ÿWPCƒ `y¹ƒ»ôzå\¸|§âó9žíä‘Á5{‡Úÿ.Ó‡ÝO¬Xí-ÆIƒuKtÓ~y7~ß ­L}D¤jÉ—¼Œ2— hw}xspǃ†¨—£TÉî剟£¡¦K¤˜µ!¯ê[Ò&tÓP˜2o÷ý€bš¬å¤2h7R©J¾”Ž ÐDivision€Affirmed;€and€Remandedó óÐ *z ÐÌòòÓ  ÓDavid€R.€Farmer,€J.óó,€delivered€the€opinion€of€the€court,€in€which€òòW.€Frank€Crawford,€P.J.,€W.S.,óóÐ R Ðand€òòAlan€E.€Highers,€J.óó,€joined.Ð î> ÐÌDavid€B.€Foutch,€Lebanon,€Tennessee,€for€the€appellants,€Leonard€Saddler€and€Paula€Saddler.Ð Æ ÐÌBetty€Lou€Taylor,€Lebanon,€Tennessee,€for€the€appellee,€Dwight€Saddler.Ð žî ÐÓHÓÌò òOPINIONó óÐ v Æ  ÐÌòòóóÓ  Óò òà  àó óDwight,€Leonard,€and€Paula€Saddler€are€the€adult€children€of€the€late€John€T.€and€EdwinaÐ N"ž" ÐGroom€Saddler.€€Prior€to€their€deaths,€John€T.€and€Edwina€Groom€Saddler€owned€and€operated€aÐ :#Š# Ðfarm,€which€consisted€of€three€separate€pieces€of€real€property€known€as€the€Allen€Farm,€the€FiteÐ &$v$ ÐFarm,€and€the€Hancock€Farm.€€They€sold€the€Fite€Farm€in€either€1974€or€1975.€€John€T.€Saddler€diedÐ %b % Ðin€November€of€1985,€at€which€time€Edwina€Groom€Saddler€became€the€sole€owner€of€the€AllenÐ þ%N!& ÐFarm€and€Hancock€Farm.€€On€December€16,€1986,€Edwina€Groom€Saddler€executed€a€last€will€andÐ ê&:"' Ðtestament€providing€that€ð ð[a]fter€the€payment€of€my€aforesaid€debts€and€funeral€expenses,€I€herebyÐ Ö'&#( Ðgive,€devise,€and€bequeath€unto€my€children,€DWIGHT€G.€SADDLER,€LEONARD€A.€SADDLER,Ð Â($) Ðand€PAULA€E.€SADDLER,€all€of€my€property,€real,€personal,€and€mixed,€and€wherever€situated,€toÐ ®)þ$* Ðbe€theirs€in€equal€shares.ðð€€Two€days€later€on€December€18,€1986,€she€executed€a€holographic€codicilÐ š*ê%+ Ðstating€that€ð ð[i]f€Dwight€still€wants€the€farm€Leonard€and€Paula€help€him€all€you€can€for€him€to€ownÐ †+Ö&, Ðit€in€his€and€his€sonððs€name.ðð€€Edwina€Groom€Saddler€died€in€May€of€1997.€€In€July€of€1997,€her€lastÐ r,Â'- Ðwill€and€testament€and€holographic€codicil€were€admitted€to€probate.€€Dwight€Saddler€Ô_ÔsubsequentlyÐ ^-®(.ý Ðfiled€a€complaint€with€the€probate€court€asking€the€court€to€declare€that€the€holographic€codicilÐ ° Ðdevised€the€Hancock€Farm€solely€to€him€or,€in€the€alternative,€that€he€is€the€owner€of€the€HancockÐ œì ÐFarm€as€the€beneficiary€of€a€resulting€trust.€€Additionally,€Dwight€Saddler€filed€a€claim€against€theÐ ˆØ Ðestate€of€Edwina€Groom€Saddler€in€the€amount€of€$980,701.62.€€Leonard€and€Paula€Saddler€filed€anÐ tÄ Ðexception€to€this€claim.€€After€a€hearing€on€all€of€these€matters,€the€probate€court€sustained€theÐ `° Ðexception€to€Dwight€Saddlerððs€claim€but€nevertheless€declared€that€he€is€the€owner€of€the€HancockÐ L œ ÐFarm€as€the€beneficiary€of€a€resulting€trust.€€This€appeal€by€Leonard€and€Paula€Saddler€followed.€€Ð 8 ˆ ЀÌò òà  àó óThe€issues€raised€by€the€parties€on€appeal,€as€we€perceive€them,€are€as€follows:Ð  ` ÐÌò òó óÓ€ (eh83ÓÝ"‚ 3£"ÝÝ  Ýà8  àÝ‚ 3£xÝÔ2ehÔÚ  ÚIÚ  Ú.