Estate of Short v. Commissioner

68 T.C. 184, 1977 U.S. Tax Ct. LEXIS 109
United States Tax Court·Decided May 19, 1977·No. Docket No. 9058-75·Published·Cited by 10 cases

Opinion

Featherston, Judge:

Respondent determined a deficiency of $69,208.631 in the Federal estate tax due from petitioner. Several issues have been settled and the only one remaining requires classification under Tennessee law of certain legacies in decedent’s will in order to determine, first, which of those legacies must abate to pay taxes and debts of decedent, and, ultimately, for purposes of the marital deduction under section 2056,2 the property interests which pass to the surviving spouse!

FINDINGS OF FACT

Decedent Jack E. Short died testate on September 12, 1971, a resident of Shelbyville, Tenn. His last will and testament nominated and appointed his widow, Bettie Short (subsequently Hawkins through remarriage), as executrix, and she duly qualified as such on September 16,1971. Bettie Short was a resident of Shelbyville, Tenn., at the time the petition was filed. She filed the estate tax return on July 14, 1972, with the Southeast Service Center, Memphis, Tenn.

Decedent was married to Ardath Short from 1934 to May 21, 1953, on which date they were divorced. Two children were born of that marriage, Bobby Short in 1937 and Jacqueline Short Porterfield in 1939. Decedent was married to Bettie Short from July 26, 1955, until his death. Two children were born of that marriage, Ann Short in 1956 and Samuel Short in 1958.

Decedent left the following survivors: his widow, Bettie Short; his four children named above; two brothers, Edward and Carl Short; and a sister, Wilda Short Perry.

For many years prior to his death, decedent was president and director of Fayco Lumber & Supply Co. At his death he owned 192 shares of Fayco Lumber & Supply Co. stock (sometimes hereinafter referred to as the Fayco stock). Decedent had worked as a public accountant for many years prior to entering the building supply and farming businesses.

While on a business trip in South Dakota in May 1971, decedent sustained a heart attack and was placed in a cardiac care unit in a hospital in Aberdeen, South Dak. On May 21, 1971, while he was in the hospital, decedent executed his will. Its pertinent provisions are as follows:

ARTICLE I
I hereby direct that all of the expenses of my last illness and funeral be paid out of my estate. I further direct that all inheritance, estate, succession or other similar taxes shall be paid out of the residue of my estate as a part of the expenses of the administration and shall not be charged against the respective beneficiaries.
ARTICLE II
I give, devise and bequeath unto the COMMERCE UNION BANK of Nashville, Tennessee, and my wife, BETTIE SHORT, as Co-Trustees, for the use and benefit of my children, ANN SHORT and SAM SHORT, my farm located in Bedford County, Tennessee, my real property in Oak Hill, West Virginia (on which is located an apártment house), another parcel of real property in Oak Hill, West Virginia, on which is located a Kroger grocery store, all notes receivable owned by me, all of my stock in the Peoples Bank, all of my stock in the New River Banking and Trust Company, and all of my stock in any insurance company, to be by them held, managed, administered, and the principal thereof and the income therefrom held and distributed as follows:
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ARTICLE VI
I give, devise and bequeath the real property on which is located my home in Shelbyville, Bedford County, Tennessee, all of my other personal property, including all horses, cattle and livestock of every kind to my wife, BETTIE SHORT, absolutely and in fee simple.
ARTICLE VII
I give and bequeath twenty-five (25) shares of the capital stock in the Fayco Lumber and Supply Co. to each of the following: EDWARD SHORT, BOBBY SHORT, AND JACQUELINE SHORT PORTERFIELD.
ARTICLE VIII
I give, devise and bequeath all of the rest and residue of my property, real, personal and mixed, wheresoever situate, one share to my wife, BETTIE SHORT, one share to my son, BOBBY SHORT, one share to my daughter, JACQUELINE SHORT PORTERFIELD, and two shares to my Trustees named in Article II for the use and benefit of my son, SAM SHORT, and my daughter, ANN SHORT, as part of the trust created in Article II and under the terms and provisions thereof.

The value of decedent’s total gross estate was $783,572.40. This amount included $376,843.96 of personal property which passed under decedent’s will. The items of tangible personal property, totaling $125,513.46 in value, which passed under decedent’s will were as follows:

Value at Description date of death

3 Simmental bulls and 50-percent interest in 3 others (sold 11/12/71). $1,500.00

55 Angus cows (sold 11/12/71). 17,475.00

31 Simmental cows. 43,270.00

52 Angus cows. 14,465.00

Farm machinery. 4,710.00

Horses. 31,287.50

Two watches. 100.00

1969 Cadillac automobile. 3,175.00

1964 Buick automobile. 300.00

1968 International Scout automobile. 700.00

Hay. 3,500.00

Calves (sold 10/25/71). 615.34

Bull (sold 11/26/71). 318.03

Calves (sold 2/2/72). 497.59

Household furnishings. 3.600.00

Total. 125,513.46

The items of intangible personal property, totaling $251,330.50 in value, which passed under decedent’s will were as follows:

Value at Description date of death

52 shares — First National Bank, Shelbyville, Tenn. $4,940.00

192 shares — Fayco stock. 153,600.00

2 bonds — Pine Lodge Nursing & Convalescent Home, Inc... 1,000.00

2 shares — Pine Lodge Nursing & Convalescent Home, Inc. 0

1 share — River Bend Country Club. 750.00

29 shares — Guaranty Financial Corp. 14.50

3 shares — Bedford Farmer’s Co-op. 3.00

1 share — White Oak Country Club. 100.00

20 shares — Tennessee Producers Livestock Marketing Association, Inc. 200.00

Checking accounts. 14,981.20

Certain claims against John Victor Thompson. 10,000.00

Cash value of insurance. 2,283.56

Cash value of insurance. 2,166.23

Accounts due at death from livestock and semen sales. 2,346.15

Claim for refund of insurance. 1,480.00

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Estate of Short v. Commissioner, 68 T.C. 184, 1977 U.S. Tax Ct. LEXIS 109 (tax 1977).

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