Court Opinion

ID: 6151745
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2022-02-05 16:02:02.14731+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T08:55:03.712155
License: Public Domain

Cohalan, S.
The bequest of the testatrix’s diamond bar pin to'the objectant, Jennie Whitehead, is a specific legacy and title to the same vested in the objectant immediately upon the death of the testatrix, subject only to the right of the executor to use the property for the purpose of paying debts, expenses of administration or otherwise, if it might be necessary by reason of insufficiency of general assets of the estate. The account as filed shows that the general assets are sufficient to pay all debts and expenses of administration. The executor has by implication assented to the title of the objectant to this specific legacy by stating that he has no such diamond bar pin in his possession, but offering the only other bar pin that he has. The executor does not claim the right to possession of the diamond bar pin in question, but shows that, as he has not the same, he cannot make delivery. It is admitted on the part of the objectant that the diamond bar pin is not in the possession of the executor, but the objectant seeks to compel the executor to reduce the same to possession by discovery proceeding or otherwise. The assent of the executor to the title of the objectant to the property in question has become complete and irrevocable and the title to this diamond bar pin is vested in the specific legatee. Matter of Utica Trust & Deposit Co., 148 App. Div. 525; Matter of Columbia Trust Co., 186 id. 377. As the executor has *684not taken possession of the diamond bai» pin and as it is not needed in fhe administration of the estate, the legatee in whom the title vested must care for it at his peril and must take it as and where it is: Matter of Columbia Trust Co., supra. Any action necessary for the recovery of the property must be prosecuted by the specific legatee and so that the title in this legatee shall be made clear the decree on this accounting should contain a provision directing the executor to transfer to the specific legatee any interest so far as the estate is concerned in this diamond bar pin. Matter of Utica Trust & Deposit Co., supra. The objections, therefore, which seek to charge the executor’s account with the specific article must be dismissed.
Objections dismissed.