Case Name: In the Matter of the Accounting of Bank of New York and Fifth Avenue Bank, as Executor of Richard L. Stafford, Deceased
Court: New York Surrogate's Court
Jurisdiction: New York
Decision Date: 1949-09-30
Citations: 196 Misc. 236
Docket Number: 
Parties: In the Matter of the Accounting of Bank of New York and Fifth Avenue Bank, as Executor of Richard L. Stafford, Deceased.
Judges: 
Reporter: New York Miscellaneous Reports
Volume: 196
Pages: 236–237

Head Matter:
In the Matter of the Accounting of Bank of New York and Fifth Avenue Bank, as Executor of Richard L. Stafford, Deceased.
Surrogate’s Court, Richmond County,
September 30, 1949.
Emmet, Marvin & Martin for executor, petitioner.
Lord, Bay $ Lord for Frances E. Livingston, objectant.

Opinion:
Boylan, S.
The objections filed by Frances E. Livingston, having been withdrawn, the account is approved as filed. The executor is granted permission to abandon all property listed in schedule B-l of the account.
By the fifth paragraph of his will, the decedent bequeathed his " household furniture and furnishings " to a cousin, Helen Stafford Jefferson. The executor requests the court to instruct it as to whether the decedent's automobile is included in " household furniture and furnishings ". It has been held that the words " personal effects " and " household effects " were broad enough to include an automobile. (Matter of Jones, 128 Misc. 244; Matter of Winburn, 139 Misc. 5; Matter of Burnside, 185 Misc. 808.) The word " effects " is a very general term. The words " furniture " and " furnishings " have definite, certain and limited meanings which do not include an automobile.
Enter decree accordingly.