Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1956-02-02
By Dorothy B. Waleski
Garden 4-SSS9

peterson Assay first woman register of wills Montgomery
N conducts the business of settling determining
amount of inheritance tax property left County residents
Back in 1858 Mrs Assay began teaching
Chase Cooperative Nursery School With children
school, she was looking for partime only.
Her only other outside activity working for the Democratic
party te County In 1884 when the party seeking to fill
"A positions year. suggested
Mrs Assay run for the register of wills job
Amused by the began
seriously although she had idea that might
enjoyed her work at the school but realized
had become much than patme job when the time
in consultation with the parents included.
The hours for the registers days
wees ana is she hought she could handle AS the campaign
went her enthusiasm until victory
landslide for the Democrats in the County that
surprise to her.
Since being Assay has brought
to the office all the enthusiasm and ability would of
intelligent educated
native of Minnesota Mrs Assay educated the Univer
sy of Washington and Columbia University taught
home economics department at Syracuse University before her
rage to Ivan Assay who is president the Montgomery County
Mental Health Society this year.
Although the first register to
overcome because Miss Ella Pummer the first judge
of the orphans court and its chief justice had been
there for II years.
After year office Assay beginning
to get the feel of her job Her first put
effect next month when the records of the wills will be
kept on microfilm
The advantage is accuracy and
spacesaving people think. Actually
qes that projection prints be kept bound Volumes there will
be little saving Another advantage is the time
saved from the tedious job of tipping all records kept by this
office.
present fuime workers and two
parme These include three deputy registrars
addition to two part-tme senographers
good many complications Assay
day caused the simple fact that people
think about dying making wills
There is little she change this
the machinery for settling simpler
She also thinks revision of the inheritance tax laws for Maryland
necessary.
working Judge John Foley of
the orphans court conference registers of wills
State to discuss changes in the inheritance tax laws.
At present she is working with committee of three lawyers
from the bar association changes in the forms them
simpler and uniform This change vital the setting
daily tragedies property settlements
she feels are due to most peoples ignorance of the law Her
advice in this is that anyone making
in the settlement estate should seek the services of
petent lawyer.
inheritance tax law would be more re
sonabe exemption allowed for jointly held property and
if the exemptions for close relatives raised At for
example exemption only provision
was put the law and has
been outdated.
inheritance on all jointly held property except
that held by husband through ignorance
they feel the tax unjusty high avoid
ing this
In the jointly estate always
light when the title is cleared for selling property
people pay percent penalty
in the cases of small estates hardship
She cited the example who had supported her
mentally sister for Some after the sister
had died the o her still
in her sisters well
dependent, the penalty
be collected.
the other jointly held
come to light as there is no way of checking on these AT prese
banks unwilling in furnishing with
formation the closing of joint
den of work that would be imposed on them.
If the law only larger
banks would able
much trouble
At present Mrs Assays duties involve helping attorneys get
ready probate supervising the
recording the settling auditing
the of administrators and with the
sponsiby of making that the inheritance correctly
figured and paid and helping with transfers
In connection with this last, Mrs. Assay too often
other tragedy widow being
transfer of title and license that af
This would be eliminated exemptions
Another of Mrs Assays duties that she takes seriously
the safeguarding of minors rights estate
dies and has his will
children the requires that be appointed
safeguard minors of title Assays keep
close watch the accounting of this guardian
All in ALL interviewed Mrs Assay got impression
that to her this routine be done by After
office she has deep insight into the underlying problems
and some strong views their solution
To her. the that the documents that she
each real people with problems At the
time that she is seeking help tem she
duty the public welfare.
She nice balance of sentiment good
and glad know that she has another three
least in which work out of these problems
The Assays moved often in their early married life Starting in
Herme Y they teked Chicago then to Washington next
to Denver, and finally in 1912 back to Bethesda.
Like other County residents they chose Montgomery Coun