Ô3  Ôà0` Ð Ð àÝ  ÝDid€the€trial€court€err€in€ruling€that€Dwight€Saddler€is€the€owner€of€the€à @ˆ àÐ è 8  ÐHancock€Farm€as€the€beneficiary€of€a€resulting€trust?݃ 3£x±ÝŒÐÔ$ ` Ð ` Ð  ÐŒÝ  Ýà8  àò òÐ Ð Ð  Ðó óà0  àII.à8` (#(#àIf€the€trial€court€did€incorrectly€rule€that€Dwight€Saddler€is€the€owner€of€theÐ ¬ü  ÐHancock€Farm€as€the€beneficiary€of€a€resulting€trust,€did€the€court€further€errÐ ˜è  Ðin€sustaining€Leonard€and€Paula€Saddlerððs€exception€to€the€claim€that€DwightÐ „Ô  ÐSaddler€filed€against€the€estate€of€Edwina€Groom€Saddler?ÐpÀ` Ð ` Ð  ÐÌTo€the€extent€that€these€issues€involve€questions€of€fact,€our€review€of€the€trial€courtððs€ruling€is€ò òòòdeÐ H˜ Ðnovo€óóó ówith€a€presumption€of€correctness€and€thus€we€may€not€reverse€the€courtððs€factual€findingsÐ 4„ Ðunless€they€are€contrary€to€the€preponderance€of€the€evidence.€€ò òòòSee,€e.g.,€Randolph€v.€Randolphóóó ó,€937Ð  p ÐS.W.2d€815,€819€(Tenn.€1996);€Ô_ÔT.R.A.P.Ô_Ô€13(d).€€With€respect€to€the€courtððs€legal€conclusions,Ð  \ Ðhowever,€our€review€is€ò òòòde€novoóóó ó€with€no€presumption€of€correctness.€€ò òòòSee,€e.g.,€Bell€ex€rel.€SnyderÐ øH Ðv.€Ô_ÔIcardÔ_Ô,€Merrill,€Cullis,€Ô_ÔTimmÔ_Ô,€Ô_ÔFurenÔ_Ô€and€Ô_ÔGinsburgÔ_Ô,€P.A.ó óóó,€986€S.W.2d€550,€554€(Tenn.€1999);Ð ä4 ÐÔ_ÔT.R.A.P.Ô_Ô€13(d).Ð Ð  ÐÌà  àIn€ò òòòÔ_ÔInÔ_Ô€re€Estate€of€Ô_ÔNicholsÔ_Ôóóó ó,€856€S.W.2d€397€(Tenn.€1993),€the€Tennessee€Supreme€CourtÐ ¨ø Ðsummarized€the€law€of€resulting€trusts€as€follows:Ð ”ä ÐÌà8  àà ` àThe€imposition€of€a€resulting€trust€is€an€equitable€remedy;€€the€doctrine€ofÐ l¼ Ðresulting€trust€is€invoked€to€prevent€unjust€enrichment.€€Such€a€trust€is€implied€by€lawÐ X ¨ Ðfrom€the€acts€and€conduct€of€the€parties€and€the€facts€and€circumstances€which€at€theÐ D!” Ðtime€exist€and€surround€the€transaction€out€of€which€it€arises.€€Broadly€speaking,€aÐ 0"€  Ðresulting€trust€arises€from€the€nature€or€circumstances€of€consideration€involved€inÐ #l! Ða€transaction€whereby€one€person€becomes€invested€with€a€legal€title€but€is€obligatedÐ $X" Ðin€equity€to€hold€his€legal€title€for€the€benefit€of€another,€the€intention€of€the€formerÐ ô$D # Ðto€hold€in€trust€for€the€latter€being€implied€or€presumed€as€a€matter€of€law,€althoughÐ à%0!$ Ðno€intention€to€create€or€hold€in€trust€has€been€manifested,€expressly€or€by€inference,Ð Ì&"% Ðand€there€ordinarily€being€no€fraud€or€constructive€fraud€involved.€€Ð¸'#&Ð Ð  ÐÌà8  àà ` àWhile€resulting€trusts€generally€arise€(1)€on€a€failure€of€an€express€trust€or€theÐ )à$( Ðpurpose€of€such€a€trust,€or€(2)€on€a€conveyance€to€one€person€on€a€consideration€fromÐ |*Ì%) Ðanother€ð!ð€sometimes€referred€to€as€a€"purchase-money€resulting€trust"ð!