The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1909-09-16
EXPLAINS new LAWS
Continued from page u

Continued from page u
subject to the transfer tax. None of
it is exempted except that which is
named in the transfer statute and no
exemption from taxation should be al
lowed for the homestead, personal
property, wearing apparel, jewelry or
household furniture and effects. It
must all be listed and appraised.
The exemptions allowed to the indi-
Evidual out of inheritances coming to
him should be carefully deducted be-
fore the tax is levied ana in all cases
the exemption should be deducted from
the first twenty-five thousand dollars
in value Of the legacy or inheritance.
q Attention also should be given to
the. claims allowed against the estate
to see that they are not exorbitant
or collusive for the purpose Of avoid
ing taxation and a thorough exami-
nation should be given to claims of
doubtful validity.
1t should be borne in mind that
the inheritance attaches to the prop
erty of the decedents at the time of the
transfer which has now been definitely
settled to be at the date of the death
of the deceased except in certain speci-
fed cases. Interest should be COM
puted from that date where payment
is not made within eighteen months.
Rents, interest or other income
arising from the estate after the death
of the decedent are not taxed On the
other hand property taxes and improve
ments on the property or expenses of
maintenance should not be deducted
from the estate before the. inheritance
tax is levied, unless the property taxes
were lien against the estate at the
time of decedent IS death.
Life insurance payable to the de-
ceased or to his estate is taxable, but
life insurance. payable to beneficiary
named in the policy has been held not
to be a part of his estate, although
he may pay the premiums thereon.
!" 1t is a safe practice for the court
In all cases to take some testimony,
to ascertain whether the estate has
been properly inventoried and properly
appraised and not accept a simple, I'M
sworn statement to that effect Such
practice will serve to protect county
courts from mistakes or deception.
"Chapter 504, laws Of 1909, has Civ
en- to the probate judges the assist
ance Of a public administrator to ex-
anime into all these matters and assist
the court in arriving at a proper de-
termination Of the value of the estate
and whether all of it has been inven-
toried.
"The district attorney is also re-
quired to assist whenever the court
requires him to do So The Attorney
! General is also required to assist, but
you will observe that it will be impos7
sible for him or his assistants to at
tend to all cases arising in this state
whore there is or may be an inheri-
lance tax to be levied, consequently
this department must rely almost en-
tirely on the county judges admins
tering such estates to properly deter
mine the Inheritance tax
| :You will readily see, therefore,
that this Department with the ether
work it is required to attend to, can
only act in a general way in admins
tering the law, but the Attorney Gen
eral or one of his assistants will at
tend to any important estates which
are extensive or surrounded by diff
cult questions, and will aid in every
possible way in securing, as stated, a
| Just, uniform and impartial administra-
tion of the law.
| 81 trust you will not hesitate to call
my attention to any estate in which
! you think the attention of this depart
ment is needed to assist you.
Expenses in respect to the employ
ment Of the public administrator
should be kept as low as possible to
/ .oo,,no 4la duo q 4 ! 1 -, 20 Az
law Where a notice is sent to the
Attorney General if you will direct
the attorneys for the administrator or
executor to use the form of notice pre-
pared by the Secretary of State which
| has heretofore been used and Of which
= enclose copy, it will at once inform
this department whether the estate is
Of sufficient moment to necessitate
further investigation and inform me
whether the tax has been properly
ESTIMATED. This notice is required to
be served upon the Attorney General
and the public administrator under the
law Of 1909, instead Of on the Secre-
tary of State and State Treasurer as
I it previously existed.
1sAfter the inheritance tax in any
estate has been determined the county
Judge should send to the State Treas
urer a copy of4the order determining
the tax which will show the amounts
1