Case ID: dem-sur_6/html/0268-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "The Surrogate.", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

New York County.
    Hon. D. G. ROLLINS, Surrogate.
    October, 1887.
    Lorillard v. People. In the matter of the estate of Catharine L. Wolfe, deceased.
    
    No “ collateral inheritance tax ” is payable upon the passing of real property, situated without the State of New York, under a devise contained in the will of a resident.
    Assessment of tax upon interests of legatee and devisee under decedent’s will.
    Platt & Bowers, for L. L. Lorillard.
    
   The Surrogate.

The testatrix was, at the time of her death, a resident of the city of New York. Among the provisions of her will, are a devise to Louis L. Lorillard of certain real estate in the city of Newport, in the State of Rhode Island, and bequests to the same legatee of certain personal property, including a legacy of $250,000 in money. A question has arisen, as to whether the passing of this property by virtue of the decedent’s will is taxable under our so-called Collateral Inheritance law (chap. 483, Laws 1885). I find no reason for doubting that the aforesaid legacies of personalty are liable to the tax in question, and that the devise of realty is not.

The provisions of the statute under consideration are, in substance, the same as those of the Collateral Inheritance law of Pennsylvania. Upon grounds which seem to me to be well-founded, the courts of that State have frequently upheld the contention made in behalf of this devisee (Hood’s Estate, 21 Penn. St., 106; Commonwealth v. Coleman, 52 id., 468; Drayton’s Appeal, 61 id., 172; Miller v. Commonwealth, 111 id., 321).