Delbello v. Bilyeu, 560 S.E.2d 3 (Ga. 2002). · Go Syfert
Delbello v. Bilyeu, 560 S.E.2d 3 (Ga. 2002). Cases Citing This Book View Copy Cite
25 citation events (25 in the last 25 years) across 2 distinct courts.
Strongest positive: Capote v. State (ga, 2024-10-31)
Treatment trajectory · 2002 → 2026 · click a year to view as-of
2002 2014 2026
Top citers, strongest first. 11 distinct citers. How cited ↗
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Capote v. State (2×)
Ga. · 2024 · confidence medium
See Patel v. Patel, 285 Ga. 391, 392 (677 SE2d 114) (2009) (civil); Delbello v. Bilyeu, 274 Ga. 776, 777 (560 SE2d 3) (2002) (civil); Turpin v. Todd, 271 Ga. 386, 390 (519 SE2d 678) (1999) (habeas corpus); Hall v. Ault, 240 Ga. 585 (242 SE2d 101) (1978) (civil); Brenntag Mid South v. Smart, 308 Ga. App. 899, 902 (710 SE2d 569) (2011) (civil); Shook v. State, 221 Ga. App. 151, 152 (470 SE2d 535) (1996) (civil forfeiture); and Jones v. State, 146 Ga. App. 88, 90 (245 SE2d 449) (1978) (criminal). 10 Notably, however, the standard we articulated in Reed did not address the standard of review for t…
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Reed v. State
Ga. · 2012 · confidence medium
Patel v. Patel, 285 Ga. 391, 392 (1) (a) ( 677 SE2d 114 ) (2009); Delbello v. Bilyeu, 274 Ga. 776, 777 (1) ( 560 SE2d 3 ) (2002); Turpin v. Todd, 271 Ga. 386, 390 ( 519 SE2d 678 ) (1999); Hall v. Ault, 240 Ga. 585 ( 242 SE2d 101 ) (1978); Brenntag Mid South v. Smart, 308 Ga. App. 899, 902 (2) ( 710 SE2d 569 ) (2011); Shook v. State of Ga., 221 Ga. App. 151,152 ( 470 SE2d 535 ) (1996); Jones v. State, 146 Ga. App. 88, 90 ( 245 SE2d 449 ) (1978) (the phrase “clearly erroneous” “should not be given varying meanings depending on the type case in which” it appears).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Airport Authority of St. Marys v. City of St. Marys
Ga. Ct. App. · 2009 · confidence medium
Johnson, P. J., and Ellington, J., concur. 1 Ga. L. 1964, Vol. II, pp. 2438-2453. 2 Ga. L. 1964, Vol. II, § 27, pp. 2451-2452. 3 Ga. L. 1964, Vol. II, § 3, p. 2439. 4 See, e.g., Altman v. Cooper, 212 Ga. 627, 628 (1) ( 94 SE2d 685 ) (1956). 5 Delbello v. Bilyeu, 274 Ga. 776, 777 (1) ( 660 SE2d 3 ) (2002). 6 Burnette v. Captan, 287 Ga. App. 142, 143 ( 650 SE2d 798 ) (2007). 7 (Citation and punctuation omitted; emphasis in original.) Allen v. Muskett, 221 Ga. 665, 671 (2) ( 146 SE2d 782 ) (1966); Altman, supra; Printup v. Adkins, 150 Ga. 347 ( 103 SE 843 ) (1920). 8 Crawford v. Dammann, 277 Ga…
discussed Cited as authority (rule) LaFont v. Rouviere
Ga. · 2008 · confidence medium
