Justice EAKIN.
Appellees, husband and wife, created The Dorothy M. Miller Family Irrevocable Trust in October, 2005. The trust names Mrs. Miller as settlor, and her and her husband as co-trustees. The sole beneficiaries of the trust are appellees and their only child. Pursuant to § 2.01 of the trust, Mrs. Miller irrevocably "transfer[red], assign[ed] and deliver[ed] to the Trustees and their successors and assigns the assets listed on Schedule `A'[.]" Miller Trust, at 2. By deed recorded November 30, 2005, appellees transferred title to their house and farm to the trust.
On April 12, 2006, the Department of Revenue issued a Realty Transfer Tax Notice of Determination providing the transfer was subject to $4,370.80 in realty transfer taxes, plus applicable interest and fees. The Department advised appellees their claimed exclusion was disallowed because the Miller Trust "[d]oes not qualify as an ordinary or living trust." Pennsylvania Realty Transfer Tax Notice of Determination, 4/12/06, at 2. Appellees filed a petition for redetermination with the Department's
A three-judge panel of the Commonwealth Court reversed the Board's decision, and held appellees' conveyance of their property to the Miller Trust was excluded from realty transfer tax. The panel relied on Mrs. Miller's testimony she intended the Miller Trust to be a substitute for her will, which it found sufficient to meet the "`intended as a will substitute by the settlor'" language defining a living trust. Miller v. Commonwealth, 992 A.2d 950, 952-53 (Pa.Cmwlth.2010) (quoting 72 P.S. § 8101-C).
The Commonwealth filed exceptions to the panel's opinion and order, arguing the panel erred in describing § 8102-C.3(8.1) of the Act as an exclusion from taxation, and in holding the Miller Trust was a will substitute. On review of these exceptions, an en banc court affirmed the panel's result on a different rationale. Although the court agreed with the panel's characterization of subsection 8.1 as an exclusion, it did not agree the settlor's subjective intent is determinative in assessing a trust's status as a will substitute. Miller v. Commonwealth, 18 A.3d 395, 399-402 (Pa.Cmwlth. 2011) (en banc). Rather, the court held evidence of such intent only relevant "in the rare case where, because of an ambiguity, parol evidence may be used." Id., at 402. The court instead took an objective review of the trust's characteristics, which it found met the Restatement's definition of a "will substitute." See id., at 400-02. Judge Cohn Jubelirer filed a dissenting opinion. Relying on the Restatement's definition of a "will substitute," Judge Cohn Jubelirer would have held a will is, "by its own nature ... ambulatory and revocable" during the lifetime of its maker, and an irrevocable trust, which serves a different function, therefore cannot be a will substitute. Id., at 403-04 (Cohn Jubelirer, J., dissenting) (quoting Black's Law Dictionary 1598 (6th ed. 1990)).
The Commonwealth appealed. We have jurisdiction pursuant to 42 Pa.C.S. § 723(b) and Pa.R.A.P. 1101(a)(2), which provide for an appeal as of right from final orders of the Commonwealth Court reviewing decisions of the Board of Finance and Revenue. The issue presented for our review is whether the Miller Trust qualifies as a living trust for purposes of the realty transfer tax. As the proper construction
The Realty Transfer Tax Act imposes a tax on any real estate transaction evidenced by a "document." See 72 P.S. § 8102-C. "Document" is defined by the Act as "[a]ny deed, instrument or writing which conveys, transfers, devises, vests, confirms or evidences any transfer or devise of title to real estate, but does not include wills[.]" Id., § 8101-C (emphasis added). Section 8102-C.3 states "[t]he tax imposed by section [8]102-C shall not be imposed upon ... [a] transfer for no or nominal actual consideration to a trustee of a living trust from the settlor of the living trust." Id., § 8102-C.3(8.1). As we find this language unambiguous and the distinction unnecessary for our decision, we do not address whether § 8102-C.3 constitutes an exclusion or an exemption. See generally Lynnebrook and Woodbrook Associates, L.P. v. Borough of Millersville, 600 Pa. 108, 963 A.2d 1261, 1265 (2008) (citations omitted) (discussing exclusion and exemption interpretative rules as operating in absence of clear statutory distinction).
