Case Name: Matter of Farmer. In the matter of the estate of Hannah Farmer, deceased
Court: New York Surrogate's Court
Jurisdiction: New York
Decision Date: 1888-06
Citations: 6 Dem. Sur. 433
Docket Number: 
Parties: Matter of Farmer. In the matter of the estate of Hannah Farmer, deceased.
Judges: 
Reporter: Demarest's Surrogate's Reports
Volume: 6
Pages: 433–434

Head Matter:
New York County.
Hon. R. S. RANSOM, Surrogate.
June, 1888.
Matter of Farmer. In the matter of the estate of Hannah Farmer, deceased.
A direction in a will that the amount of certain legacies, thereby bequeathed, be deposited in a savings bank, there to remain for five years, and that at the expiration of that period the same be paid to the legatees, they to receive the interest semi-annually in the interval, is not invalid, as unlawfully suspending the absolute ownership of personal property.
Smith v. Edwards, 33 N. Y., 92—distinguished.
Warner v. Durant, 76 N. Y., 133—followed.
Construction of will on application for probate.

Opinion:
The Surrogate.
By the provisions of this will' $2,000 was given to the daughter of testatrix, and the residue of the estate, after the usual direction as to debts and a legacy of $50, was given to her son. The executors were directed to deposit the funds in a savings bank, paying the interest semi-annually to the beneficiaries; but the legacies were not to be paid until five years after her decease.
It is claimed by the contestant that such a disposition constituted an unlawful suspension of the power of alienation and the case of Smith v. Edwards (33 N. Y., 92) is cited in support of this contention. That case is not in point; there the whole interest upon the fund in question was not given to the legatees but was diverted to other purposes during the delay of payment. This case comes clearly within the rule laid down in Warner v. Durant (76 N. Y., 133).
Let a decree be presented admitting the will to probate.