Klassen Estate v. Klassen et al., (1986) 50 Sask.R. 64 (QB)

JudgeGrotsky, J.
CourtCourt of Queen's Bench of Saskatchewan (Canada)
Case DateJuly 24, 1986
JurisdictionSaskatchewan
Citations(1986), 50 Sask.R. 64 (QB)

Klassen Estate v. Klassen (1986), 50 Sask.R. 64 (QB)

MLB headnote and full text

Peter G. Giesbrecht and Abraham L. Ens, as executors for the Estate of Maria Klassen v. Jacob Klassen, Kathrina Friessen, Maria Klassen, Maria Friessen, Katharine Klassen, Katherine Knelsen, Anna Froese, William Friessen, Abram Friessen, John Friessen, Cornelius Friessen, Heinrich W. Klassen, Henry Klassen, Agatha Wall, Helena Goertzen, Anna Klassen, Katharina Klassen, Susan Harms, Elizabeth Penner, Helena Toews, Margaret Unger, Martin Klassen, Judith Thompson, Susie Schellenberg, Anne Belton, Helen Hughes, Abram Klassen, John Klassen, Jacob Klassen, Issac Klassen, David Klassen, Frank Klassen, Maria Klassen, Anita Vogel, Tina Friessen, Herman Klassen, John Klassen, Isaac Klassen, Agnes Lemke, Susie Dyck, Peter Klassen, Minna Giesbrecht, Maria Dyck, George Friessen, Peter Klassen, Willie Klassen, John Unger, Justina Doerksen, John Wiebe, Helena Ens, Anna Fehr, Abraham Loewen Ens, Tina Giesbrecht, Peter G. Giesbrecht, Brian Klassen, Anna Wiebe, Henry Klassen, Issak F. Klassen, Maria Neufeldt, Katharina Martens, Abram Friessen, John F. Klassen, Peter F. Klassen, Heinrich F. Klassen, Gierhard F. Flassen, Jacob F. Klassen, Maria Klassen, Elizabeth Goertzen, John W. Klassen, Peter W. Klassen, Isaac W. Klassen, Sarah Wiebe, Eva Klassen, Ernest B. Fehr, Katharina B. Fehr, Peter B. Fehr, John B. Fehr, Isaac B. Fehr, Katharina Unger, Heinrich Unger, Cornelius Unger, Abram Unger, Katharina Bergen, Jacob Neufeldt, Jacob P. Neufeldt, Cornelius Neufeldt, Helena Reimer, Claus Weibes, Elizabeth Peters, Katharina Wiebe, Cornelius Wiebe, Helena Friessen, Peter Wiebe, Susana Peters, Anna Wieler, Gertrude Wiebeeldt, Abram Wiebe, John Wiebe, Abram Neufeldt, Helena Neudorf, Abrah B. Fehr, Maria Fehr, Peter Neufeldt, Helena Giesbrecht, Peter Neufeldt, Nettie Klassen, Abraham W. Klassen, Maria Friessen, Cornelius Fehr, Susanna Klassen, Maria Fehr, Anna Fehr, Aganetha Fehr, Eva Fehr, and Elizabeth Peters

(No. 1703 A.D. 1986)

Indexed As: Klassen Estate v. Klassen et al.

Saskatchewan Court of Queen's Bench

Judicial Centre of Saskatoon

Grotsky, J.

July 24, 1986.

Summary:

The executors of an estate applied under Rule 452(a) for a determination of the meaning of the residuary clause in the will of the testatrix.

The Saskatchewan Court of Queen's Bench held that the residuary clause created a trust which failed for vagueness of the objects. Accordingly, the residue of the estate, after payment of the debts, funeral and testamentary expenses of the deceased, was to be distributed upon an intestacy.

Executors and Administrators - Topic 2503

Duties and powers - Payment of legacies - Discretion of executor - General - A testatrix left the residue of her estate to her executors "to be used as they see fit with full power to my executors to pay whatever proportions of the rest and residue of my estate to whatever persons and/or charitable organization they shall determine" - The Saskatchewan Court of Queen's Bench held that the residuary clause did not create an absolute gift of the residue to the executors in their personal capacity, nor did the clause give the executors a general or restricted power of appointment over the residue of the estate which they were entitled to exercise in favour of themselves - See paragraph 32.