“Furthermore, since the clearly erroneous test is the same as the any evidence rule, we will not disturb factfindings of the trial court if there is any evidence to sustain them.” (Citations and punctuation omitted.) Delbello v. Bilyeu, 274 Ga. 776, 777 (1) ( 560 SE2d 3 ) (2002).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) In re Estate of Barr
Ga. Ct. App. · 2006 · confidence medium
Indeed, “[e]very executor is entitled to judicial guidance as to what property he is called upon to administer as that of his testator when the question is subject to doubt and plausible contrary contentions of the parties at interest.” (Citation and punctuation omitted.) Delbello v. Bilyeu, 274 Ga. 776, 778 (3) ( 560 SE2d 3 ) (2002).
cited Cited as authority (rule) In re Estate of Thornton
Ga. Ct. App. · 2005 · confidence medium
Delbello v. Bilyeu, 274 Ga. 776, 777 (1) ( 560 SE2d 3 ) (2002).
cited Cited as authority (rule) Brown v. Brown
Ga. · 2003 · confidence medium
Delbello v. Bilyeu, 274 Ga. 776, 777 ( 560 SE2d 3 ) (2002).
discussed Cited "see" James Simmons v. Sharon Haege England (2×)
Ga. Ct. App. · 2013 · signal: see · confidence high
See Delbello v. Bilyeu, 274 Ga. 776, 777 (1) ( 560 SE2d 3 ) (2002) (trial court as factfinder determined what testator intended to include in his bequest of “personal property”).
discussed Cited "see" Simmons v. England (2×)
Ga. Ct. App. · 2013 · signal: see · confidence high
See Delbello v. Bilyeu, 274 Ga. 776, 777 (1) ( 560 SE2d 3 ) (2002) (trial court as factfinder determined what testator intended to include in his bequest of “personal property’).
discussed Cited "see" In Re Estate of Sands-Kadel (2×)
Ga. Ct. App. · 2008 · signal: see · confidence high
See In re Estate of Robertson, 271 Ga. App. 785, 789-790 (5) ( 611 SE2d 680 ) (2005). 3 247 Ga. App. 119 ( 543 SE2d 423 ) (2000). 4 222 Ga. App. 88 ( 473 SE2d 168 ) (1996) (physical precedent only). 5 See OCGA § 53-11-2; Uniform Probate Court Rule 23; see generally Freeman v. Covington, 282 Ga. App. 113, 116 ( 637 SE2d 815 ) (2006) (in will contest, if one of the beneficiaries is not sui juris, “an independent guardian ad litem must be appointed to represent that individual”). 6 See Wise v. State, 257 Ga. App. 211, 214 (2) ( 570 SE2d 656 ) (2002). 7 See Kohlhaas v. State, 284 Ga. App. 79,…
discussed Cited "see, e.g." Cross v. Stokes (2×)
Ga. · 2002 · signal: see, e.g. · confidence low
See, e.g., Delbello v. Bilyeu, 274 Ga. 776 ( 560 SE2d 3 ) (2002); Emmertz v. Cherry, 271 Ga. 458 ( 520 SE2d 219 ) (1999); Lamb v. NationsBank, 270 Ga. 388 ( 507 SE2d 457 ) (1998).
Retrieving the full opinion text from the archive…
DELBELLO Et Al.
v.
BILYEU
S01A1733.
Supreme Court of Georgia.
Feb 11, 2002.
560 S.E.2d 3
Joyce D. Colmar, for appellants., Stephen J. Berk, James T. Farrell, for appellee.
Thompson.
Cited by 12 opinions  |  Published
Thompson, Justice.

