Ellis v. First National Bank in Dallas

DIXON, Chief Justice.

This is a suit for a declaratory judgment filed by First National Bank in Dallas, Trustee, seeking to determine its rights, duties and obligations as trustee under the will of T. W. Vardell, deceased.

On May 30, 1930 T. W. Vardell and his wife Lela Barry Vardell executed identical wills, each will disposing of their entire community estate. Each will also contained provisions pertaining to the powers and authority of the surviving spouse in regard to the estate. T. W. Vardell died in 1934, leaving a community estate valued at approximately $2,000,000. His wife survived…