Estate of Lazar v. Commissioner

58 T.C. 543, 1972 U.S. Tax Ct. LEXIS 97
CourtUnited States Tax Court
DecidedJune 27, 1972
DocketDocket No. 3564-69
StatusPublished
Cited by16 cases

This text of 58 T.C. 543 (Estate of Lazar v. Commissioner) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering United States Tax Court primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Estate of Lazar v. Commissioner, 58 T.C. 543, 1972 U.S. Tax Ct. LEXIS 97 (tax 1972).

Opinion

Scott, Judge:

^Respondent determined a deficiency in the Federal estate tax of the Estate of Lena G. Lazar in the amount of $46,298.19.

The issue for decision is whether the amount of $150,000 distributed to nieces and nephews of decedent’s deceased husband in accordance with a settlement of disputes between the executor and residuary legatee of decedent’s estate and her deceased husband's nieces and nephews was deductible as a claim against the estate under section 2058,1.R.C. 1954.1

FINDINGS OF FACT

Some of the facts have been stipulated and are found accordingly.

Lena G. Lazar died testate on January 22, 1965, a resident of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Joseph C. Chapman, whose office is located in Philadelphia, Pa., was named executor -under decedent’s will and is still acting in that capacity.

A Federal Estate Tax Eeturn, Form 106, was filed for the Estate of Lena G. Lazar with the district director of internal revenue, Philadelphia, Pa.

Decedent and her husband, Milton C. Lazar (hereinafter called Milton), were married in 1908 and remained married and without issue until his death on September 4, 1947, at age 71. A Federal Estate Tax Eeturn for the Estate of Milton C. Lazar was filed with the collector of internal revenue, Philadelphia, Pa.

Sometime in 1946, Milton developed carcinoma, which by May 1947 had reached such an advanced stage that Milton knew that his death was imminent. A short time prior to May 28, 1947, Milton told decedent that since most of the property which he and decedent owned jointly had originated from his side of the family, he wanted three-fourths of the property to go to his nieces and nephews after decedent’s death. At that time, as at the time of Milton’s death, Milton and decedent owned as tenants by the entirety, stocks, bonds, and bank accounts of a total value of approximately $246,000, of which assets of a value of approximately $212,000 had derived from Milton and assets of a value of approximately $34,000 had derived from decedent. Milton owned in his name only stock of a value of approximately $1,800 and owned life insurance policies of approximately $25,000 face value, in which decedent was named beneficiary.

In May 1947, Milton stated to decedent that unless she would enter into an agreement promising to make and maintain a will disposing of three-fourths of her entire estate to Milton’s nieces and nephews he would revoke his last will dated December 23, 1943, and limit her interest in their property by deed of trust or by will to a life estate. Decedent and Milton consulted their family attorney who prepared an agreement for them which was executed by decedent and Milton on May 28, 1947. While decedent was displeased with the terms of the agreement, she signed the agreement. She stated to the attorney that she had signed it in order to avoid causing Milton any additional mental distress during the short time he had remaining to live.

The agreement provided inter alia, that Milton would maintain his last will and testament, dated December 23, 1943, under which Milton’s residuary estate was bequeathed absolutely to decedent and that decedent would make and maintain a will under which three-fourths of her entire estate would pass to five of Milton’s nieces and nephews. There was the added restriction that decedent could not make gifts of the inheritance received from Milton except for normal gifts to charities or emergency gifts to members of either of their families.

Milton died on September 4, 1947. His last will and testament, dated December 23, 1943, was duly probated. Decedent was named as executrix and residuary legatee of Milton’s estate, which she received after payment of debts, funeral and administration expenses, and estate and succession taxes.2

After Milton’s death decedent made several wills between 1947 and 1963, each of which complied with the terms of the 1947 agreement. Decedent stated to her attorney that she resented having to make bequests as required under the 1947 agreement, but since the attorney assured her that the agreement was binding on her, decedent reluctantly acquiesced.

In February 1963 decedent consulted another attorney upon the recommendation of her investment adviser, Joseph C. Chapman. This attorney advised decedent that the agreement of May 28, 1947, was invalid and unenforceable and that in his opinion she was not obligated to comply with its terms;

On February 14, 1963, decedent executed a trust agreement as settlor with Provident Tradesmen’s Bank & Trust Co. and Joseph C. Chapman as trustees, with the trust corpus consisting of certain specified bonds. Under the trust agreement the trust income was payable to decedent for life, and upon her death the principal, together with any accrued and undistributed income, became payable to decedent’s nephew, Clement Stuart, and decedent’s niece, Hortense Strause.

Decedent’s last will and testament was executed on January 18,1965, and she died 4 days later on January 22, 1965. Her will was admitted to probate by the register of wills of Philadelphia County as will No. 330 of 1965 and letters testamentary were issued thereon to Joseph C. Chapman by the register of wills of Philadelphia County.

Decedent’s will dated January 18, 1965, made no provision for any of the beneficiaries designated in the 1947 agreement, except to the extent that it made bequests of $25,000 each to two of Milton’s nieces, Mildred Lazar Barab and Eleanor Lazar Reuben. The residuary estate was bequeathed to decedent’s nephew, Clement Stuart. The will provided that if any beneficiary contest the will or the trust agreement of February 14,1963, or seek to enforce the agreement of May 28, 1947, the bequest of such beneficiary would be considered to be annulled and revoked.

Thereafter, as more fully described below, Susan R. Simon, a niece of Milton’s3 on her own behalf and on behalf of others, commenced two actions in the Orphans’ Court of Philadelphia County, a court of competent jurisdiction having jurisdiction over the estate of decedent, Lena G. Lazar, against the estate of decedent, Lena G. Lazar, as follows:

(a) On or about April 1,1965, Susan R. Simon filed an appeal from the decree of the Register of Wills admitting Lena G. Lazar’s last will dated January 18, 1965, to probate.
(b) On or about April 21, 1965, Susan R. Simon, on her own behalf and on behalf of others, brought action for removal of Joseph O. Chapman, executor of the will of Lena G. Lazar, deceased.

The suits alleged that the will dated January 18, 1965, was procured by undue influence.

Answers were filed denying undue influence by Executor Joseph C. Chapman by his attorneys and by Clement Stuart, residuary legatee under decedent’s will, by his attorney. Preliminary objections were filed by Clement Stuart, by Joseph C. Chapman, executor, and by Provident Nation'al Bank (formerly Provident Tradesmen’s Bank & Trust Co.), by virtue of its being a trustee under the trust agreement dated February 14, 1963, contending that the rights, if any, of petitioners therein, Susan It.

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Estate of Lazar v. Commissioner
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Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
58 T.C. 543, 1972 U.S. Tax Ct. LEXIS 97, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/estate-of-lazar-v-commissioner-tax-1972.