Bickers v. Shenandoah Valley National Bank

The decision of the majority places Virginia in a class by herself and overrides settled principles adhered to by our court in the past which are in accord with the overwhelming majority rule in this country.

Bickers’ plan was to have his second wife share equally with his own children by a former marriage. Leaving out the specific devises, he provided in his will that his estate be divided into five equal parts; one part was devised to his wife “in lieu of her dower and marital claims upon my estate”, and one part was devised to each of his four daughters.

The fife insurance trust provided…