Trusts - Topic 372

Creation of trust - Purpose or object - Certainty of objects - A testatrix left the residue of her estate to her executors "to be used as they see fit with full power to my executors to pay whatever proportions of the rest and residue of my estate to whatever persons and/or charitable organization they shall determine" - The Saskatchewan Court of Queen's Bench held that the residuary clause created a trust, which failed for indefiniteness and for want of expression of the trust intended (vagueness of objects) - See paragraph 33.

Cases Noticed:

Kirk, Re, [1956] O.W.N. 418; 2 D.L.R.(2d) 527, consd. [para. 9].

Haidl v. Sacher (1979), 2 Sask.R. 93; 7 E.T.R. 1, consd. [para. 9].

David, Re (1983), 15 E.T.R. 296, consd. [para. 9].

Williams v. Arkle (1875), L.R. 7 H.L. 606, consd. [para. 9].

Gracey, Re (1928), 63 O.L.R. 218, consd. [para. 9].

Howell, Re; In re Buckingham; Liggins v. Buckingham, [1915] 1 Ch. 2, consd. [para. 9].

Melvin, Re (1972), 24 D.L.R.(3d) 240, consd. [para. 9].

Higgins et al. v. Kerr et al. (1898), 30 O.R. 63, consd. [para. 9].

Hayes, Re, [1938] O.W.N. 294, consd. [para. 9].

Planta v. Greenshields, [1931] 1 W.W.R. 401, consd. [para. 9].

Connell and Others v. Connell and Connell (1906), 37 S.C.R. 404, consd. [para. 9].

Yeap Cheah Neo v. Ong Cheng Neo (1875), L.R. 6 P.C. 381, consd. [para. 9].

McCuaig, Re (1924), 25 O.W.N. 712, consd. [para. 9].

Meagher v. Meagher (1914), 34 O.L.R. 33, consd. [para. 9].

Miles, Re, [1917] O.W.N. 292, consd. [para. 9].

Gibbs v. Rumsey (1813), 2 V. & B. 194, consd. [para. 9].

Smith, Re, [1917] O.W.N. 393, consd. [para. 9].

Harrison & Turner v. Helland (1885), 30 Ch. D. 390, consd. [para. 9].

Stevenson Estate, Re, [1943] 3 W.W.R. 519, consd. [para. 9].

Brown Estate, Re, [1920] 2 W.W.R. 226, consd. [para. 9].

Gilkinson, Re (1930), 38 O.W.N. 26, affd. 39 O.W.N. 115, consd. [para. 9].

Hayward v. Clowes, [1948] 2 W.L.R. 161, consd. [para. 9].

Mack, Re, [1939] O.R. 101, consd. [para. 9].

Yakimischak's Estate, Re (1980), 8 Man.R.(2d) 19, consd. [para. 9].

Smith v. Smith (1952), 25 S.C.R. 312, refd to. [para. 26].

Statutes Noticed:

Wills Act, R.S.S. 1978, c. W-14, generally [para. 9].

Authors and Works Noticed:

Theobald on Wills (8th Ed.) [para. 9].

Waters, The Law of Trusts [para. 9].

Feeney, The Canadian Law of Wills (2nd Ed. 1981) [para. 9].

Sopinka and Lederman, The Law of Evidence in Civil Cases (5th Ed.), pp. 384-385 [para. 28].

Counsel:

H.M.L. Robertson, for the plaintiffs (applicants);

D. Morgan, for the defendants (respondents).

This application was heard before Grotsky, J., of the Saskatchewan Court of Queen's Bench, Judicial Centre of Saskatoon, whose decision was delivered on July 24, 1986.

