Buffinton v. Mason

97 N.E.2d 538, 327 Mass. 195
CourtMassachusetts Supreme Judicial Court
DecidedMarch 15, 1951
StatusPublished
Cited by14 cases

This text of 97 N.E.2d 538 (Buffinton v. Mason) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Buffinton v. Mason, 97 N.E.2d 538, 327 Mass. 195 (Mass. 1951).

Opinion

Williams, J.

This is an appeal from a decree of the Probate Court entered upon a petition for instructions by the executor of the will of Ella K. Mason, late of Fall River, who died on February 5, 1947.

After the provisions for the payment of debts and funeral *196 expenses and for several small bequests, the will, which is dated August 6, 1940, provides in paragraph 12 for the disposal of the residue of the estate as follows: “All the rest and residue of my estate, of whatsoever nature it may be, I give, devise and bequeath in equal shares as follows:

“A. One sixth of said rest and residue to Gladys Mason Ball Sheehan, In Trust Nevertheless, the income therefrom to be paid regularly to Harry Ball of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and if the said income is not sufficient for his comfort and support, I direct my said trustee to use so much of the principal as may be necessary for his proper comfort and support. On the death of the said Harry Ball, this trust shall terminate and I give, devise and bequeath whatever remains of the principal of the said trust to Gladys Mason Ball Sheehan.

“B. One sixth of said rest and residue to Annie Hillard Pitt, of said Fall River.

“C. One sixth of said rest and residue to Sarah S. Mason, . of said Fall River.

“D. One sixth of said rest and residue to William Frederick Mason, of said Fall River.

“E. One sixth of said rest and residue to Gladys Mason Ball Sheehan.

“F. One sixth of said rest and residue to Rachel M. Brown, of said Fall River, daughter of the late Jane Brown.”

In the following paragraph numbered 13 it is provided that “All inheritance taxes are to be paid from the residuum of my estate so that all legacies will be paid in full.”

Harry Ball, the beneficiary of the trust created by paragraph 12A, and Annie Hillard Pitt, the residuary legatee named in paragraph 12B, predeceased the testatrix. Rachel M. Brown, the residuary legatee named in paragraph 12F, has married and her name now is Rachel M. Funk. The sole heirs at law and next of kin of the testatrix at the time of her death were two nephews, Frank P. Weaver and William F. Mason, a niece, Sarah S. Mason, and two grandnieces, Rachel M. Funk and Gladys Mason Ball Sheehan. All of these were named as residuary legatees, except Frank *197 P. Weaver. William F. Mason died after the testatrix and his estate is represented by his executors, Olive B. Mason and William A. Torphy. Frank P. Weaver appears by his guardian, The Fall River National Bank. These are all the persons having a present interest in the residue.

The petition alleges that the special legacies have been paid; that a portion of the residue has been distributed; that the Federal estate tax has been paid; and that a sum remains in the hands of the executor in excess of $30,000. Being in doubt as to the proper disposal of this fund the executor propounds the following questions:

VI. To what persons and in what proportions is the rest and residue of the estate to be distributed?

“2. Is the Federal estate tax to be charged first against such portion of the estate as may pass as intestate property or charged against the rest and residue before calculation of the distributive shares thereof?

“3. Are the inheritance taxes with respect to the distribution of the rest and residue and of any portion thereof which may pass as intestate property to be charged against the respective shares of the individual distributees thereof or paid out of said rest and residue before calculation of the distributive shares thereof?

The judge made answer to the questions propounded and decreed as follows:

“1. The petitioner is to make payments to the following persons and in the following proportions:

“a) To Gladys Mason Ball Sheehan two sixths of the rest and residue; one sixth under Clause 12a; one sixth under Clause 12e.

“b) To Sarah S. Mason, one sixth of the rest and residue,

“c) To William A. Torphy and Olive B. Mason as the executors under the will of William Frederick Mason, one sixth of the rest and residue.

“d) To Rachel M. Brown who by reason of her marriage is Rachel M. Funk, one sixth of the rest and residue.

e) The one sixth share of the residuary estate bequeathed to Annie Hillard Pitt passes as intestate property to the *198 next of kin of the testator, subject to instructions under answers of questions two and three.

“2. The one sixth of the rest and residue to Annie Hillard Pitt designated under Clause 12B of said will which as. intestate property shall be applied to the payment of the Federal estate tax.

“3. The one sixth of the rest and residue to Annie Hillard Pitt designated under Clause 12B of said will which as intestate property shall be applied to the payment of the Massachusetts inheritance tax.

“William S. Downey allowed $1,000 for counsel fees.

“Richard K. Hawes allowed $500 for counsel fees.

“William A. Torphy allowed $300 for counsel fees.”

No contention is made that there was error in the first instruction as to the distribution of the residue. The gift of the residue was to named individuals and not to a class. See Boston Safe Deposit & Trust Co. v. Reed, 229 Mass. 267; Ashley v. Lester, 281 Mass. 261, 263; Fitts v. Powell, 307 Mass. 449, 453-454; Old Colony Trust Co. v. Stetson, 326 Mass. 641. Since Annie Hillard Pitt predeceased the testatrix leaving no issue, her share in the residue lapsed and passed as intestate property. Dresel v. King, 198 Mass. 546, 548. Worcester Trust Co. v. Turner, 210 Mass. 115, 121-122. Hobbs v. Chesley, 251 Mass. 155. Old Colony Trust Co. v. Johnson, 314 Mass. 703, 712. Old Colony Trust Co. v. Stetson, supra. Gladys Mason Bell Sheehan as remainderman in the trust created for the benefit of Harry Ball is entitled to distribution of the principal of that trust. Prescott v. Prescott, 7 Met. 141, 145. Thompson v. Thornton, 197 Mass. 273, 275-276. Bemis v. Fletcher, 251 Mass. 178, 188. Smith v. Livermore, 298 Mass. 223, 237.

The controversy in the case relates to the instructions of the judge that the share of the residue of which Annie Hillard Pitt was named residuary legatee and which now passes to the next of kin of the testatrix shall be applied to the payment of the Federal estate tax and the Massachusetts inheritance tax.

The Federal estate tax is assessed on the gross estate sub *199 ject to certain deductions.

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Bluebook (online)
97 N.E.2d 538, 327 Mass. 195, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/buffinton-v-mason-mass-1951.