In Re Estate of Vincent

FRANK F. DROWOTA, III, C.J.,

delivered the opinion of the court,

in which E. RILEY ANDERSON, ADOLPHO A. BIRCH, JR., JANICE M. HOLDER, and WILLIAM M. BARKER, JJ., joined.

OPINION

In this will construction case, we address the question of whether or not the doctrine of exoneration applies to a mortgage on real property passing by right of survivorship where the decedent’s will directed that his personal representative pay all his “just debts.” We find that the general direction to pay “just debts” is not sufficient to require that the estate pay the remaining balance on the mortgage of non-probate…