A "living trust" is defined as "[a]ny trust, other than a business trust, intended as a will substitute by the settlor which becomes effective during the lifetime of the settlor, but from which trust distributions cannot be made to any beneficiaries other than the settlor prior to the death of the settlor." 72 P.S. § 8101-C. Both parties, as well as the Commonwealth Court, focus on the portion of the "living trust" definition requiring the settlor intended that the trust be a "will substitute." Id. Appellees argue "[t]he words `any trust (other than a business trust)' were drafted by the [General Assembly] with the intention of barring only business trusts from consideration of those trusts that may be `living trusts.'" Appellees' Brief, at 20 (emphasis in original). Appellees further contend a "reasonable interpretation of the language of [§] 8101-C is that the intent of the settlor controls, not the actual legal effect of the trust"; therefore, "[t]he focus of the statutory interpretation should be on whether the phrase `intended as a will substitute by the settlor' should be based on the settlor's subjective intent or on the settlor's objective intent derived from the surrounding facts and circumstances." Id., at 10 (emphasis in original). Appellees claim their deposition testimony evidences their subjective intent to have the Miller Trust serve as a will substitute, as found by the original Commonwealth Court panel.
"Objective intent" versus "subjective intent" is inaptly framed; the actual question is intent, determined by either a subjective or an objective standard. The former can engender an analysis of the drafter's personal goal or purpose, while the latter requires a detached analysis of the document itself. The subjective intent of a settlor cannot transform a deficient document into something its actual characteristics do not support. To hold such would allow documents bearing none of the characteristics of a will substitute to qualify for § 8102-C.3(8.1)'s treatment, so long as the settlors state their intent was to create a will substitute. This cannot be the result the General Assembly intended. We therefore believe an objective standard of review is appropriate for the determination of intent.
Restatement (Third) of Property: Wills and Other Donative Transfers § 7.1(a). Thus, to avoid transfer tax, the transfer must be to a "living trust," as defined by the statute, which requires the transfer be intended as a "will substitute," a term defined as above by the Restatement.
While there is a tendency to stress the irrevocable nature of the trust, we do not find this dispositive in determining whether a document functions as a will substitute. Instead, we review the trust instrument as a whole to determine whether it meets the Restatement's definition. Indeed, irrevocable wills do exist; for example, the law will enforce irrevocable will provisions agreed to by contract. Conversely, irrevocable trusts may be modified, by their terms to comply with changes in the law, or modified or even terminated by court order should their purpose or ability to function be stripped away by time. For purposes of the instant question, emphasis on revocability can be misleading.
The en banc Commonwealth Court found the Restatement's test was met because the Miller Trust: (1) shifts possession of the trust property to appellees' daughter outside probate; and (2) appellees retain substantial lifetime rights of dominion, control, possession, and enjoyment of the property as they continue to physically live on the property and have the right to sell, transfer, or lease the property. Miller, 18 A.3d at 400. While the Commonwealth Court is correct that possession of the trust property shifts to the beneficiary outside probate, it does not shift at the donor's death. Rather, under the terms of the Miller Trust, nothing happens upon Mrs. Miller's death. It is only upon Mr. Miller's death, regardless of whether Mrs. Miller is still alive, that the trust is distributed. Miller Trust, at 5. In point of fact, the Miller Trust property does not shift at the donor's death, as required by the Restatement's definition of a will substitute. See Restatement (Third) of Property: Wills and Other Donative Transfers § 7.1(a).
It is also arguable appellees do not retain "substantial lifetime rights of dominion, control, possession, or enjoyment" of the trust property. Id. Given the irrevocable nature of the Miller Trust, appellees' dominion over the property is limited as they lack the ability to take it back. Additionally, as a trustee, Mrs. Miller may not act on her own behalf, but must act in the interests of the trust beneficiaries. See 20 Pa.C.S. § 7772(a) ("[a] trustee shall administer the trust solely in the interests of the beneficiaries"); id., § 7772(b) (self-dealing transactions by trustee voidable by beneficiary).
