants Natl. Bank v. Mahoney, 356 Mass. 654, 656--657, 255 N.E.2d 592 (1970). RUSSELL V. LOVELL, MASS. (1973) , 291 N.E.2D 733.^A However, our courts have often recognized and given effect to acts of a foreign fiduciary if done without resort to our forum. ¹ Thus in Gardiner v. Thorndike, 183 Mass. 81, 66 N.E. 633 (1903), the Supreme Judicial Court recognized the receipt of a Massachusetts legacy by a Maine guardian ('the claimant whose demands have thus been conceded') as a defense to a later suit by the ward. The court said (p. 82, 66 N.E. p. 634): 'It is also well settled that if an administrator or executor can collect in a state other than that of his appointment the goods or credits of the deceased . . . without resort to the courts, he may properly do so; and for reasons of comity such acts are regarded as valid to protect the parties. . . . (See Martin v. Gage, 147 Mass. 204, 206, 17 N.E. 310 (1888); Anthony v Anthony, 161 Mass. 343, 351--352, 37 N.E. 386 (1894); Morrison v. Hass, 229 Mass. 514, 118 N.E. 893 (1918); Morrison v. Berkshire Loan & Trust Co., 229 Mass. 519, 118 N.E. 895 (1918); Old Colony Trust Co. v. Clarke, 291 Mass. 17, 23, 195 N.E. 758 (1935); Restatement 2d: Conflict of Laws, § 322; McDowell, Foreign Personal Representatives, c. 5.) Such is the law with reference to voluntary payments made to a foreign administrator or executor, and we see no reason why it should not be the same with reference to such payments made to a foreign guardian, if by the law of the state from which he derives his appointment he is authorized to receive them.' See Rand v. Hubbard, 4 Metc. 252 (1842) (presentment and demand on behalf of a foreign executor was effective to dishonor a note; the court also said that an endorsement by a foreign executor would be given effect in this state in a suit on the note); Hutchins v. State Bank, 12 Metc. 421 (1847) (power of attorney by a foreign executor ahthorizing an agent to sell stock in a Massachusetts corporation); Greves v. Shaw, 173 Mass. 205, 53 N.E. 372 (1899); Wilkins v. Ellett, 108 U.S. 256, 2 S.Ct. 641, 27 L.Ed. 718 (1883).

The recognition of such acts by a foreign guardian does not derogate from the jurisdiction of the Probate Court in Massachusetts to determine, as with a domestic guardian, the propriety of any such act upon petition of any aggrieved party. Such an act is 'voidable.' Witherington v. Nickerson, 256 Mass. 351, 355, 152 N.E. 707 (1926). See Dolbeare v. Bowser, 254 Mass. 57, 61--62, 149 N.E. 626 (1925); Drain v. Brookline Sav. Bank, 327 Mass. 435, 441, 99 N.E.2d 160 (1951), and cases cited. Newhall, Settlement of Estates (4th ed.) § 390, pp. 554--555. Cf. Hays v. Heinz, 317 Mass. 337, 340, 58 N.E.2d 146 (1944); May v. Skinner, 149 Mass. 375, 380, 21 N.E. 870 (1889). The propriety of the revocation was not raised in the Probate Court below and it is conceded that the Florida court did no more than authorize the guardian to give the notice of revocation and thereafter to go into the Massachusetts courts if necessary. Both parties agree that the only issue is the effectiveness of that notice. ²

The act of revoking a trust as a step in the collection of trust assets has much in common with the various steps taken by foreign guardians to collect property which have been given effect by our courts; ³ but the question is whether under Massachusetts law there are limitations on the power to revoke not applicable to other acts in the collection of property. Whether the power to revoke which at common law is suspended while the holder is incompetent (Parry v. Parry, 316 Mass. 692, 696, 56 N.E.2d 875 (1944); Scott, Trusts (3d ed.) § 330, p. 2596) is nevertheless exercisable and the conditions for its exercise depend on the statutory scheme setting out the powers of guardians and the jurisdiction of the Probate Court. Hicks v. Chapman, 10 Allen 463, 464--465 (1865). Nelson v. Katzamann, 243 Mass. 240, 242, 137 N.E. 303 (1922). Fratcher, Powers and Duties of Guardians of Property, 45 Iowa L.Rev. 264, 291--292.

The general power of a guardian phrased as 'the management of all his estate,' G.L. c. 201, § 12 (see also G.L. c. 201, § 37) has not been given an expansive meaning. Thus it has not been construed to include powers which alter the succession to the ward's property. Newhall, Settlement of Estates, § 388, p. 546. To the extent that a power may alter the succession to property, it has been characterized as a personal right involving the exercise of discretion rather than a property right (see fn. 3) and cannot be exercised by a guardian except as specifically authorized by statute. Pinkerton v. Sargent, 102 Mass. 568 (1869) (widow's right to waive will prior to St.1871, c. 97, now included in G.L. c. 201, § 45). Dolbeare v. Bowser, 254 Mass. 57, 60, 149 N.E. 626 (1925). Flanagan v. Babineau, 332 Mass. 379, 382, 125 N.E.2d 231 (1955). In re A. (1904) 2 Ch. 328, 336. Fratcher, Guardians of Property, 45 Iowa L.Rev. 264, 317, 318, and cases cited at n. 177. Note, Illinois Conservator's Right to Invade Joint Savings Account, 48 Chi.Kent L.Rev. 230, 233. See Bogert, Trusts and Trustees, § 1000, pp. 491--492. See also Jones v. Maguire, 221 Mass. 315, 316, 108 N.E. 1073 (1915); Guthrie v. Canty, 315 Mass. 726, 728, 53 N.E.2d 1009 (1944). Thus, if the power to revoke in this case, changing as it would the succession to the property among the claimants, may be exercised by a guardian, the authority must be found in G.L. c. 201, § 45, ⁴ and more specifically in the first independent clause if the prior approval of the Probate Court is not to be required (but see Kent v. Morrison, 153 Mass. 137, 140, 26 N.E. 427 (1891)) or, failing that, in the second proviso which, however, involves Probate Court approval not obtained in this case.

From the history of the statute it is not entirely clear whether 'rights or benefits given . . . by law' in the first independent clause (fn. 4) include the common law power to revoke a trust or whether the words 'by law' are restricted to statutory provisions. Standing by itself, apart from the history and context of the statute, the phrase is opaque. See Mississippi River Fuel Corp. v. Slayton, 359 F.2d 106, 118--119 (8th Cir. 1966) (discussion and citation of cases); State v. Dyer, 67 Vt. 690, 697, 32 A. 814 (1894); Piccard v. Sperry Corp., 48 F.Supp. 465, 468 (S.D.N.Y.1943). See also Commonwealth v. Dana, 2 Metc. 329, 338 (1841). The statute originated in St.1871, c. 97, which provided, 'When property rights or benefits given by will . . . or by any provision of law, depend upon the...