Zolezzi v. Michelis

On August 6, 1938, Emma W. Whisenand created a revocable trust with the Security-First National Bank of Los Angeles. The declaration of trust provided for the payment of the income from the trust estate to the trustor during her lifetime and for the disposition of the property upon her death. The trustor died on October 3, 1944, leaving an estate which was subject to federal estate taxes in addition to the trust estate. This action for declaratory relief was brought by plaintiff Security-First National Bank of Los Angeles, as trustee, for the purpose of having the court construe the declaration of trust, together with the amendments thereto, particularly with respect to the payment and apportionment of the federal estate taxes.