Appellees' possession of the trust property is also not clearly "substantial." Although appellees live on the trust property, they no longer are in legal ownership, and the irrevocable nature of the trust prohibits them from regaining the same. Appellees likewise retain limited, not substantial, enjoyment of the trust property. Enjoyment is defined as "[p]ossession and use ... of ... property." Black's Law Dictionary 571 (8th ed. 2004). As discussed supra, appellees do not have possession of the trust property as individuals, and their use of that property is significantly curtailed by their legal obligations as trustees. Lastly, Mrs. Miller does not necessarily retain these rights for her lifetime, as the trust terminates and distributes upon Mr. Miller's death, regardless of whether Mrs. Miller is still living. See Miller Trust, at 5.
However, these distinctions are not needed to establish this trust fails to qualify as a living trust. The living trust definition further prohibits trust distributions to any beneficiary other than the settlor during the settlor's lifetime. See 72 P.S. § 8101-C, supra. This language reflects the purpose of the statute, which is to exclude imposition of transfer tax when property is passed by inheritance. Appellees only briefly mention this language and argue § 4.02 of the Miller Trust conclusively meets this requirement. Section 4.02, titled "Income Distribution," provides, "During the Settlor's lifetime, the Trustees shall distribute all of the net income of the Trust to, or for the benefit of, DOROTHY M. MILLER, for and during the remainder of her life."
This Court does not doubt irrevocable trusts have "distinctive features that actually render them desirable tools in constructing a will and preparing an individual's estate planning." Appellees' Brief, at 22. An irrevocable trust can be a living trust under the statute, but the Miller Trust, as written, does not qualify as a "will substitute" and therefore is not a "living trust" that qualifies for treatment under § 8102-C.3(8.1). Accordingly, the Commonwealth Court's decision is reversed,
Order reversed; case remanded. Jurisdiction relinquished.
Former Justice ORIE MELVIN did not participate in the decision of this case.
Chief Justice CASTILLE, Justices BAER, TODD and McCAFFERY join the opinion.
Justice SAYLOR files a concurring opinion.
Justice SAYLOR, concurring.
The majority decision turns on the fact that the Miller Trust is structured so that it is possible that the trust estate may be distributed to beneficiaries prior to the settlor's death. See Majority Opinion, at 625-26. Thus, facially, the arrangement fails to satisfy the statutory requirement that a "living trust" be one from which "dispositions cannot be made to any beneficiary other than the settlor prior to the death of the settlor." 72 P.S. § 8101-C. I agree and, therefore, support the result achieved in the main opinion.
I am circumspect, however, about some of the preceding passages within the majority's analysis, several of which appear to represent dicta. For example, the majority downplays the role of revocability in assessing the circumstances per which a trust may function as a will substitute. See Majority Opinion, at 624. For my own part, however, I am receptive to the Commonwealth's position — consistent with Department of Revenue regulations and the deference which should be accorded to these — that revocability serves a key role. See Brief for the Commonwealth at 16-21 (citing, inter alia, 61 Pa.Code § 91.101).
Finally, the majority chooses not to decide the question of whether the transactions in Section 8102-C.3 are excluded or exempted from taxation. See Majority Opinion, at 623. I would merely note that the issue is a significant one which has attracted an amicus submission by the Philadelphia Bar Association offering its perspective that the issue transcends the present appeal and may be of widespread importance to clientele of Association members. Plainly, the statute, collectively with its heading, fosters material ambiguity as to whether exemption or exclusion was intended for a wide array of disparate transactions. Particularly because the adjudicative process generally focuses on the facts and circumstances of individual cases (and thus each judicial decision may touch on only one of the many impacted transactions), the sort of pervasive uncertainty manifest in Section 8102-C.3 would best be resolved via legislative clarification.