In re the Estate of Littlefield

New York Surrogate's Court

In re the Estate of Littlefield

14 Mills Surr. 105, 89 Misc. 687, 152 N.Y.S. 206

DecidedMarch 15, 1915

StatusPublished

This text of 14 Mills Surr. 105 (In re the Estate of Littlefield) 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 Littlefield, 14 Mills Surr. 105, 89 Misc. 687, 152 N.Y.S. 206 (N.Y. Super. Ct. 1915).

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Opinion

Fowler, S.

This is a proceeding for the construction of testator’s1 will under section 2615, Code Civil Procedue. By paragraphs- 2 iandl 3 of his will the testator devised to the Equitable Trust Company, 'as trustee, certain properties at Ho. 320 West Fourteenth Street in trust for Cornelia Carthwaite during her lifetime or until her1 remarriage, and -at Ho. 318 West Fourteenth Street in trust-for Frances1 Littlefield during her lifetime or until her remarriage with remainders over.

Paragraph 2 of s-aid will is as follows:

“ Second. I do hereby give and devise all that certain house and lot of land ini the borough of Manhattan, city, county and state of Hew -York, now known as number three hundred and twenty (320) West Fourteenth street, unto- the Equitable Trust Company of Hew York, in trust, nevertheless, and upon the following usesi anidl trust: In trust to hol'd, manage, direct and control the said real property, and in trust to collect and receive the rents, issues and profits thereof, and after the due [107]*107payment of any and 'all taxes, assessments, insurance charges and all other proper charges and expenses, including the expenses of maintaining the said real property in good repair and condition, to apply all the remainder of such income from the said real property unto the use of Cornelia G-arthwaite, of the said city of Hew York, in quarterly payments, during her lifetime or until her remarriage, and at her death or remarriage I do hereby give and devise all the said real property absolutely unto my dear brother, Irving E. Littlefield, unto my dear sister, Bertha A. Hayner, and unto my dear niece, Cora Derrick, to be divided among them equally, share and share alike; if any of them at that time be dead, leaving issue them surviving, then it is my will and' I do hereby direct that such issue shall have and take absolutely the share or portion which the parent of such issue would have been entitled to if living.” Paragraph 3 of said will is similar in its terms and provisions except a different beneficiary and a different property are named.

The property at Ho. 318 West Fourteenth Street is subject to a mortgage of $10,000, and the property at Ho. 320 West Fourteenth Street is subject to a mortgage of $12,000. These mortgages mature on Hovember 1, 1915. The mortgage interest is payable semLaninually on A pail first and October first.

The .testator died! on March 20, 1914. One semi-annual interest payment of $495, which accrued after the death of the testator, became due on October 1, 1914. This has not been paid. The question before the surrogate is whether it is the duty of the executor of the said will or the trustee named therein to pay the mortgage interest on the two mortgages which accrued after the death of the testator.

Paragraph 4 expressly directs, authorizes and empowers “ my said executor, hereinafter named, to convert info cash all the rest, residue and remainder of my property and estate, real or personal, not herein specifically disposed of, and all such real property as may come into his possession as such executor, and for such purposes do hereby authorize and empower my said [108]*108executor to sell at public or private sale, together or iu parcels, any and all ,of real estate or personal property at such time or times and in such manner and for such sum or sums as to him in the exercise of his best judgment and . discretion may seem best. * * * ”

Paragraph 5 of the will reads as follows:

“ Fifth. I do direct my said executor, as speedily as may be practicable, to pay off, satisfy and fully discharge any and all mortgages, taxes, assessments, accrued interest on such mortgages or any other charges that may be existing at the time of my death as against or upon each and both of the aforesaid houses' and lots of land in said West Fourteenth street, in the aforesaid Borough of Manhattan, heretofore specifically disposed of in clauses second and third of this my last will and testament.”

