Brennan v. Adler

190 A.D. 589, 180 N.Y.S. 359, 1920 N.Y. App. Div. LEXIS 4207
CourtAppellate Division of the Supreme Court of the State of New York
DecidedFebruary 13, 1920
StatusPublished
Cited by4 cases

This text of 190 A.D. 589 (Brennan v. Adler) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of the State of New York primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Brennan v. Adler, 190 A.D. 589, 180 N.Y.S. 359, 1920 N.Y. App. Div. LEXIS 4207 (N.Y. Ct. App. 1920).

Opinion

Jaycox, J..

Wilhelmina Zippelius died on the 31st day of July, 1915, leaving a last will and testament dated March 9, 1910, which was admitted to probate on the 25th day of August, 1915. Letters testamentary were issued thereon to her son, Henry Zippelius. By her will the testatrix directed that her debts be paid; a headstone be erected upon her plot, together with four granite posts, with iron doors, and the plot put in proper condition, at a cost not to exceed* $400. Next she bequeathed to her son, Henry Zippelius, her household furniture and personal effects. The remainder of the will reads as follows:

I bequeath to my grandchild, Minnie Zippelius, daughter of my deceased son, John, the sum of two thousand dollars.
All the rest, residue and remainder of my personal property, and all my real estate wherever situate, I give, devise and bequeath to my son, Henry Zippelius, to his sole use and benefit.
“ I hereby appoint my son Henry Zippelius to be executor of this my last Will and Testament.”

The real estate of the testatrix consisted of the property involved in this action, known as 151 Powers street. Her personal property consisted of personal belongings, household furniture and cash in bank, all of which did not exceed $1,500. Although not contained in the statement of facts, it is conceded by plaintiff and defendant and so stated in their briefs., that at the time the will was made the total property in the estate of the testatrix did not exceed $300, in addition to household furniture, personal effects and real property; that at the time of her death she did not have over $300 in addition to her household furniture, personal effects and real estate.

Letters testamentary upon the will were issued to Henry Zippelius on the 25th day of August, 1915, but later said Henry Zippelius was adjudged incompetent and George R. Brennan was appointed his committee by order of the Supreme Court, dated October 13, 1916. The letters testamentary issued to Henry Zippelius were revoked and letters of administration with the will annexed were issued to George R. Brennan on the 16th day of April, 1917. On the 18th day of January, 1919, the plaintiff, as administrator with the [591]*591will annexed, entered into a contract for the sale of the property known as 151 Powers street for the sum of $2,300, subject to the approval of the Surrogate’s Court of the county of Kings. On the 24th of January, 1919, plaintiff filed a petition in the Surrogate’s Court for the judicial settlement of his accounts as such administrator and prayed for an order permitting him to sell the said property pursuant to sections 2702 and 2703, subdivision 6, of the Code of Civil Procedure. The surrogate, by proceedings duly had, ratified and approved the contract and directed a conveyance thereunder. Plaintiff duly executed and tendered a deed of the premises, which the defendant refused to accept and pay the purchase price on the following grounds:

“ (a) That said administrator (plaintiff) could not convey a good title to the property in question under the orders of the Surrogate’s Court, because Section 2702 of the Code of Civil Procedure limited the time within which such proceeding could be brought.
(b) That under the will of said decedent, the legacy of Minnie Zippelius in the sum of $2,000, became a lien on said real property.
“ (c) That under the will of said decedent the real estate vested in Henry Zippelius residuary legatee, and was not subject to power of disposal by the administrator.”

No part of the legacy of Minnie Zippelius has been paid nor has there been any accounting for the personal estate left by the decedent, and it has been impossible to ascertain what disposition was made of said personal estate by the incompetent. At no time has there come into the hands of the administrator with the will annexed, or of the committee of the incompetent, any funds out of which said legacy could be paid.

The statement presents two questions for determination: First, is the limitation set forth in section 2702 of the Code of Civil Procedure applicable to a proceeding for the sale of real estate for the purposes set forth in subdivision 6 of section 2703. Section 2702 is entitled: “ Real property subject to disposition for the satisfaction of charges against the same and for distribution.” The section is divided into two paragraphs. The 1st paragraph excepts from disposition under [592]*592this title of the Code property which is exempted from levy and sale by execution, as prescribed in title 2 of chapter 13 of that act, or where it can be disposed of under a valid power contained in a will. The 2d paragraph is a limitation upon the time within which a proceeding may be brought in the Surrogate’s Court to sell real estate to satisfy any claim, debt or demand, and limits such period to eighteen months from the date when letters first issued to an executor or administrator. Section 2703 sets forth for what purposes real property specified in section 2702 is subject to disposition. It consists of six subdivisions. The first five subdivisions follow one after another without interruption and provide that the property- may be disposed of for the payment of debts, for the payment of funeral expenses, for the payment of reasonable expenses of administration, for the payment of any transfer tax and for the payment of any debt or legacy charged thereon; then there is a sentence limiting the power of sale under the foregoing subdivisions to those cases where there is not sufficient personal property applicable to the full payment and discharge thereof. This is followed by the 6th subdivision, which reads as follows:

Such real property may also be sold:
6. For the payment and distribution of their respective shares to the parties entitled thereto, where any or all of said parties are infants, proven or adjudged incompetents, absentees, or persons unknown, whenever in his discretion the surrogate may so direct.” ;

The limitation contained in section 2702 is applicable only to the class of claims set forth therein, to wit, any claim, debt or demand. Clearly a legacy does not come within that definition. This definition is satisfied by applying it to those debts and demands which are ordinarily presented upon an advertisement for debts and which are proved against the estate. Section 2677, relating to advertising, speaks of them as “ claims.” Section 2598, referring to a temporary administrator, speaks of a notice requiring creditors of the decedent to exhibit their demands ” to him. Section 2680 treats of the effect of admission and allowance of a claim or debt by representative. Section 2682 deals with the order of payment of debts. Section 2683 treats of disputed or unsettled debts [593]*593or claims. Tins language indicates that claims,* debts and demands are interchangeable terms-. The hmitation, therefore, under section 2702 is applicable only to those debts and demands which existed at the time of the death of the testatrix. As this proceeding does not relate to such a claim, debt or demand, the limitation contained in section 2702 does not apply. Subdivision 6 of section 2703 has reference to the payment of their respective shares to the parties entitled thereto, and does not fall within the limitation contained in section 2702 which relates to claims, debts and demands.

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Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
190 A.D. 589, 180 N.Y.S. 359, 1920 N.Y. App. Div. LEXIS 4207, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/brennan-v-adler-nyappdiv-1920.