This case is on appeal from a ruling on a petition for declaratory judgment brought in the Probate Court of Fulton County, seeking a construction of certain provisions of the last will and testament of Robert A. Delbello. For the reasons which follow, we affirm.

Three beneficiaries are named in the will: Appellants Thomas Michael Delbello and Julia Barksdale, who are the brother and mother of the testator; and Dexter Varnum who was the domestic partner and eventual caretaker of the testator, and the original appellee to this action. [1]

After the will was probated, the executor of Delbello’s estate advised the parties that he was uncertain as to his legal obligation with respect to two items specified in the will. Varnum brought a petition for declaratory judgment asserting that an actual controversy exists between himself and the other heirs, and seeking direction as to: (1) whether an outstanding mortgage, real estate commissions, and other closing costs pertaining to the sale of certain real property owned by the estate (846 St. Charles Avenue) should be paid from the proceeds of the sale of the property, or whether the debts should be paid proportionately out of all estate assets; and (2) whether certain estate assets (primarily consisting of brokerage and bank accounts) are included within the category of “personal property” devised to Varnum in Item III (B) of the will.

As to the first issue, the probate court determined that the costs pertaining to the sale of the real property should be treated in the same manner as all other debts. The basis for this decision was the absence of a provision in the will stating that the bequest of that property should bear all of the costs of the sale and outstanding indebtedness. The court then determined that the appropriate source[*777] for payment of those costs was Item I (B) of the will, which provided that all of the testator’s “lawful debts . . . shall be paid out of” the estate. This ruling favored the appellants.

As to the second issue, the court determined that all of the funds and accounts owned by the testator at the time of his death are personal property to be distributed solely to Vamum pursuant to Item III (B) of the will. The probate court’s decision as to this issue is based on the testimony of the scrivener of the will, attorney Randie Siegel. She testified that the testator communicated to her that the only part of the estate that was to be divided among the three beneficiaries was the St. Charles Avenue property; all other assets were to go to Vamum.

1. We reject appellants’ assertion that the findings and conclusions of the probate court that certain assets of the estate are to be included within the “personal property” of the testator are without evidentiary support.

A trial court’s factual findings in a non-jury trial may not be set aside unless clearly erroneous. OCGA § 9-11-52 (a); Sadler v. First Nat. Bank, 267 Ga. 122 (2) (475 SE2d 643) (1996). “Furthermore, ‘since the clearly erroneous test is the same as the any evidence rule, we will not disturb factfindings of the trial court if there is any evidence to sustain them.’ [Cit.]” Lee v. Collins, 249 Ga. App. 674, 676 (3) (547 SE2d 583) (2001).

Because the scrivener of the will testified as to the testator’s intentions regarding the meaning of the term “personal property,” there was evidence presented to support the findings of fact by the probate court, notwithstanding contrary testimony from appellant Delbello. See Blakeman v. Harwell, 198 Ga. 165, 175 (6) (31 SE2d 50) (1944) (term “personal property” can include money, stocks, bonds, and similar intangibles if the testator so intended). Accordingly, we will not disturb the court’s ruling. See Lee, supra.

2. Any complaint that appellants were deprived of a jury trial is without merit in view of their failure to assert a timely request therefor under OCGA § 15-9-121 (a). See Harvey v. Sullivan, 272 Ga. 392 (1) (529 SE2d 889) (2000); In re Woodall, 241 Ga. App. 196 (2) (d) (526 SE2d 69) (1999). In addition, appellants’ objection below to the declaratory judgment proceeding was based on ripeness and standing, not on the issue of a demand for jury trial. Because the issue was not raised in the probate court, it will not be considered on appeal. See Taylor v. Mosley, 252 Ga. 325 (2) (314 SE2d 184) (1984).

3. Finally, we reject appellants’ assertion that declaratory judgment was premature and not ripe for decision because no parties had asserted adverse claims against the estate, nor had a state of facts accmed, such that a legal decision should be sought or demanded.

OCGA § 9-4-4 (a) (3) permits an heir or legatee to seek a declara[*778] tion of rights “[t]o determine any question arising in the administration of the estate or trust, including questions of construction of wills and other writings.” “[E]very executor is entitled to judicial guidance as to what property he is called upon to administer as that of his testator when the question is subject to doubt and plausible contrary contentions of the parties at interest.” Stephens v. First Nat. Bank, 222 Ga. 423, 426 (150 SE2d 865) (1966). Here, the executor expressed uncertainty as to the administration of the estate, necessitating the construction of the will. The application of OCGA § 9-4-4 is clearly authorized. Hassell v. Citizens & Southern Nat. Bank, 240 Ga. 285 (2) (240 SE2d 35) (1977); Stephens, supra. Compare Taylor, supra (OCGA § 9-4-4 inapplicable where issues raised go only to venue and the issuance and revocation of letters of administration).

Decided February 11, 2002. Joyce D. Colmar, for appellants. Stephen J. Berk, James T. Farrell, for appellee.

Judgment affirmed.

All the Justices concur.
1

Subsequent to the docketing of this appeal, the Court was notified of the death of Dexter Varnum on November 26, 2001. At the request of Varnum’s estate, his executor, Keith F. Bilyeu, is hereby substituted as appellee to this action.