In re Kohler

17 Mills Surr. 300, 96 Misc. 433, 160 N.Y.S. 669
CourtNew York Surrogate's Court
DecidedJuly 15, 1916
StatusPublished
Cited by25 cases

This text of 17 Mills Surr. 300 (In re Kohler) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering New York Surrogate's Court primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
In re Kohler, 17 Mills Surr. 300, 96 Misc. 433, 160 N.Y.S. 669 (N.Y. Super. Ct. 1916).

Opinion

Fowler, S.—

This is a proceeding for" the construction of a will, particularly the eighteenth paragraph thereof, and to determine the proper disposion of very large accumulations and also those entitled to certain remainders over and for other and general relief. The matter has been argued by able counsel at length and I am inclined to express my opinion as desired, but only in view of the conclusion reached, as no one can be prejudiced thereby, and the opinion may tend to facilitate [303]*303counsel in the conduct of the accounting directed to follow. Ordinarily this court cannot proceed to construction unless, as auxiliary to active relief of sóme kind, competent in this tribunal. (Matter of Will of Losea, N. Y. L. J., July 5, 1916; Matter of Harden, 88 Misc. Rep. 420; Matter of Catlin, 89 id. 93.)

It appears that Mr. Charles Kohler, the deceased testator, was survived by his widow, Veronica M. Kohler, and also by three children, Olga V., Vera M. and Rita M. Kohler. The two last named are infants. Olga V. married Mr. ¡Nils Elorman, and has attained her majority. On the 18th day of January, 1915, ¡Nils K. Florman, a son of said Olg’a Florman, was born. Under the will of Mr. Kohler trusts are created.in favor of his children and his widow. The corpus of the estate has yielded a very large income, considerably more than necessary to pay the required annuities. On December 1, 1915, such excess of accumulated income amounted to $1,209,318.48, a considerable portion of which was in existence prior to the birth of the grandchild, ¡Nils K. Florman. The questions presented to the surrogate in this proceeding grow out of this extensive accumulation of income.

After giving various general legacies and specific legacies the testator provides in his will, paragraph 8 thereof, as follows: “ Eighth. All the rest, residue and remainder of my estate, both real and personal, and of whatsoever description and wheresoever situated, I give, devise and bequeath unto my trustees hereinafter named, in trust, as follows: First, to set aside out of my said residuary estate, a share or portion thereof sufficient for the purpose, and to hold the same in trust, for my daughter Olga V., investing and reinvesting the same from time to time and paying over the sum of twenty-five thousand dollars ($25,000) per annum, payable semi-annually during her natural life, and in addition thereto when she arrive at the age of twenty-five (25) to pay over to her the sum of one hundred [304]*304thousand dollars ($100,000) ; when she arrive at the age of thirty-five (35), a further sum of one hundred thousand dollars' ($100,000), and when she arrive at the age of forty-five (45), a further sum of one hundred thousand dollars ($100,000), and upon her death,, to pay over the balance remaining unpaid of the share or portion of my said residuary estate so set aside for her benefit as aforesaid, to such of her issue as shall be living at her death, share and share alike. Should any of her issue, die before her, leaving issue at her death, then such issue shall take in equal shares the shares the parent would have received had he or she survived her death. Should my said daughter, Olga, die leaving no issue surviving her, then, in that event, the said share or portion herein provided for shall pass into and become part of my residuary estate.” Subdivision 2 of Hr. Kohler’s will contains a similar provision, of which the daughter Vera H. is the beneficiary. Subdivision 3 contains a further and similar provision, of which the daughter Rita H. is the beneficiary. Subdivision 4 is as follows: “ Fourth. To set aside out of my said residuary estate, a share or portion thereof sufficient for the purpose, and to hold the same in trust for my wife, Veronica H. Kohler, investing and reinvesting the same from time to time and paying over the sum of twenty-five thousand dollars ($25,000) per annum, payable semi-annually during her natural life.” Paragraph 18 of the will • is 'as follows: “ Eighteenth. Should there be any balance or residuary estate remaining after bequests hereinbefore provided for, including the trusts also hereinabove created, then I give, devise and bequeath, the same to my said children to be divided between them share and share alike.”

Pursuant to the authority continued in the will, the trustees, have continued the business of the testator. The trustees have to some extent, perhaps, constituted the four trust funds out of the entire residuary estate, although they ask for instructions on this point. As the testator’s business has yielded a very [305]*305large income, a vast accumulation of income has resulted. The trustees now ask the surrogate to determine to whom such, excess income is payable. All the beneficiaries have been joined in this proceeding. All of them, except the widow, make some claim to the accumulated income. Although the widow has defaulted, as the trustees in a proceeding of this kind are bound to be and are indifferent and impartial, the trustees may be deemed to represent the widow’s interest. Although the widow is not urging affirmatively any contention, her rights are to be considered in the same aspect as if she were an active litigant.

The adult daughter, Mrs. Florman, insists that the residuary estate provided for in paragraph 18 of her father’s will includes all accumulated income, and that it should be distributed one-third to each surviving daughter of the testator. The two infant daughters of the testator, appearing by their special guardian, join with their sister in such construction. The grandson and infant child of Mrs. Florman by his special guardian advances the claim that the accumulated income upon the trust corpus set aside, pursuant to subdivision 1 of paragraph 8, belongs to such grandchild as the owner and holder of the next eventual estate under section 63 of the Real Property Law.

It seems to be conceded by all the parties appearing herein, that all accumulations derived from the trust estate created in favor of the widow, Mrs. Veronica M. Kohler, fall into the residuary. As the income derived from the widow’s trust fund is not the source of the real, controversy amongst the parties appearing herein, the testament will first be examined for the purpose of ascertaining whether such conceded construction, which excludes the widow, is correct. With that inquiry disposed of, the real questions can be considered without embarrasment. Mrs. Kohler’s rights are scarcely open to argument. Under subdivision fourth of the will all that Mrs. Kohler takes is a life interest. She is entitled under the will to $25,000 [306]*306per annum during her life and to nothing more. Ro remainder interest is limited in the corpus of the trust fund held for Mrs. Kohler. The remainder, therefore, falls into the residuary estate. The persons entitled to the next eventual estate of the trust fund, so set aside for Mrs. Kohler, are the residuary legatees. (Craig v. Craig, 3 Barb. Ch. 76, 101; Youngs v. Youngs, 45 N. Y. 254; Riker v. Cornwall, 113 id. 115; Lamb v. Lamb, 131 id. 227; Matter of Miner, 146 id. 121; Matter of Allen, 151 id. 243.) Whether we conclude that subdivision 4 of paragraph 8 of the will operates upon and is effective in withdrawing from the residuary estate only $25,000 per annum, or whether we conclude that the sums set aside by the trustees to constitute the corpus of the trust as the trust fund governed by the provision of subdivision fourth, the residuary legatees are clearly entitled to the accumulated income derived from the trust fund held for the benefit" of Mrs. Kohler.

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Bluebook (online)
17 Mills Surr. 300, 96 Misc. 433, 160 N.Y.S. 669, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/in-re-kohler-nysurct-1916.