Estate of Scholl v. Commissioner

88 T.C. No. 70, 88 T.C. 1265, 1987 U.S. Tax Ct. LEXIS 70
CourtUnited States Tax Court
DecidedMay 12, 1987
DocketDocket No. 18763-83
StatusPublished
Cited by10 cases

This text of 88 T.C. No. 70 (Estate of Scholl 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 Scholl v. Commissioner, 88 T.C. No. 70, 88 T.C. 1265, 1987 U.S. Tax Ct. LEXIS 70 (tax 1987).

Opinion

DRENNEN, Judge:

Respondent determined a deficiency in petitioner’s Federal estate tax in the amount of $142,932.96.

After concessions1 the issues presented by the parties for decision are: (1) Whether sections 2053(c)(1)(A)2 and 2043(b) apply to limit petitioner’s claimed deduction under section 2053(a)(3) for payments made to decedent’s former wife for claims against his estate; and (2) whether decedent’s gross estate includes, pursuant to section 2035, the full value of the Pamunkey River Farm purchased within 3 years of his death.

Some of the facts have been stipulated. The stipulations of facts and exhibits attached thereto are incorporated herein by this reference.

FINDINGS OF FACT

At the time of filing the petition in this case, both Julia Scholl Esdale ( Julia) and Joseph B. Bambacus (Bambacus), coexecutors of the Estate of James Harris Scholl (James), resided in the State of Virginia. The coexecutors of James’ estate timely filed a Federal estate tax return, Form 706, with the Memphis Service Center.

James and Dove Allen Scholl (Dove) married on December 25, 1940. Two children were born to this marriage.

In 1950, James began selling encyclopedias and other educational material for World Book Encyclopedia (World Book). He set many sales records and enjoyed a “wonderful reputation nationwide” with the World Book organization. After a number of years of service, James became branch manager for the State of Virginia. As such, he was in charge of sales for World Book throughout the entire State, with the exception of a five-county area in Northern Virginia. He created and supervised an organization consisting of office staff, sales people, area managers, district managers, and division managers.

Julia began working for James in 1959. In 1969, she became the office manager and remained in that position until James’ retirement. As office manager, Julia ran the administrative functions of the office and was considered very knowledgeable of all business aspects of James’ operations.

On November 25, 1968, James divorced Dove. At this time, their two children were ages 15 and 19. The family lived in Henrico County, Virginia. As part of the divorce, James and Dove entered into a property settlement agreement (settlement agreement). Paragraph 4(c) of the settlement agreement provided as follows:

(c) In the event [James] predeceases [Dove], or in the event [James] is still living upon his retirement, then in lieu of the monetary provisions herein made for [Dove’s] support and maintenance, [James] will set aside one-half of the amount due him from World Book’s retirement profit sharing plan, said one-half not to exceed the sum of $200,000.00, and invest the same for the use and benefit of Dove for the rest of her life or until she remarries, with all the income, only, to be payable to [Dove], and upon the death or remarriage of [Dove] the said income to be distributed between the children born of the marriage between [James] and [Dove] in such amounts as [James], in his uncontrolled judgment and discretion, may deem necessary or advisable, with the principal to be divided and distributed equally between said children upon [James’] death-, and in the event [James] predeceases [Dove], he will, by his last will and testament, direct his executors and/or trustees to comply with the terms of this subparagraph. In the event [Dove] predeceases [James], the said children shall be entitled to the full amount of the principal, upon [James’] death, but [James’] estate shall not be liable to the said children for any undistributed income. [Emphasis added.]

In addition to the provisions concerning the World Book profit-sharing plan (profit-sharing plan), the settlement agreement provided that Dove was to receive (1) the Oldsmobile car she drove, free and clear; (2) all of the household furnishings located at 8855 River Road, Richmond, Virginia (River Road home); (3) $11,700 per year for Dove’s support and maintenance; (4) all debts incurred by Dove and/or James prior to the date of their divorce to be paid by James; (5) exclusive use of the River Road home for her life or until remarriage, with James paying mortgage, taxes, insurance, repairs and maintenance; (6) all of Dove’s burial expenses to be paid by James unless James died or retired before Dove; and (7) all needs of the two minor children including, education, clothes, medical expenses, “spending money” and “other incidentals and necessities for support,” except food, were to be paid by James. In return, Dove relinquished certain support and inheritance rights against James and/or his estate. Paragraphs 9, 10, and 11 of the settlement agreement provided as follows:

9. WAIVER OF PROPERTY RIGHTS
All property and money received by the respective parties pursuant hereto shall be the separate property of the respective parties, free and clear of any right, interest or claim of the other party, and each party shall have the right to deal with, and dispose of, his or her separate property as fully and effectively as if the parties had never been married, except that (Dove) shall have the exclusive right to reside, live in, and occupy the residence at 8855 River Road, Henrico County, Virginia, until her remarriage or until she dies, which ever shall first occur.
10. WAIVER OF SUPPORT RIGHTS
Except as is expressly provided in this Agreement, each party is fully released by the other from any obligation for alimony, support, and maintenance, attorney’s fees and court costs, and each party accepts the provisions herein in full satisfaction of all property rights and all obligations for support or otherwise arising out of the marital relationship. Each party, except with respect to payments accruing pursuant to this agreement, hereby releases the other party, and his or her respective legal representatives, successors and assigns, from claims of every kind and specifically relinquishes all right, title and interest in or to any earnings, accumulations, money or property of the other party.
11. WAIVER OF RIGHTS TO ESTATE
Each of the parties waives all rights of inheritance in the estate of the other, and hereby relinquishes any and all rights of every kind and character whatsoever which such party has, or might hereafter have, by reason of the marriage, in and to the property of the other including rights of dower and curtesy, excepting only the rights created and expressly provided by this agreement.

If the local court in Henrico County, Virginia, were to have divided the couple’s property in lieu of the settlement agreement, Dove would have received approximately $23,500 per year in support payments and fee simple title to the River Road home.3 Dove entered into the settlement agreement against the advice of Bambacus, then acting in the capacity of Dove’s attorney. At the time she signed the settlement agreement, Dove was hopeful that she and James might reconcile their differences.

In 1968, possession of the River Road home was given exclusively to Dove for her use for life or until remarriage.

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Estate of Scholl v. Commissioner
88 T.C. No. 70 (U.S. Tax Court, 1987)

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
88 T.C. No. 70, 88 T.C. 1265, 1987 U.S. Tax Ct. LEXIS 70, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/estate-of-scholl-v-commissioner-tax-1987.