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Bedgood v. Thomas

Supreme Court of Georgia
Sep 28, 1964
220 Ga. 262 (Ga. 1964)

Opinion

22595.

ARGUED SEPTEMBER 14, 1964.

DECIDED SEPTEMBER 28, 1964.

Construction of will. Spalding Superior Court. Before Judge McGehee.

Cumming Cumming, for plaintiff in error.

Beck, Goddard, Owen Smalley, contra.


While a court of equity has power to do whatever is necessary to preserve a trust and may, under certain circumstances, modify the terms of a trust, nevertheless, courts are without authority to re-write by construction an unambiguous will since the court can not substitute its will for that of the testator, whether wise or unwise. Code § 113-806; Hungerford v. Trust Co. of Ga., 190 Ga. 387 ( 9 S.E.2d 630); McClelland v. Johnson, 211 Ga. 348 ( 86 S.E.2d 97). The plain language here showing that the trust had terminated upon the happening of the event — the beneficiary attaining her majority — as stipulated in the will, the court did not err in its decree so finding and decreeing that the balance of the trust funds should be turned over to the guardian of the beneficiary who is now incompetent. Georgia law provides for the handling of property of incompetents by guardian, and this will be done here.

Judgment affirmed. All the Justices concur.

ARGUED SEPTEMBER 14, 1964 — DECIDED SEPTEMBER 28, 1964.


Summaries of

Bedgood v. Thomas

Supreme Court of Georgia
Sep 28, 1964
220 Ga. 262 (Ga. 1964)
Case details for

Bedgood v. Thomas

Case Details

Full title:BEDGOOD, Trustee v. THOMAS, Guardian

Court:Supreme Court of Georgia

Date published: Sep 28, 1964

Citations

220 Ga. 262 (Ga. 1964)
138 S.E.2d 313

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