ð€they€may€alsoÐ h+¸&* Ðbe€imposed€in€other€circumstances,€such€that€a€court€of€equity,€shaping€its€judgmentÐ ° Ðin€the€most€efficient€form,€will€decree€a€resulting€trust€ð!ð€on€an€inquiry€into€theÐ œì Ðconsideration€of€a€transaction€ð!ð€in€order€to€prevent€a€failure€of€justice.€€However,€theÐ ˆØ Ðparticular€circumstances€under€which€a€resulting€trust€may€arise€varies€fromÐ tÄ Ðjurisdiction€to€jurisdiction.€€Ð`°Ð Ð  ÐÌòòò òId.€ó óóóat€401€(quoting€76€Am.€Ô_ÔJurÔ_Ô.€2d€ò òòòTrusts€ó óóóðð€166€(1992)).€€A€resulting€trust€may€be€proven,€and€isÐ 8 ˆ Ðtypically€proven,€by€parol€evidence.€€ò òòòSee€Roach€v.€Ô_ÔRenfroÔ_Ôóóó ó,€989€S.W.2d€335,€340€(Tenn.€Ct.€App.Ð $ t Ð1998);€ò òòòÔ_ÔSmallingÔ_Ô€v.€Ô_ÔTerrellÔ_Ôóóó ó,€943€S.W.2d€397,€400€(Tenn.€Ct.€App.€1996);€ò òòòMyers€v.€Myersóóó ó,€891Ð  ` ÐS.W.2d€216,€219€(Tenn.€Ct.€App.€1994);€ò òòòÔ_ÔRowlettÔ_Ô€v.€Guthrieóóó ó,€867€S.W.2d€732,€735€(Tenn.€Ct.€App.Ð ü L  Ð1993);€ò òòòSt.€Clair€v.€Evansóóó ó,€857€S.W.2d€49,€51€(Tenn.€Ct.€App.€1993).€€When€a€party€seeks€to€proveÐ è 8  Ðthe€existence€of€a€resulting€trust€by€parol€evidence,€however,€the€level€of€proof€required€is€more€thanÐ Ô$  Ða€mere€preponderance€of€the€evidence.€€ò òòòSee€Roachóóó ó,€989€S.W.2d€at€340;€ò òòòÔ_ÔSmallingÔ_Ôóóó ó,€943€S.W.2d€atÐ À  Ð401;€ò òòòSt.€Clairóóó ó,€857€S.W.2d€at€51.€€In€such€a€case,€the€proof€of€a€resulting€trust€must€be€of€the€clearest,Ð ¬ü  Ðmost€convincing,€and€irrefragable€character.€€ò òòòSee€King€v.€Warrenó óóó,€680€S.W.2d€459,€461€(Tenn.Ð ˜è  Ð1984);€€òòò òRoachóóó ó,€989€S.W.2d€at€340;€ò òòòÔ_ÔSmallingÔ_Ôóóó ó,€943€S.W.2d€at€401;€òòò òSt.€Clairó óóó,€857€S.W.2d€at€51;Ð „Ô  Ðò òòòBowman€v.€Bowmanóóó ó,€836€S.W.2d€563,€570€(Tenn.€Ct.€App.€1991).€€The€testimony€of€a€single,Ð pÀ Ðinterested€witness€typically€is€insufficient€to€establish€a€resulting€trust€by€clear,€convincing,€andÐ \¬ Ðirrefragable€evidence.€€ò òòòSee€Kingóóó ó,€680€S.W.2d€at€461;€ò òòòÔ_ÔTansilÔ_Ô€v.€Ô_ÔTansilÔ_Ôóóó ó,€673€S.W.2d€131,€133€(Tenn.Ð H˜ Ð1984);€€ò òòòSt.€Clairóóó ó,€857€S.W.2d€at€51.€€When€the€parol€evidence€of€a€resulting€trust€is€in€conflict€withÐ 4„ Ðthe€terms€of€a€written€instrument,€it€is€not€essential€that€the€evidence€remove€all€reasonable€doubt,Ð  p Ðbut€it€must€be€so€clear,€cogent,€and€convincing€that€it€overcomes€the€evidence€to€the€contrary€and€theÐ  \ Ðpresumption€that€exists€in€favor€of€the€terms€of€the€written€instrument.€€ò òòòSee€Ô_ÔSmallingÔ_Ôóóó ó,€943€S.W.2dÐ øH Ðat€401;€ò òòòMyersóóó ó,€891€S.W.2d€at€220;€ò òòòÔ_ÔRowlettÔ_Ôóóó ó,€867€S.W.2d€at€735.€€€€€ò òòòóóó óÐ ä4 ÐÌà  àIn€support€of€his€position€that€the€Hancock€Farm€is€subject€to€a€resulting€trust€in€his€favor,Ð ¼  ÐDwight€Saddler€contends€the€he€had€an€oral€agreement€with€his€parents€(John€T.