Case Name: WALKER BANK & TRUST COMPANY, Executor of the Estate of Herbert E. Sargeant, Deceased, Plaintiff, v. The STATE TAX COMMISSION of Utah, Defendant
Court: Utah Supreme Court
Jurisdiction: Utah
Decision Date: 1967-01-05
Citations: 18 Utah 2d 300
Docket Number: No. 10629
Parties: WALKER BANK & TRUST COMPANY, Executor of the Estate of Herbert E. Sargeant, Deceased, Plaintiff, v. The STATE TAX COMMISSION of Utah, Defendant.
Judges: CROCKETT and TUCKETT, JJ., and PARLEY E. NORSETH, District Judge, concur.
Reporter: Utah Reports, Second Series
Volume: 18
Pages: 300–300

Head Matter:
422 P.2d 201
WALKER BANK & TRUST COMPANY, Executor of the Estate of Herbert E. Sargeant, Deceased, Plaintiff, v. The STATE TAX COMMISSION of Utah, Defendant.
No. 10629.
Supreme Court of Utah.
Jan. 5, 1967.
Owen & Ward, Glen M. Richman, Salt Lake City, for plaintiff.
Phil L. ITansen, Atty. Gen., M. Reed Hunter, Asst. Atty. Gen., Salt Lake City, for defendant.

Opinion:
HENRIOD, Chief Justice:
Appeal from a Tax Commission decision that "step-children" were not "children" under Title 59-12-2, Utah Code Annotated, 1953, giving a $40,000 exemption where the surviving spouse "and/or children of the deceased" are involved. Affirmed, with no costs awarded.
The legislation is clear. It says "children," not "step-children." In re Walton's Estate said "grandchildren" were not "children" under such a statute. We think that case is somewhat significant here, and affirm it. The complications of twisting the language to include any one but a natural or legally adopted child seem obvious. Otherwise, the words "cousin" or "mistress" might acquire added significance if either claimed his or her benefactor was a loco "parentis."
This is a matter for the legislator and his lexicographer, — not us.
CROCKETT and TUCKETT, JJ., and PARLEY E. NORSETH, District Judge, concur.
CALLISTER, J., does not participate herein.
. 115 Utah 160, 203 P.2d 393 (1949).