Court Opinion

ID: 6153086
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2022-02-05 16:09:12.519366+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T08:55:07.156029
License: Public Domain

O’Brien, S.
This is an appeal by the executors from the report of the transfer tax appraiser and the order entered thereon on the following grounds: (1) That the tax upon the remainder interest is excessive in that it is computed as though the remainder were added to the value of the surviving life estate of George H. Hallanan, Jr.; (2) that the present value of the surviving life estate of George H. Hallanan, Jr., is excessive for the reason that it was valued without making allowance or deduction for the value of the primary life estate; (3) that the value of the remainder is excessive for the reason that no allowance or deduction has been made for the value of the primary life estate and the survivmg life estate; (4) that chapter 144 of the Laws of 1925  is unconstitutional. The decedent died on April 3, 1926. By his will he left his residuary estate in trust during the Uves of Ms son, George Henry Hallanan, and Ms grandson, George Henry Hallanan, Jr., the income to be paid to the son during his lifetime and after Ms death to the son’s issue until the trust should terminate. He further provided that upon the death of both Ms son and his grandson the prmcipal should be paid to such persons as the son should by Ms last will and testament appomt, and, m default of such appointment, to the issue of the son per stirpes. The appeal on the first ground is sustained. It is apparent from the language used in the decedent’s will that the division of the prmcipal was to be made after the death of both the decedent’s son and Ms grandson. The grandson, George Henry Hallanan, Jr., would, therefore, be excluded from participation in the corpus of the trust. The second, tMrd and fourth grounds of appeal are demed. (Matter of Hecht, 219 App. Div. 656; affd., 246 N. Y. 602; Matter of Simonson, 219 App. Div. 656; affd., 246 N. Y. 601.) Submit order on notice modifying the taxMg order in accordance with tMs decision.