€and€Edwina€GroomÐ ¨ø ÐSaddler)€providing€that,€in€exchange€for€his€work€on€the€farm€and€assistance€in€paying€off€the€farmÐ ”ä Ðdebt,€he€would€receive€the€Hancock€farm€upon€their€deaths.€€With€respect€to€this€alleged€agreement,Ð €Ð ÐDwight€Saddler€testified€(1)€that,€in€February€of€1968,€he€was€drafted€into€the€army€and€subsequentlyÐ l¼ Ðqualified€for€the€armyððs€helicopter€pilot€training€program,€which€would€require€him€to€enlist€in€theÐ X ¨ Ðservice€for€an€additional€two€years,€(2)€that,€when€he€telephoned€his€parents€to€tell€them€about€theÐ D!” Ðprogram,€his€father€informed€him€that€he€(John€T.€Saddler)€was€in€financial€difficulty€and€that€theÐ 0"€  Ðfarm€was€in€danger€of€foreclosure,€(3)€that€his€father€proposed€that,€if€he€(Dwight€Saddler)€wasÐ #l! Ðwilling€to€return€to€the€farm€as€soon€as€possible,€then€upon€the€deaths€of€both€of€his€parents,€heÐ $X" Ðwould€receive€the€Hancock€Farm,€(4)€that,€after€agreeing€to€this€proposal,€he€was€sent€to€Vietnam,Ð ô$D # Ð(5)€that,€during€his€service€in€the€military,€his€mother€sent€letters€to€him€approximately€two€or€threeÐ à%0!$ Ðtimes€per€week,€many€of€which€made€reference€to€the€aforementioned€agreement,€(6)€that,€towardÐ Ì&"% Ðthe€end€of€his€tour€in€Vietnam,€he€was€given€the€option€of€shortening€the€total€length€of€his€serviceÐ ¸'#& Ðif€he€agreed€to€extend€the€length€of€his€tour,€(7)€that€he€accepted€this€option,€completed€his€militaryÐ ¤(ô#' Ðservice€in€September€of€1969,€and€returned€home€to€work€full€time€on€the€family€farm,€(8)€that€heÐ )à$( Ðbegan€a€partnership€arrangement€with€his€father€whereby€they€both€worked€on€the€farm€and€dividedÐ |*Ì%) Ðthe€farm€income€evenly,€(9)€that,€although€his€father€continued€to€pay€the€mortgage€on€the€farmÐ h+¸&* ÐÔ_Ôproperty,€he€(Dwight€Saddler)€incurred€substantial€debt€in€his€own€name€for€the€benefit€of€theÐ ° Ðfarming€operation,€(10)€that,€when€his€fatherððs€bank€account€for€the€farm€became€overdrawn,€heÐ œì Ð(Dwight€Saddler)€paid€these€overdrafts,€(11)€ò òó óthat,€on€one€or€two€occasions,€he€also€paid€the€propertyÐ ˆØ Ðtaxes€on€the€farm,€(12)€that,€at€the€time€of€his€fatherððs€death€in€November€of€1985,€his€motherÐ tÄ Ð(Edwina€Groom€Saddler)€assured€him€that€he€would€receive€the€Hancock€Farm€at€her€death,€and€(13)Ð `° Ðthat€he€continued€to€work€on€the€farm,€manage€the€farm,€and€incur€more€debt€for€the€benefit€of€theÐ L œ Ðfarm€until€his€motherððs€death€in€May€of€1997.€Ð 8 ˆ ÐÌà  àIt€is€undisputed€that€both€John€T.€and€Edwina€Groom€Saddler€were€very€private€people€whoÐ  ` Ðdid€not€routinely€discuss€business€or€financial€matters€with€other€members€of€the€family.