Case ID: ny-st-rep_7/html/0732-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "Spring, S.", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

In the Matter of the Accounting of the Executor of George Hughey, Deceased.
    
      (Surrogates Court of Cattaraugus County,
    
    
      Filed January 14, 1887 )
    
    1. Merger—Where a lesser and greater estate become vested in THE SAME PERSON, THE LESSER WILL MERGE IN THE GREATER.
    The testator, for several years preceding liis death, had leased a farm to his son. These leases were given from year to year, each terminating on the first of March The testator died during the month of March. It was insisted by the parties contesting the executor's account, that inasmuch as the tenant was then occupying the farm in pursuance of the lease he should pay the rent for that year, notwithstanding the premises were devised to him in fee. Held, that where a lesser and greater estate become vested in the same person, there is a merger of the lesser in the-greater.
    2. Executor—Assets—Rents not vet accrued at testator’s death will. NOT PASS AS ASSETS TO THE EXECUTOR—3 R. S., TITLE 3, CHAP. 6, ART. 1, §6, subd. 7.
    
    
      Held, that the rents not having accrued at the time of the testator’s decease, they did not pass as assets to the executor as part of the personal estate of the decedent
    4. Contract—For compensation for services—When not implied.
    The daughter of the testator continued to reside with him after attaining her majority as a member of his family without any agreement that she was to receive compensation for her services. Held, that no such agreement would be implied
    
      Wm. Manley, for executor; W. T. Laidlaw, for John Hughey; G. M. Bider, for contestants.
   Spring, S.

For several years preceding his death testator had leased his farm in Ashford to his son John. These leases were given from year to year, each terminating on the first of March. Testator died during the month of March, 1884, and inasmuch as the tenant was then occupying the farm in pursuance of the lease, the contestants insist that he should pay the rent for that year, notwithstanding the farm was devised to him in fee by his father. This position is untenable.

It is an elementary principle that when a lesser estate and „a greater become united in the same person, a merger of the lesser estate in the greater follows. Kent’s Com., vol. 4, p. 99; Washburn on Real Property, vol. 3, p. 95 (3d ed.); Jenkins v. Van Schaack, 3 Paige, 242; Hosford v. Merwin, 5 Barb., 51; 4 Paige, 639; Mixon v. Coffield, 2 Ired. (N. C.), 301.

There is still another insuperable objection to compelling the executor to collect these rents of the tenant. They had not accrued due at the time of the decease of the testator, and in order to pass as assets to the administrator or executor as part of the personal estate of decedent, rents must be due and payable at the time of his death. Revised Statutes, vol. 3, tit. 3, chap. 6, art, 1, § 6, subd. 7 (Banks & Brothers [6th ed.], vol. 3, p. 90); Marshall v. Mosely, 21 N. Y., 280.

The claim" of Eoxanna Huffstader cannot be allowed. She is a daughter of testator and resided with him after attaining her majority as a member of his family without any agreement that she was to receive compensation for her services, and it is well settled no contract will be implied in that class of cases. Williams v. Hutchinson, 3 Com., 312; Wilcox v. Wilcox, 48 Barb., 327.

Other than this the accounts will stand as filed and decree he entered accordingly.