Westmoreland County Volunteer Rescue Squad v. Melnick

In this will construction case, we determine whether the trial court correctly ruled that a beneficiary not named in the will should share in the distribution of the testator’s residuary estate.

In January 1990, Martha Virginia Sanford, a resident of Nomini Grove in Westmoreland County, died at age 105. She left a will, handwritten by her attorney, dated in December 1977. After making several specific bequests, the testator directed that:“All the rest shall go to the Rescue Squad - Hague, Westmoreland County, Va.”

The will was duly probated and the attorney, John L. Melnick, qualified as…