€€Thus,€itÐ ü L  Ðis€not€surprising€that€Dwight€Saddler€and€his€parents€never€discussed€their€alleged€agreement€whileÐ è 8  Ðin€the€presence€of€Leonard€and/or€Paula€Saddler.€€Dwight€Saddler€did,€however,€discuss€the€allegedÐ Ô$  Ðagreement€with€Leonard€Saddler€on€at€least€two€occasions,€once€around€the€time€of€LeonardÐ À  ÐSaddlerððs€marriage€and€a€second€time€approximately€two€years€prior€to€their€motherððs€death.€Ð ¬ü  ÐAdditionally,€Katherine€Saddler€testified€that€approximately€one€year€after€she€married€DwightÐ ˜è  ÐSaddler€in€1972,€he€told€her€about€the€alleged€agreement€that€he€had€with€his€parents.€€Paula€SaddlerÐ „Ô  Ðtestified€that€on€the€Sunday€prior€to€her€motherððs€death,€she€had€a€discussion€with€Dwight€SaddlerÐ pÀ Ðin€which€he€stated€to€her€that€when€their€mother€dies,€the€farm€would€belong€to€him.€€€à Ð àÐ \¬ Ðà  àà ` àÌà  àIn€support€of€their€contention€that€the€trial€court€erred€in€imposing€a€resulting€trust€in€the€caseÐ 4„ Ðat€bar,€Leonard€and€Paula€Saddler€emphasize€several€pieces€of€evidence€suggesting€that€it€was€theÐ  p Ðintention€of€Edwina€Groom€Saddler€to€dispose€of€the€family€farm€without€regard€to€any€agreementÐ  \ Ðregarding€the€Hancock€Farm.€€First,€it€is€undisputed€that€Edwina€Groom€Saddler€had€an€equalÐ øH Ðamount€of€love€and€affection€for€her€three€children.€€Willy€Harvey,€Edwina€Groom€Saddlerððs€longÐ ä4 Ðtime€friend€and€hairdresser,€testified€that€Edwina€Groom€Saddler€once€commented€to€her€that€sheÐ Ð  Ðhad€three€children€and€that€she€wanted€them€to€share€equally€in€her€estate.€€On€December€16,€1986,Ð ¼  ÐEdwina€Groom€Saddler€executed€a€last€will€and€testament€purporting€to€divide€her€estate€equallyÐ ¨ø Ðamong€her€three€children.€€Dwight€Saddler€testified€that,€when€he€learned€of€the€content€of€hisÐ ”ä Ðmotherððs€will,€he€reminded€her€of€their€earlier€agreement€regarding€the€Hancock€Farm,€at€which€timeÐ €Ð Ðshe€assured€him€that€she€would€ð ðgo€back€and€redoðð€her€will.€€Thereafter€on€December€18,€1986,Ð l¼ ÐEdwina€Groom€Saddler€executed€a€holographic€codicil€stating€the€ð ð[i]f€Dwight€still€wants€the€farmÐ X ¨ ÐLeonard€and€Paula€help€him€all€you€can€for€him€to€own€it€in€his€and€his€sonððs€name.ðð€€According€toÐ D!” ÐDwight€Saddler,€his€mother€then€informed€him€that€she€had€redone€her€will€and€that€the€new€willÐ 0"€  Ðdivided€€her€estate€in€accordance€with€their€prior€agreement.€€Ð #l! Ѐ€Ð $X" Ðà  àAfter€hearing€all€the€proof€in€the€case€at€bar€regarding€the€alleged€agreement€between€DwightÐ ô$D # ÐSaddler€and€John€T.€and€Edwina€Saddler,€the€trial€court€ruled€as€follows:Ð à%0!$ ÐÌà8  àà ` àBut€I€do€think€ð!ð€going€back€to€the€proof,€I€think€that€the€proof€is€that€the€farmÐ ¸'#& Ðwas€in€debt€at€that€time,€that€Mr.€Saddler,€the€oldest€son€came€back€and€tried€to€getÐ ¤(ô#' Ðit,€ð!