Testamentary Option To Purchase Realty Can Be Exercised Under Anti-Lapse Statute by Heirs of Beneficiary–Tuecke v. Tuecke

Testator devised his farm to his son and two daughters. The son, who predeceased his father, was bequeathed an option to purchase the daughters’ two-thirds interest in the farm for a specified amount. Over the objection of the daughters, the heirs of the son sought to exercise the option under an anti-lapse statute. The trial court concluded that the son’s heirs had inherited the right to purchase. On appeal to the Supreme Court of Iowa, held,affirmed. An option to purchase is a valuable property right inheritable under an anti-lapse statute.