In re Administrator of Goods, Chattels & Credits of Lee

132 Misc. 570 | N.Y. Sur. Ct. | 1928

Schulz, S.

This was a discovery proceeding in which no answer ■was interposed. The evidence discloses that the respondent received the sum of $120 on account of salary due to the decedent at the time of his death, but that all of this money was used up for necessary and legitimate expenses as to which no question appears to be made. She also had in her possession 100 shares of stock of a mining company which she is willing to turn over to the administrator, provided the latter files a bond in the sum of $500. This, I understand, is satisfactory to the petitioner and an order to that effect may be entered.

The real controversy is over a bank deposit aggregating $5,029.24 in a building loan and savings institution in the names of the decedent and the respondent, his sister, as follows: “Joseph T. Lee or Rose A. Lee.”

The contention by the respondent is that this was a joint account and that the moneys evidenced thereby upon the death of the decedent became her property. She has withdrawn the same and redeposited them in her own name. The statute upon the subject is subdivision 3, section 249 of the Banking Law, which is as follows: “ When a deposit shall be made by any person in the names of such depositor and another person and in form to be paid to either or the survivor of them, such deposit and any additions thereto made by either of such persons after the making thereof, shall become the property of such persons as joint tenants, and the same together with all dividends thereon shall be held for the exclusive use of such persons and may be paid to either during the lifetime of both or to the survivor after the death of one of them, and such payment and the receipt or acquittance of the one to whom such payment is made shall be a valid and sufficient release and discharge to such savings bank for all payments made on account of such deposit prior to the receipt by such savings bank of notice in writing not to pay such deposit in accordance with the terms thereof. The making of the deposit in such form shall, in the absence of fraud or undue influence, be conclusive evidence, in any action or proceeding to which either such savings bank or the surviving depositor is a party, of the intention of both depositors to vest title to such deposit and the additions thereto in such survivor.”

At the time of the opening of the account the decedent and the respondent signed a statement as follows:

“ Joint Account — It is understood and agreed by the undersigned that the monies paid on this account and its increment are their joint property and may be withdrawn by the subscribers, or by either of them, or in case of death by the survivor,” which appeared on one side of a card and also the following recital upon the other side of such card: tc ,T 1ririo

,T 1ririo New York, 7 /9 1923

“ I hereby acknowledge receipt of a copy of the By-Laws and Rules of the Serial Building Loan and Savings Institution, and assent to same as they now exist and do consent and agree to abide by all amendments legally made thereto.”

The bank book contained the following: “Accounts may be opened in the name of two or more persons. The institution wfll be hable thereon, in the event of death, to the survivor only; while both are living, payment to either shall discharge its liability to both.”

The petitioner claims that testimony given by the respondent to the effect that the decedent told her that he was opening an account for her which she was to get at his death for her acts of kindness and goodness to him during many years, and other similar testimony, negatives the presumption that a joint account with the right of survivorship was intended to be created. I do not agree with that contention. The card signed by both parties distinctly states the contrary, and in my opinion is stronger evidence of the intent of the parties than the recollection by the respondent as to declarations made by the decedent. This card, coupled with the form of the account and the bank book, is, to my mind, conclusive evidence of the intention to establish a joint account with the right of survivorship.

The petitioner has failed to establish that the property is part of the decedent’s estate, and the proceeding is, therefore, dismissed in so far as such account is concerned.

Enter order accordingly.