The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1893-08-06
PROVIDING FOR HEIRS.
Making Bequests to Minors by Will
Costs a Good Deal of Money,

new OK News.
1t has doubtless occurred TO everv one TO
make will. Even though his or her worldly
possessions may be but trifipg there is suffi.
cient amount OF sentiment attached to them 10
occasion a desire for their proper distribution
after death.
This Is especially true as regards personal
effects. How many of us possess heirlooms In
The shape OF lOckets, trinKets, rings aud snuff.
boxes. whose only value is that they nave been
bequeathed 10 us by some old aunt or uncle
long since dead. Very probably they have de-
vlsed their houses, stocks and bonds to some
1av0rite niece or nephew. but they are too
thoughtlu of our feelings to leave us entirely
ont 10 their wills. SO we are 'remembered'
by y, TIT the GIT of tIltling bauble, which
gard as extremely precious. Yet these
good old people are generally ignorant of
me expense to which the transfer OF such petty
requests will subject their estate II The benei.
c,aries happen 10 be minors. For in that case
u was the duty OF the surrogate-in New York
stare at leas-to appoint especial guardians to
look after the interests Of the young legatees
until tecountlng of the estate had been made.
The remuneration allowed to these persons is
frequently far In excess OF the value of the be-
quests. The surrogate has absolute authority
to award special guardian any sum he may
see nj. There Is wise law limiting the fees
paid TO the attorney OF An accounting executor
guardian may collect
an old lady Of New York City died and left a
Will bequeathing her property 10 be divided
equally between her son and daughter. She
had grandson also whom size remembered by
ieaVing MIN an old mahogany bureau that was
an heirloom In the family. The boy was a
minor and consequently special guardian was
appointed by the surrogate. The necessary
labor entailed upon this man need not have oc.
cuDied him for twenty minutes at the utmost
yet h. was allowed $50 for his services. In
view OF the fact that the bureau was valued
Dy inc appraiser at only So The enormity OF
the special GUARDIANS fee ia apparent. An old
gentleman died in Harlem Il year ago, leaving
a small amount of property TO be divided
among most of nieces and Dephews some OF
were minors. For these latter three dinerent
guardians were appointed. The old gentle.
mans estate consisted OF personal effects. and
was worm at the most $500. The special
guardians were awarded $3.50. which was
estate.
In one of The northern counties Of New York
STATE an OLD woman died recently. leaving,
among otner Dequests. brass locket contain
ing lock OF mr. hair tOa grandnelce who Is
SUN IN swaddlng clothes. The irinket was
not worm DO cents, vet, according to tho law.
a special guardian had TO be appointed To look
after the Infants Interests He was allowed
so 1Or MS services. and the OLD wOman'S estate
nad 10 snner 10 that extent or course, the
speciai guardian in This case was paid Tor per.
forming farccal duy, but the surrogate was
supported Dy the law in awarding him The
money. and the executors had TO pay it.
III eacn OF these cases the money paid out TO
speclal guardians might have been saved TO the
estate II the small requests TO minors had been
excluded from the will. Where person de-
slies 10 give token Of remembrance 10
minor 1t Is always the best policy to give
IL personally while living rather than to be.
dueath 1t In will after death. The fees OF
special guardians are a part OF the patronage
controlled by surrosates. and 1t Is only natural
that they should use them 10 increase their
prestige. That they should invariably make
these iees commensurate with the amount OF
wore done by their agents, or even commen.
surate with the value of the beouests these
men are appointed to protect, is out OF the
question. This should be the case, but unf0r-
tunately !: Is not,