Case ID: misc_60/html/0055-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "\n      Noble, S.", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

Matter of the Judicial Settlement of the Account of Regina Krummenacker, as Executrix of the Last Will and Testament of Simon Krummenacker, Deceased.
    (Surrogate’s Court, Queens County,
    June, 1908,)
    Wills — Interpretation and construction — Disposal of the entire estate — Effect of death, etc.— Bequest to several as individuals — Lapse in part by death of some.
    Where a testator gave the remainder of his estate to his children, naming them, “or any child by me begotten which may be born subsequent to the time of my decease, for their own use and benefit forever in equal shares,” the children take as tenants in common; and the shares of children who die before the testator’s death do not pass to the survivors under the will, but as to such shares the testator dies intestate.
    Proceedings upon the judicial settlement of the account of an executrix.
    Nicholas Dietz, Jr., for executrix.
    Louis Hess, special guardian for infant parties.
   Noble, S.

In this proceeding the meaning and effect of the second paragraph of the will of the decedent is put in issue by the executrix, and its construction asked for under section 2624 of the Code of Civil Procedure.

The paragraph in question, after making provision for the use of the estate by the wife of the testator during her lifetime, reads: “And from and immediately after the decease of my said wife, I give and bequeath the same to my children, Sebastian, Anna, Simon, Stephen, Katharina and John Krummenacker, or any child by me begotten which may be bom subsequent to the time of my decease, for their own use and benefit forever in equal shares, provided my aforesaid wife remains my widow.”

The widow, who is also the executrix, claims that the testator died intestate as to one-third of the residuary estate, two of the children, Sebastian and Anna, having died subsequently to the making of the will and prior to the death of the testator, on the ground that the testator having bequeathed his residuary estate to legatees specifically named they take under the will as tenants in common, and not as joint tenants.

The special guardian for the surviving infants claims that the intention of the testator was to divide his residuary estate among-his children surviving at the time of his death; that, therefore, a joint tenancy was created and that the four surviving children should share equally in the residuary estate, subject to the life estate of the widow, their mother.

The Revised Statutes provide that “ Every estate granted or devised to two or more persons, in their own right, shall be a tenancy in common, unless expressly declared to be a joint tenancy.” R. S., pt. 2, chap. 1, tit. 2, art. 1, § 44; Everitt v. Everitt, 29 N. Y. 39, 72; Bliven v. Seymour, 88 id. 469, 478; Van Brunt v. Van Brunt, 111 id. 178, 187; Mills v. Husson, 140 id. 99, 104.

In this case the gift was not to the children of the testator as a class, but to children specifically named; and, therefore, upon the death of Sebastian and Anna the legacies to them lapsed and the decedent died intestate as to the portion of his property they would have taken had they been living at the time of his death. Matter of Kimberly, 150 N. Y. 90, 94; Moffett v. Elmendorf, 152 id. 475, 489. In the case of Kimberly the estate was to go to three sisters of the testator, Mary, Anna and Louisa, of whom Mary predeceased the testator. In Moffett v. Elmendorf certain real property was devised to an aunt and seven cousins, specifically named, two of whom died before the testator. In both cases the court held that, certain designated persons having been named as legatees or devisees, they took as tenants in common, not as joint tenants, and that, therefore, there was an intestacy as to the portions of the estate that would have gone to the deceased legatees or devisees.

The special guardian claims that, the beneficiaries in this case being children of the testator, it was his intention that they should take as a class; but, if such was his intention, he failed to express it in his will and, as there is nothing else to distinguish the case before me from those cited, it follows that the testator died intestate as to the portion of his estate bequeathed to the two children who predeceased him.

The special guardian has also submitted that the life tenant should be required to give security for her proper care and management of the residuary estate to be held in trust under the terms of the will; and her attorney has stated that she has no objection to giving such security as trustee and not as executrix, but questions the right of the court to require it under section 2638 of the Code of Civil Procedure.

The executrix may turn over the fund to herself as trustee, upon giving security.

Decreed accordingly.