ð€I€mean€Dwight.€€It€is€a€little€puzzling€to€me€that€the€father€could€hold€off€a€yearÐ )à$( Ðor€so€with€production€credit€of€those€things€with€that€promise€that€Dwight€was€goingÐ |*Ì%) Ðto€come€back,€really€over€there€in€harms€way,€he€even€didnððt€know€if€he€would€comeÐ h+¸&* Ðback.€€Honestly,€there€was€the€dream€that€he€could€but€thank€goodness€you€were€ableÐ ° Ðto€come€back€without€any€terrible€injury.€€But€I€think€by€clear€and€convincing€that€ð!ðÐ œì Ðand€Iððm€going€by€the€actions€of€the€parties€that€ð!ð€of€course,€it€would€make€sense€thatÐ ˆØ ÐDwight€would€want€to€come€back€and€farm,€but€I€just€think€that€if€there€wasnððt€someÐ tÄ Ðagreement€made€that€he€would€be€looking€out€for€himself€more.€€That€is€just€theÐ `° Ðextent€of€the€proof.€€ÐL œÐ Ð  Ðà  àà ` à.€.€.€.Ð 8 ˆ ÐÌà8  àà ` àSo€I€feel€by€clear€and€convincing€evidence€ð!ð€I€know€that€this€will€beÐ  ` Ðreviewed,€and€all€of€you€have€a€right€to€do€that,€to€review€my€decision,€but€I€believeÐ ü L  Ðby€clear€and€convincing€evidence€there€was€a€deal€made€between€Dwight€and€hisÐ è 8  Ðfather.€Of€course,€his€father€had€died€in€1985.€€And€I€think€the€deal€was€made€at€thatÐ Ô$  Ðtime€to€affirm€that€deal,€when€the€mother€said,€ð ðThe€agreement€was€I€canððt€pay€anyÐ À  Ðof€the€debts€and€youððll€have€to€pay€them€all.ðð€€And€thatððs,€in€fact,€what€he€hasÐ ¬ü  Ðattempted€to€do.Иè Ð Ð  ÐÌà8  àà ` àSo,€obviously,€she€changed€her€mind€from€1985€until€her€death€in€1997.€€AndÐ pÀ Ðthatððs€her€reason€for€the€Will.€€And€I€think€even€after€Dwight€confronted€his€motherÐ \¬ Ðabout€it,€after€she€had€gone€and€made€a€Will,€she€was€trying€the€best€that€she€could,Ð H˜ Ðto€make€it€right€by€just€saying€that€Leonard€and€Paula€would€help€him€with€the€farm.€Ð 4„ ÐBut€what€does€that€really€mean?€€I€think€it€just€means€that€she€knew€that€there€wasÐ  p Ðsomething€owed€to€him€and€that€at€this€point€she€really€wanted€it€to€be€dividedÐ  \ Ðequally.€€But€I€think€itððs€kind€of€almost€a€promis[s]ory€stumble,€I€think€th[at]€aÐ øH Ðpromise€was€made,€and€I€think€that€Dwight€had€stayed€there€on€the€farm,€and€as€aÐ ä4 Ðresult€of€that€ð!ð€I€wish€that€it€was€different.€€I€wish€it€was€where€it€was€a€smaller€partÐ Ð  Ðof€the€estate,€because€I€know€that€your€mom€and€dad€would€want€each€of€you€to€shareÐ ¼  Ðin€whatever€was€left€at€the€time€of€their€death.€€Of€course,€on€the€other€hand,€if€itÐ ¨ø Ðhadnððt€been€for€Dwight,€there€may€not€even€have€been€any€farms€to€divide€up.ДäÐ Ð  ÐÌà8  àà ` àBut€I€think€thatððs€the€way€that,€through€clear€and€convincing€proof,€that€itÐ l¼ Ðwould€have€to€be,€is€a€resulting€trust€of€that€Hancock€farm.