Charlick's Estate

11 Abb. N. Cas. 56

• Court: New York Surrogate's Court
• Decided: July 15, 1882
• Status: Published

Opinion

Petition for payment of legacy. The facts appear in the opinion.

Rollins, S.

The petitioner, who is a legatee under decedent’s will, makes application under Code Civ. Pro. § 2717, for a decree directing the executor to pay her legacy. By the express provisions of section 2718, such a petition must be dismissed, if the executor in a . sworn answer denies the validity and. legality of the claim, and alleges facts which support his denial.

The answer which has been interposed in the present case alleges that at the time of decedent’s death the legatee was indebted to her in a larger sum than the amount bequeathed to her by the will.

It is claimed in opposition that no such indebtedness existed, and that, within the meaning of section 2718, the averment that it did exist and still exists does not tend to impeach the validity and legality of petitioner’s claim.

I cannot so construe the statute. Nobody would contend that the mere gift of a legacy is of itself and necessarily a manifestation of an intent on the part of a testator to remit a debt due him from the legatee. Assuming, in this case, therefore, that the alleged indebtedness existed, and has not been extinguished (and clearly I have no jurisdiction to find the contrary to be true), the executor is justified in refusing to pay the legacy, and in applying it in part satisfaction of the debt (Clarke v. Bogardus, 12 Wend. 67 ; Jeffs v. Wood, 2 P. Wms. 129 ; Ranking v. Barnard, 5 Maddock, 32; Courtney v. Williams, 3 Hare, 539 ; Wright v. Austin, 56 Barb. 15 ; Close v. Van Husen, 19 Id. 503 ; Rickets v. Livingston, 2 Johns. Cas. 97; Smith v. Kearney, 2 Barb. Ch. 533 ; Smith v. Smith, 3 Gifford, 260; Coates v. Coates, 33 Beav. 249). The answer, therefore, very distinctly denies the validity of the petitioner’s claim, and the application must be dismissed without prejudice to any action which she may see fit to bring elsewhere.