In re the Estate of Bernstein

New York Surrogate's Court

In re the Estate of Bernstein

6 Mills Surr. 364, 58 Misc. 115, 110 N.Y.S. 473

DecidedFebruary 15, 1908

StatusPublished

This text of 6 Mills Surr. 364 (In re the Estate of Bernstein) 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 the Estate of Bernstein, 6 Mills Surr. 364, 58 Misc. 115, 110 N.Y.S. 473 (N.Y. Super. Ct. 1908).

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Opinion

Ketcham, S.

This is a proceeding under section 2799 of the Code for the distribution of the surplus arising upon a sale-in foreclosure of a mortgage, which was a lien upon -decedent’s-lands in his lifetime. The surplus has been deposited in the Surrogate’s Court. The lands descended in the absence of a will, and the personal estate is insufficient to pay debts.

[365]*365Objection, is made on behalf of the infant heirs that a creditor’s petition for the disposition of the surplus cannot be entertained, unless filed within three years after the grant of letters. True, the petition for 'the sale of actual lands of the decedent must be filed within three years after the first issue of letters, but the theory that the rights of creditors as to the proceeds of foreclosure depend upon the same statutory condition as is imposed in the case of an application for the sale of the real estate itself is contrary to the expression of the statute. Code Civ. Pro., §§ 2798, 2799; Matter of Callaghan, 69 Hun, 164.

Claims of creditors are allowed .as follows, with interest according to the fact: Robert Plant, deficiency on the foreclosure .of the chattel mortgage, including expenses of foreclosure and premiums on fire insurance policies, $1,320.45 ; S. & H. Plant, as assignees of the claim of Volkommer, $109.25; S. & H. Plant, .as assignees of the claim of Conklin, $497.70.

The claim of the petitioner, who being the administrator of ,the estate, has paid out of his own funds interest on mortgages upon the premises which were the subject of foreclosure, installments of the principal of one of such mortgages and taxes on the .same premises, is disallowed.

It is unnecessary to determine whether these mortgages and taxes were debts of the decedent. In any event, upon his death they became primarily a burden upon the land, to' be discharged by the heirs, and between the heirs and the estate the latter was only secondarily, if at all, liable for their payment. The petitioner discharged these liens not in pursuance of any duty which he owed as administrator and, therefore, cannot claim for advances of his own moneys in behalf of the estate in Ms charge. He did not take assignments of the claims. He had no such concern in the lands or the incumbrances thereon that a subrogation to the rights of the persons to whom he paid would result from his payment. His position gains nothing from the fact that he was administrator and cannot, in any view applicable [366]*366to the facts, differ from that of 'a stranger who has voluntarily-paid off incumbrances upon lands of which the- intestate died, seized.

There should be a decree for the distribution of the surplus., accordingly.

Decreed accordingly.

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Ketcham, S.

This is a proceeding under section 2799 of the Code for the distribution of the surplus arising upon a sale-in foreclosure of a mortgage, which was a lien upon -decedent’s-lands in his lifetime. The surplus has been deposited in the Surrogate’s Court. The lands descended in the absence of a will, and the personal estate is insufficient to pay debts.

[365]*365Objection, is made on behalf of the infant heirs that a creditor’s petition for the disposition of the surplus cannot be entertained, unless filed within three years after the grant of letters. True, the petition for 'the sale of actual lands of the decedent must be filed within three years after the first issue of letters, but the theory that the rights of creditors as to the proceeds of foreclosure depend upon the same statutory condition as is imposed in the case of an application for the sale of the real estate itself is contrary to the expression of the statute. Code Civ. Pro., §§ 2798, 2799; Matter of Callaghan, 69 Hun, 164.

Claims of creditors are allowed .as follows, with interest according to the fact: Robert Plant, deficiency on the foreclosure .of the chattel mortgage, including expenses of foreclosure and premiums on fire insurance policies, $1,320.45 ; S. & H. Plant, as assignees of the claim of Volkommer, $109.25; S. & H. Plant, .as assignees of the claim of Conklin, $497.70.

The claim of the petitioner, who being the administrator of ,the estate, has paid out of his own funds interest on mortgages upon the premises which were the subject of foreclosure, installments of the principal of one of such mortgages and taxes on the .same premises, is disallowed.

It is unnecessary to determine whether these mortgages and taxes were debts of the decedent. In any event, upon his death they became primarily a burden upon the land, to' be discharged by the heirs, and between the heirs and the estate the latter was only secondarily, if at all, liable for their payment. The petitioner discharged these liens not in pursuance of any duty which he owed as administrator and, therefore, cannot claim for advances of his own moneys in behalf of the estate in Ms charge. He did not take assignments of the claims. He had no such concern in the lands or the incumbrances thereon that a subrogation to the rights of the persons to whom he paid would result from his payment. His position gains nothing from the fact that he was administrator and cannot, in any view applicable [366]*366to the facts, differ from that of 'a stranger who has voluntarily-paid off incumbrances upon lands of which the- intestate died, seized.

There should be a decree for the distribution of the surplus., accordingly.

Decreed accordingly.

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Bluebook (online)

6 Mills Surr. 364, 58 Misc. 115, 110 N.Y.S. 473, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/in-re-the-estate-of-bernstein-nysurct-1908.