Dormer Estate

1 Pa. Fid. 199

This text of 1 Pa. Fid. 199 (Dormer Estate) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Pennsylvania Court of Common Pleas, Bucks County primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Dormer Estate, 1 Pa. Fid. 199 (Pa. Super. Ct. 1981).

Opinion

Adjudication by

Mims, J.,

The first and final account of Margaret Pursell Dormer, executrix of the estate of said decedent, was presented to the court for audit, confirmation and distribution of ascertained balances on December 4, 1978, as advertised according to law.

Objection No. 2 is stated:

“(a) In computing the net proceeds from the sale of real estate under Paragraph Fourth of the decedent’s will, the accountant appears to have subtracted $8000.18 for Pennsylvania transfer inheritance tax. Your objector avers that this item should not be subtracted in computing “net proceeds” as intended by the decedent under Paragraph Fourth of his will. Said transfer inheritance tax should instead be paid from the residue of the estate.
“ (b) In computing the figure upon which the shares of the net proceeds are calculated, the accountant has deducted, in the Statement of Proposed Distribution which is part of the notice of audit, $26,422.76 as “claims against the estate.” The objector avers that this sum should not be deducted in reaching the shares under Paragraph Fourth, but should instead by (sic) paid from the residue of the estate.”

The will of the decedent provides:

“First: I direct that my just debts and funeral expenses be paid from my estate, as an expense of administration, as soon as convenient after my death.
“Second; In the event my sister, Mary D. Dormer predeceased me in death, and in the event my Wife survives me, then in that [200]*200case, I give, bequeath and devise my real estate known, numbered and situate at No. 347 Second Street Pike, Southampton, Bucks County, Pennsylvania to my wife, Margaret Pursell Dormer, in fee, absolutely and forever.
“Third: In the event my sister, Mary D. Dormer and my wife, Margaret, both survive me, and in the further event my wife elects to reside, after my demise, in the dwelling which we presently occupy, it is my request and desire, and I so order and direct, that for a period not in excess of two (2) years following my demise, that my wife shall have the free and uninterrupted use and occupancy of my residence aforesaid and she shall not be required to pay rent to any person, for the use and occupancy of my said dwelling, for the period aforesaid.
“Fourth: In the event my said sister, Mary D. Dormer and my wife, Margaret, both survive me, then I order and direct that upon expiration of two (2) years following my demise, that my real property described in paragraph two above, be sold by my executrix, at public or private sale, for cash, at the highest price obtainable and to distribute the net proceeds received from the said sale, in the following manner:
(A) One third (Vs) of said proceeds to my sister, Mary D. Dormer:
(B) Two thirds (%) of said proceeds to my wife, Margaret Pursell Dormer.
“Fifth: In the event my sister, Mary D. Dormer survives me, then in that case, I give and bequeath to my said sister, Mary, the income from a certain mortgage together with all the monthly payments or financial benefits which are due or which may become due and payable under said mortgage, during her lifetime, which mortgage I presently own and hold as mortgagee, on a parcel of real estate owned and occupied by my sister, Margaret Tritt and by her husband, Richardson Tritt.
“Sixth: In the event my sister, Mary D. Dormer becomes incapable by reason of any physical or mental infirmity, of collecting, receiving or assuming control and possession of the income or other financial benefits from the hereinabove described mortgage, which are or may be due and payable to her under the terms of this will, then in that case, I give and bequeath all monthly payments or benefits which are due or which may become due under the said mortgage to my wife, Margaret Pursell Dormer, In Trust Nevertheless, for the following purposes and uses:
(A) To use any or all of the said mortgage payments or financial benefits for the support and maintenance of my sister, Mary D. Dormer, and for her medical care and attention, • which she may require during her lifetime.
(B) I order and direct that the foregoing Trust terminate either upon the demise of my sister, Mary, or upon the [201]*201demise of my wife, Margaret, or upon the date the said mortgage has been paid in full.
“Seventh: In the event my sister, Mary D. Dormer dies before the said mortgage has been paid in full, then I give, bequeath and devise the said mortgage, together with payments which are due and payable thereunder, to my wife, Margaret, absolutely and forever.
“Eighth: I give, devise and bequeath, all the rest, residue and remainder of my estate, real, personal or mixed, including any property over which I may have the power of appointment to my wife, Margaret, in fee and forever.”

The inventory filed in this estate reveals that the primary assets of decedent were the real estate located at 347 Second Street Pike, Southampton and the Tritt mortgage. The remaining assets were valued at $3171.55 and included personal effects, ($50), 1963 Cadillac sedan, ($40), homemade two wheel trailer, ($75), and 1972 Buick coupe, ($1700). Included in this figure of $3171.55 were two insurance policies inventoried at $1155.33, which were determined not to be the property of the decedent. The Cadillac was junked and no money was received. The trailer, personal property and the Buick were distributed to the widow of the decedent along with $175 in cash in payment of her family exemption.

The real estate carried at $89,000 was sold for a gross sale price of $71,000.

The disbursements, all of which appear to be proper, totalled $26,422.78. The balance in the residue is $791.36, leaving a balance of $25,631.42 to be paid from the other legacies.

It is accountant’s position that the bequest in Paragraph Fourth of decedent’s will is a specific legacy. We concur.

Mr. Justice Kephart stated in Torchiana’s Est., 292 Pa. 470, 474:

“The rule governing the settlement of estates between specific and general legacies in the event of a deficiency of assets is that the general legacies abate proportionately in favor of specific legacies: Kenworthy’s Estate, 52 Pa. Superior Ct. 152; Waln’s Estate, 109 Pa. 479; Moore v. Gilbert, 287 Pa. 102. Where there is a direction in a will to sell property and give the proceeds to a designated person, the gift of the proceeds is a specific legacy. McMahon’s Estate, 132 Pa. 175; Moore v. Gilbert, supra; 28 R.C.L. 290 . .

In Earle’s Est., 331 Pa. 23, a gift of the proceeds of sale [202]*202of real estate was held to be a specific legacy. In Haak Est., 165 Pa. Super 180 the direction in the will to sell two specifically described parcels of real estate and give the net proceeds to three named legatees was held to create specific legacies. In Haak the specific legatees were also held to be entitled to accrued rentals.

In Elmore’s Est., 292 Pa.

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Related

Thornton Estate
217 A.2d 746 (Supreme Court of Pennsylvania, 1966)
Torchiana's Estate
141 A. 294 (Supreme Court of Pennsylvania, 1928)
Moore v. Gilbert
134 A. 462 (Supreme Court of Pennsylvania, 1926)
Elmore's Estate
141 A. 479 (Supreme Court of Pennsylvania, 1928)
Earle's Estate
199 A. 173 (Supreme Court of Pennsylvania, 1938)
Haak Estate
67 A.2d 449 (Superior Court of Pennsylvania, 1949)
Estate of McMahon
19 A. 68 (Supreme Court of Pennsylvania, 1890)
Kenworthy's Estate
52 Pa. Super. 152 (Superior Court of Pennsylvania, 1912)

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Bluebook (online)
1 Pa. Fid. 199, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/dormer-estate-pactcomplbucks-1981.