Case Name: In the Matter of the Estate of Mary C. Powers
Court: New York Surrogate's Court
Jurisdiction: New York
Decision Date: 1911-12
Citations: 8 Mills Surr. 545
Docket Number: 
Parties: In the Matter of the Estate of Mary C. Powers.
Judges: 
Reporter: Mills' Surrogate's Reports
Volume: 8
Pages: 545–546

Head Matter:
In the Matter of the Estate of Mary C. Powers.
(Surrogate’s Court, New York County,
December, 1911.)
Executors and Adminstrators—Debts and Liabilities oe the Estate : Oe Estate or of Representative—Funeral Expenses : Rights and Remedies of Creditors and Claimants and Defenses— To Enforce Payment of Funeral Expenses. .
It is the duty of the personal representative in the first instance to bury the dead and the expenses thereof are preferential claims. If another bury the dead he may recover the reasonable costs thereof.
Payment of funeral expenses may now be enforced under section 2729 of the Code of Civil Procedure if six months have not elapsed since the rejection of the claim by the personal representatives, and the claimant by such rejection is not put to his action within that period.
Proceeding to compel the payment by the administratrix of the funeral expenses of decedent.
Joseph Fennelly, for petitioner.
Jacob I. Weiner, for administratrix.
See 75 Misc. 84.

Opinion:
Fowler, S.
This is an application by the assignee of a funeral bill for payment thereof under subdivision 3 of section 2729, Code of Civil Procedure. The application is opposed on the ground that the administratrix rejected the claim, and that thereby the assignee of the claim is put to an action. But the surrogate, since the year 1901, may, under subdivision 3, section 2729, Code of Civil Procedure, fix and determine the amount due for reasonable funeral expenses incurred, if six months have not elapsed since the rejection of the claim by the personal representatives. Such claims stand upon a special footing in both the old law and thé modern law. It is the duty of the administratrix in the first instance to bury the dead, and the expenses thereof are preferential claims. If another bury the dead he may recover the reasonable costs thereof. These are very old principles, established for centuries. 1 Salk. 296; Godolph, Pt. 2, Chap. 26, § 2; Kessler v. Hessen, 19 Abb. N. C. 86; Patterson v. Patterson, 59 N. Y. 574, 582. If the executor or administrator bury the dead with lavish or wanton expenditure this is a devastavit of the estate, and a loss to him and not to the creditors, legatees or next of kin of deceased. To recover such expenses of the administratrix the. claimant must always first show that they are reasonable and in accordance with the condition of the estate and the station in life of the deceased. Patterson v. Patterson, 59 N. Y. 583, 584. I have examined the evidence and the claims for the burial. No evidence was given showing any necessity for embalming the body, and I think the person who ordered it must incur the expenses thereof, fifteen dollars. So of the charge for porters. I am satisfied that they were the drivers of the coaches, and I disallow that item, ten dollars. It seems to me that in all other respects the undertaker's bill is reasonable. I grant the application with the exception noted. Submit order.
Judgment.