Guilbert v. Guilbert

68 Misc. 405, 124 N.Y.S. 564
CourtNew York Supreme Court
DecidedJuly 15, 1910
StatusPublished
Cited by3 cases

This text of 68 Misc. 405 (Guilbert v. Guilbert) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering New York Supreme Court primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Guilbert v. Guilbert, 68 Misc. 405, 124 N.Y.S. 564 (N.Y. Super. Ct. 1910).

Opinion

Giegerich, J.

The premises in suit were sold pursuant to an interlocutory judgment of partition and sale, and the purchaser has refused to take title upon the ground, among others, that the beneficiaries and remaindermen under the will of Theodora M. Storm and the wives of such remainder-men and all persons having liens upon the interests of such remaindermen were not made parties to the action. As I-[406]*406think his refusal is justified on that ground it will not be necessary to notice his other objections. Theodora M. Storm died on the 16th day of February, 1901, seized in fee simple of several parcels of real property situate in the States of blew York and blew Jersey, including an undivided one hundred and fifty-nine one hundred and sixtieth part of the premises in question. She left a will by which, after giving several legacies, she provided as follows: " Ninth. All the rest, residue and remainder of my property, wherever the same may be situated, as well that which I now own as that which I may hereafter acquire, and of whatever kind the same may be, whether real, personal or mixed, and including that which I have hereinbefore ineffectually disposed of, I give, devise and bequeath to my executors hereinafter named or their successors, or survivors of such of them as may qualify, to have and to hold the same upon the following uses and trusts, that is to say: To set apart one-half of the residuary estate as nearly as the same, in the judgment of my executors, can be set apart or apportioned, and to collect and receive the income thereof, and after paying the expenses of such collection to pay over the net income to my brother-in-law, George bi". Messiter, or to devote the same to or for his benefit, care, maintenance and support as long as he shall live, in such manner as shall seem best and meet in the judgment of my executors. At and upon the death of my said brother-in-law, George bT. Messiter, I direct my said executors to pay from said one-half part so set apart for his use,” (here follow three pecuniary legacies of $5,000 each) and the testator then continues: “Any balance that there may be after the death of my said, brother-in-law, George bT. Messiter, and after paying the said three sums of five thousand dollars hereinbefore immediately provided for, I direct my executors to divide and pay to my two brothers, Walton Storm and Arthur W. Guilbert, in equal portions, and in case of the death of either or both of them at the time of the death of the said George bT. Messiter, the portion of the one so dying is to be divided and paid over to his heirs and next of kin living at the time of the death of said George bi. Messiter, per stirpes, however, and not per capita.” The [407]*407testatrix thus disposed of the beneficial interest in one-half of her residuary estate. She next disposed of the beneficial interest in a further one-fourth part 'thereof by the following directions to her executors and trustees: To set apart ónequarter of the said residuary estate as nearly as the same in the judgment of my executors can be set apart or apportioned, and to collect and receive the income thereof, to pay the net income to my brother, Walton Storm, as long as he shall live; at and upon his death to pay the said net income of the said one-quarter to Walton Storm, Junior, the son of Walton Storm, during the lifetime of his mother (now Leila Leeds) ; at and upon the déath of the said Leila Leeds I do give, devise and bequeath the said one-quarter of my estate so set apart as aforesaid to the said Walton S'torm, Junior, the son of my said brother, if he be living at the time of the death of his mother, the said Leila Leeds. If he be not living at the time of the death of the said Leila Leeds, I do give, devise and bequeath the said one-quarter of my estate so set apart as aforesaid to any lineal descendants of said Walton Storm, Junior, living at that time, that is, at the time of the death of his mother, said Leila Leeds, per stirpes, however, and not per capita; if the said Walton Storm, Junior, is not living at the time of the death of his mother, the said Leila Leeds, and if there are not lineal descendants of him, the said Walton Storm, Junior, then surviving, I do give, devise and bequeath the said one-quarter of my residuary estate, so set apart as aforesaid, to my heirs and next of kin then living, that is to say, at the time of the death of the said Leila Leeds (who is no relation of mine) in accordance with the Laws of the State of Hew York provided in cases of intestacy, per stirpes, however, and not per capitaThe foregoing provisions of the will still left the beneficial interest in one-fourth of the residuary estate undisposed of, and .the testatrix proceeded to dispose of it by the following directions to her executors and trustees: ■ “ To set apart one other quarter of the said residuary estate as nearly as the same, in the judgment of my executors, can be set apart or apportioned, and to collect and receive the income thereof, and after paying the expenses thereof to pay the net income [408]*408to my brother, Arthur W. Guilbert, as long as he shall live, and at and upon his death to pay the said one-quarter so set apart as aforesaid to his heirs and next of kin living at the time of his decease, per stirpes, however, and not per capita.” The tenth paragraph of the will is as follows: “ Tenth. I hereby nominate and appoint the Reverend Dr. Edmund Guilbert, of Southport, Connecticut, Orlando II. Harriman, of Hew York, and J. Van Vechten Olcott, of Hew York, the executors' of this, my last will and testament, and I do hereby give to my said executors full power and authority to sell any and all of my real estate at such time, and upon such terms as to them may seem tit and expedient, and, for that purpose, to make, execute and deliver good and sufficient deeds of conveyance of such real estate, or any portion thereof. And I further authorize and empower my said executors or survivor or survivors, successor or successors of them, to join with any party or parties in the partition of any real estate owned by me with any other person or persons. I further authorize and empower my said executors, or such of them as may qualify, or their survivor or survivors, successor or successors, to make, execute and deliver any mortgage upon my said real estate, in case any existing mortgage is called in, or payment thereof demanded, or to make such mortgage or mortgages for the purpose of improving any property of which I may die seized. I also authorize and empower my said executors, or such of them as may qualify, or the survivor or survivors of them, or their successor or successors, to make, execute and deliver any leases of any of my real estate, wherever the same may be situated, for such time, and upon such terms as to them may. seem proper.” Walton Storm, Jr., was not made a party to this action. The purchaser contends that he was a necessary party, and if his contention is correct 'he was justified in rejecting the title. The plaintiffs contend that the provisions of the will worked an equitable conversion, immediately upon the death of the testatrix, of all her real property, and that, consequently, Walton Storm, Jr., has not, and never had, any interest in the land, but' only in the proceeds of its sale. I think this contention is unsound. There is concededly no [409]*409express direction to the executors to sell the lands at any time. They are authorized, hut they are not directed, to make such sale or sales.

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Bluebook (online)
68 Misc. 405, 124 N.Y.S. 564, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/guilbert-v-guilbert-nysupct-1910.