Court Opinion

ID: 5508806
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2022-01-10 03:27:35.073758+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T08:34:06.932025
License: Public Domain

HARDIN, P. J.
On the 31st of October, 1888, the testator made and published his will, in which he named as his executors Joseph Rettig and F. L. Faass, and also appointed them guardians of his minor children, “and Trustees for the purposes of this will and the trust thereby created.” He authorized and empowered the executors “to manage, lease, or sell real estate, * * * and to do all things required to give to the purchaser or purchasers thereof good title thereto.” The will contained the following, viz.:
“They to use the income, and, if need be, the principal, for or towards the support, education, etc., of my daughter Anna Walburger Keinz, and of my eon George Ke'nz, until said George Keinz shall become of the age of 21 years, using for each of said children so much thereof as in their or the survive r’s judgment is needed, and not being required to use equal parts for each; it being my wi.l that my said executors, and the survivor of them, exercise discretion as to what each will be benefited by, and provide or give same to him or her.”
He also provided that upon the arrival of George at the age of 21 years all that remained of the real estate and personal estate and increase of each “shall be divided between my three children, John Andrew Keinz, Anna Walburger Keinz, and George Keinz, equally, share and share alike.” Under the provisions of the will the executors were also named as trustees, and were authorized to use the income of the testator’s estate, “and, if need be, the principal,” for the support and education of the daughter and the son George until he should arrive at the áge of 21 years. It was for the executors to use so much for each of said children as in their judgment, or that of the survivor, should be needed; and they were not required to use equal parts for each. The discretion of the executors, conferred by the testator was. exercised from time to time, as appears by their accounts and the evidence produced upon the accounting. We do not.see that the surrogate, has, committed any error in .adjusting the-"accounts. Nor do we think the surrogate erred in. refusing, to revoke the letters testamentary issued to the *341executors. The testator understood the capacity of the executors when he named them, and apparently they discharged their duties without fraud or bad faith, according to their understanding of their duties, and in good faith. The evidence did not satisfy the surrogate that the objection to the executors was established, and he did not err in refusing to remove them. Code Civ. Proc. §§ 2685, 2687, The surrogate had a discretion, and, being satisfied with the direction it took, we should not disturb his action. McGregor v. Buel, 24 N. Y. 169; In re Chase, 32 Hun, 320; In re West, 40 Hun, 291-297, affirmed 19 N. E. 286, 111 N. Y. 687; Freeman v. Kellogg, 4 Redf. Sur. 218, opinion by Calvin, S., and cases cited; Martin v. Duke, 5 Redf. Sur. 599. The executors had a discretion as to expenditures to be made for the support and education of the minor children, and the will declares, “the income, and, if need be, the principal, of the real estate is to be used, in the discretion of said executors, for or towards their support.” The decree declared the minors were entitled to receive their entire support, education, etc., from the testator’s estate, and that their earnings should not be used for that purpose. We think that clause should be modified so it shall be provided in the decree that the executors and trustees, in their discretion, may use the income, and, if need be, the principal, of the estate for the education and support of the minor children. The commissions to the executor should be stricken out. The decree is therefore modified to conform to the foregoing views.
Decree modified to conform to the views stated in the opinion, and, as modified, affirmed, with costs to guardian respondents, payable out of the estate. All concur.