ÐX ¨Ð Ð  Ðà  àà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  àà p àà È àà  àÌà  àWhen€making€a€determination€regarding€an€issue€of€fact€such€as€the€existence€orÐ 0"€  Ðnonexistence€of€the€alleged€agreement€between€Dwight€Saddler€and€his€parents,€a€trial€court€mustÐ #l! Ðnecessarily€evaluate€the€credibility€of€the€witnesses€who€testify€regarding€the€matter.€€ò òòòSee,€e.g.,€St.Ð $X" ÐClairóóó ó,€857€S.W.2d€at€51.€€Because€a€trial€court€has€the€opportunity€to€observe€and€evaluate€theÐ ô$D # Ðappearance€and€demeanor€of€the€witnesses,€the€courtððs€findings€regarding€witness€credibility€areÐ à%0!$ Ðentitled€to€great€weight€on€appeal.€€ò òòòSee€id.€€óóó óFrom€the€ruling€of€the€trial€court€in€the€instant€case,€it€isÐ Ì&"% Ðapparent€that€the€court€believed€the€testimony€of€Dwight€Saddler€regarding€the€existence€of€anÐ ¸'#& Ðagreement€with€his€parents.€€The€trial€courtððs€assessment€of€Dwight€Saddlerððs€credibility€is€consistentÐ ¤(ô#' Ðwith€the€testimony€of€several€witnesses,€including€Paula€Saddler,€who€stated€that€Dwight€SaddlerÐ )à$( Ðis€an€honest€and€truthful€person.€€We€recognize€that€the€burden€of€proof€in€the€case€at€bar€is€a€heavyÐ |*Ì%) Ðone.€€The€trial€court€concluded€that€Dwight€Saddler€carried€this€burden.€€After€reviewing€all€of€theÐ h+¸&* Ðproof€in€the€case€at€bar,€we€cannot€say€that€the€conclusion€reached€by€the€court€is€contrary€to€theÐ ° Ðpreponderance€of€the€evidence.€€Rather,€we€agree€with€the€trial€court€that€there€was€an€agreementÐ œì Ðbetween€Dwight€Saddler€and€his€parents€that€entitled€Dwight€Saddler€to€receive€the€Hancock€FarmÐ ˆØ Ðupon€the€deaths€of€John€T.€and€Edwina€Groom€Saddler.׃×Ý ƒ#ÃÝòòÚ  Ú1Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý×  ×€€Like€the€trial€court,€we€believe€that,€if€suchÐ tÄ Ðan€agreement€did€not€exist,€Dwight€Saddler€would€not€have€agreed€to€extend€his€tour€of€duty€inÐ `° ÐVietnam,€invested€years€of€labor€on€the€farm,€incurred€substantial€debts€for€the€benefit€of€the€farm,Ð L œ Ðpaid€the€taxes€on€the€farm,€and€paid€the€overdrafts€that€occurred€on€the€farm€account.€€We€thereforeÐ 8 ˆ Ðaffirm€the€trial€courtððs€ruling€that€the€Hancock€Farm€is€the€subject€of€a€resulting€trust€for€the€benefitÐ $ t Ðof€Dwight€Saddler.׃è×Ý ƒ#ÃÝòòÚ  Ú2Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý×  ×Ð  ` Ðà  àà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  àà p àà È àà  àÌà  àBased€on€the€foregoing,€the€ruling€of€the€trial€court€is€affirmed.€€The€costs€of€this€appeal€areÐ è 8  Ðassessed€to€Leonard€and€Paula€Saddler,€and€their€surety,€for€which€execution€may€issue€if€necessary.Ð Ô$  ÐÌÌÌà  àà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  à___________________________________€Ð „Ô  Ðà  àà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  àDAVID€R.€FARMER,€JUDGEÔ_Ô