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6 practice notes
  • Forbes Estate, Re, (2003) 268 N.B.R.(2d) 201 (TD)
    • Canada
    • New Brunswick Court of Queen's Bench of New Brunswick (Canada)
    • 22 Agosto 2003
    ...v. Belliveau and LeBlanc (1986), 68 N.B.R.(2d) 145; 175 A.P.R. 145 (T.D.), refd to. [para. 60]. Klassen Estate v. Klassen et al. (1986), 50 Sask.R. 64 (Q.B.), dist. [para. Connell v. Connell (1906), 37 S.C.R. 404, dist. [para. 69]. Gilkinson, Re, [1930] O.J. No. 164 (C.A.), dist. [para. 69]......
  • Nicholls Estate, Re, (1987) 18 O.A.C. 254 (CA)
    • Canada
    • Ontario Court of Appeal (Ontario)
    • 4 Octubre 1986
    ...417, consd. [para. 15]. Lysiak, Re (1975), 7 O.R.(2d) 317, agreed with [para. 16]. Klassen Estate v. Klassen et al., [1986] 5 W.W.R. 746; 50 Sask.R. 64, dist. [para. Authors and Works Noticed: Gordon, D.M., Delegation of Will-Making Power (1953), 69 L.Q.R. 334 [paras. 6, 8, 9, 12]. Gordon, ......
  • Butler Estate, Re, (2007) 268 Nfld. & P.E.I.R. 137 (NLTD)
    • Canada
    • Newfoundland and Labrador Supreme Court of Newfoundland and Labrador (Canada)
    • 17 Mayo 2007
    ...Re, [1920] 1 Ch. 305, dist. [para. 56]. Connell v. Connell (1906), 37 S.C.R. 404, dist. [para. 60]. Klassen Estate v. Klassen et al. (1986), 50 Sask.R. 64; 1986 CarswellSask 238 (Q.B.), dist. [para. Daniels v. Daniels Estate et al. (1991), 120 A.R. 17; 8 W.A.C. 17; 85 D.L.R.(4th) 116 (C.A.)......
  • Jankowski v. Pelek Estate, (1995) 107 Man.R.(2d) 167 (CA)
    • Canada
    • Manitoba Court of Appeal (Manitoba)
    • 3 Octubre 1995
    ...refd to. [para. 76]. Brown, Re (1891), 8 Man.R. 391 (Q.B.), refd to. [para. 91]. Klassen Estate v. Klassen et al., [1986] 5 W.W.R. 746; 50 Sask.R. 64 (Q.B.), refd to. [para. Yakimischak Estate, Re (1980), 8 Man.R.(2d) 19; 10 E.T.R. 174 (Q.B.), refd to. [para. 93]. Selman Estate, Re (1957), ......
  • Request a trial to view additional results
6 cases
  • Forbes Estate, Re, (2003) 268 N.B.R.(2d) 201 (TD)
    • Canada
    • New Brunswick Court of Queen's Bench of New Brunswick (Canada)
    • 22 Agosto 2003
    ...v. Belliveau and LeBlanc (1986), 68 N.B.R.(2d) 145; 175 A.P.R. 145 (T.D.), refd to. [para. 60]. Klassen Estate v. Klassen et al. (1986), 50 Sask.R. 64 (Q.B.), dist. [para. Connell v. Connell (1906), 37 S.C.R. 404, dist. [para. 69]. Gilkinson, Re, [1930] O.J. No. 164 (C.A.), dist. [para. 69]......
  • Butler Estate, Re, (2007) 268 Nfld. & P.E.I.R. 137 (NLTD)
    • Canada
    • Newfoundland and Labrador Supreme Court of Newfoundland and Labrador (Canada)
    • 17 Mayo 2007
    ...Re, [1920] 1 Ch. 305, dist. [para. 56]. Connell v. Connell (1906), 37 S.C.R. 404, dist. [para. 60]. Klassen Estate v. Klassen et al. (1986), 50 Sask.R. 64; 1986 CarswellSask 238 (Q.B.), dist. [para. Daniels v. Daniels Estate et al. (1991), 120 A.R. 17; 8 W.A.C. 17; 85 D.L.R.(4th) 116 (C.A.)......
  • Nicholls Estate, Re, (1987) 18 O.A.C. 254 (CA)
    • Canada
    • Ontario Court of Appeal (Ontario)
    • 4 Octubre 1986
    ...417, consd. [para. 15]. Lysiak, Re (1975), 7 O.R.(2d) 317, agreed with [para. 16]. Klassen Estate v. Klassen et al., [1986] 5 W.W.R. 746; 50 Sask.R. 64, dist. [para. Authors and Works Noticed: Gordon, D.M., Delegation of Will-Making Power (1953), 69 L.Q.R. 334 [paras. 6, 8, 9, 12]. Gordon, ......
  • Jankowski v. Pelek Estate, (1995) 107 Man.R.(2d) 167 (CA)
    • Canada
    • Manitoba Court of Appeal (Manitoba)
    • 3 Octubre 1995
    ...refd to. [para. 76]. Brown, Re (1891), 8 Man.R. 391 (Q.B.), refd to. [para. 91]. Klassen Estate v. Klassen et al., [1986] 5 W.W.R. 746; 50 Sask.R. 64 (Q.B.), refd to. [para. Yakimischak Estate, Re (1980), 8 Man.R.(2d) 19; 10 E.T.R. 174 (Q.B.), refd to. [para. 93]. Selman Estate, Re (1957), ......
  • Request a trial to view additional results

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