In my opinion the second and third clauses of the will do- not impose on the trustee the duty of discharging the interest accruing after testator’s death on the mortgages in question. The fifth clause of the will does, in my opinion, impose such duty on the executor.

Decreed accordingly.

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Fowler, S.

This is a proceeding for the construction of testator’s1 will under section 2615, Code Civil Procedue. By paragraphs- 2 iandl 3 of his will the testator devised to the Equitable Trust Company, 'as trustee, certain properties at Ho. 320 West Fourteenth Street in trust for Cornelia Carthwaite during her lifetime or until her1 remarriage, and -at Ho. 318 West Fourteenth Street in trust-for Frances1 Littlefield during her lifetime or until her remarriage with remainders over.

Paragraph 2 of s-aid will is as follows:

“ Second. I do hereby give and devise all that certain house and lot of land ini the borough of Manhattan, city, county and state of Hew -York, now known as number three hundred and twenty (320) West Fourteenth street, unto- the Equitable Trust Company of Hew York, in trust, nevertheless, and upon the following usesi anidl trust: In trust to hol'd, manage, direct and control the said real property, and in trust to collect and receive the rents, issues and profits thereof, and after the due [107]*107payment of any and 'all taxes, assessments, insurance charges and all other proper charges and expenses, including the expenses of maintaining the said real property in good repair and condition, to apply all the remainder of such income from the said real property unto the use of Cornelia G-arthwaite, of the said city of Hew York, in quarterly payments, during her lifetime or until her remarriage, and at her death or remarriage I do hereby give and devise all the said real property absolutely unto my dear brother, Irving E. Littlefield, unto my dear sister, Bertha A. Hayner, and unto my dear niece, Cora Derrick, to be divided among them equally, share and share alike; if any of them at that time be dead, leaving issue them surviving, then it is my will and' I do hereby direct that such issue shall have and take absolutely the share or portion which the parent of such issue would have been entitled to if living.” Paragraph 3 of said will is similar in its terms and provisions except a different beneficiary and a different property are named.

The property at Ho. 318 West Fourteenth Street is subject to a mortgage of $10,000, and the property at Ho. 320 West Fourteenth Street is subject to a mortgage of $12,000. These mortgages mature on Hovember 1, 1915. The mortgage interest is payable semLaninually on A pail first and October first.

The .testator died! on March 20, 1914. One semi-annual interest payment of $495, which accrued after the death of the testator, became due on October 1, 1914. This has not been paid. The question before the surrogate is whether it is the duty of the executor of the said will or the trustee named therein to pay the mortgage interest on the two mortgages which accrued after the death of the testator.

Paragraph 4 expressly directs, authorizes and empowers “ my said executor, hereinafter named, to convert info cash all the rest, residue and remainder of my property and estate, real or personal, not herein specifically disposed of, and all such real property as may come into his possession as such executor, and for such purposes do hereby authorize and empower my said [108]*108executor to sell at public or private sale, together or iu parcels, any and all ,of real estate or personal property at such time or times and in such manner and for such sum or sums as to him in the exercise of his best judgment and . discretion may seem best. * * * ”

Paragraph 5 of the will reads as follows:

“ Fifth. I do direct my said executor, as speedily as may be practicable, to pay off, satisfy and fully discharge any and all mortgages, taxes, assessments, accrued interest on such mortgages or any other charges that may be existing at the time of my death as against or upon each and both of the aforesaid houses' and lots of land in said West Fourteenth street, in the aforesaid Borough of Manhattan, heretofore specifically disposed of in clauses second and third of this my last will and testament.”

In my opinion the second and third clauses of the will do- not impose on the trustee the duty of discharging the interest accruing after testator’s death on the mortgages in question. The fifth clause of the will does, in my opinion, impose such duty on the executor.

Decreed accordingly.

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Bluebook (online)

14 Mills Surr. 105, 89 Misc. 687, 152 N.Y.S. 206, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/in-re-the-estate-of-littlefield-nysurct-1915.