Court Opinion

ID: 6145880
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2022-02-05 15:25:47.802679+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T08:54:51.654695
License: Public Domain

Varnum, S.
This matter was argued before Surrogate Arnold, and has since been submitted to me. The applications to vacate the decrees herein are based mainly on five grounds: (1) that the petitioner was never served with the citations; (2) that the accountings are fraudulent and reveal gross er-tots; (3) that the referee had no power to permit an amended account to be made; (4) that the decrees do not provide for ■distribution; and (5) that the executor could not account as *56guardian while accounting as executor. A careful study of the affidavits submitted makes the conclusions inevitable that the petitioner was personally served with the citations. Furthermore, in going over the various accountings filed, I fail to find evidence sufficient to substantiate the allegations of fraud or error made by the petitioner, or to justify the vacating of the decrees herein made upon two accountings, both of which were contested, in part successfully, by the special guardian appointed by the court. So far as the third objection is concerned, the power of a referee to grant the same amendments that the surrogate himself may allow cannot be questioned. In an accounting the referee may allow any amendment which does not include a transaction subsequent to the return day of the citation. Estate of Odell, 18 N. Y. St. Repr. 997; Estate of William Munzer, Surr. Dec., 1893, pp. 454-457. If the petitioner desires to raise the question of distribution, let him take appropriate independent proceedings, bringing in all of the parties interested in the fund. The fifth objection urged by the petitioner is also without merit. The moneys paid out by the executor for the maintenance of the children of the testator were disbursed by him in his capacity of executor only. There has never been any turning over of moneys to himself as guardian. Hence, these sums were properly credited in his account. Browne v. Bedford, 4 Dem. 304.
The application must be denied.
Applications denied.