In re Proving the Last Will & Testament of Raab

| N.Y. App. Div. | Jun 15, 1899

Rumsey, J.:

Rosa Raab died on the 1st of May, 1897. Her will was presented for probate soon after, and on the 27th. of May, 1898, a decree of the surrogate was made admitting it to probate and construing its residuary clause. From so much of the decree as contains the construction of that clause, the executor,.who was the proponent, appeals.

In her will, Mrs. Raab made two bequests, and then follows the residuary clause, which is the one in dispute and which reads thus: “ All the rest, residue and remainder, consisting of moneys deposited by me in the Citizens’ Savings, Bank,. Bowery Savings Bank, Dry Dock Savings Bank and German Savings Bank, and the money due after my decease from the Metropolitan Life • Insurance Go. I give and bequeath unto my executor hereinafter named in consideration of defraying my funeral expenses and keep my burial plot in good condition.” The decree of the surrogate determined that the intention of the testatrix in making that disposition was merely to devote so much of the funds or property affected by the disposition as are properly applicable thereto to the care of her burial plot and to defraying the expenses of her funeral, and that the remainder of the decedent’s estate is not disposed of by the said will, and' is to be distributed as in the case of intestacy'. The executor, who was named as the residuary legatee, insists that the bequest is to him, either upon condition that he defray the funeral expenses and keep the burial plot of the testatrix in good condition, or that it involves a covenant on his part to perform those things.

That the bequest is sufficient in, form to vest the executor with an estate in the property, there can be no doubt. (Fairchild v. Edson, 77 Hun, 298" court="N.Y. Sup. Ct." date_filed="1894-04-13" href="https://app.midpage.ai/document/fairchild-v-edson-5506415?utm_source=webapp" opinion_id="5506415">77 Hun, 298.) If that bequest shall be construed as a trust, it is undoubtedly void, as is claimed by the respondent. (Holland v. Alcock, 108 N.Y. 312" court="NY" date_filed="1888-02-07" href="https://app.midpage.ai/document/holland-v--alcock-3605224?utm_source=webapp" opinion_id="3605224">108 N. Y. 312.) It is a well-settled rule of law that no provision of a will should be construed in such a way as to make it invalid, if such a construction can be avoided. (Greene v. Greene, 125 N.Y. 506" court="NY" date_filed="1891-02-24" href="https://app.midpage.ai/document/greene-v--greene-3595220?utm_source=webapp" opinion_id="3595220">125 N. Y. 506.) Such a construction is not required by the terms of -this will. The gift to the executor is plain and‘clear, and the clause following it, by the terms of which he is required to pay the funeral expenses of the testatrix and to keep her burial plot in good condition, is not a limitation of the amount that he is to receive, but is to be construed either as a condition subsequent upon which he is to take the estate, or as implying a covenant by which he will be bound in case he accepts the bequest. (Cunningham v. Parker, 146 N.Y. 29" court="NY" date_filed="1895-04-30" href="https://app.midpage.ai/document/cunningham-v--parker-3616302?utm_source=webapp" opinion_id="3616302">146 N. Y. 29.) In either case, it requires that the executor take title to the estate. Whether it is to be construed as a covenant or as a condition, it is not necessary to decide at this time. All that we decide is that the effect of the bequest is to vest the title to the residuary estate in the executor, subject to the duty to pay the funeral expenses of the testatrix and to keep her burial plot in proper condition.

The decree of the surrogate should be modified in accordance with the views expressed in this opinion, and as so modified affirmed, with costs to the appellant.

Van Brunt, P. J., O’Brien, Ingraham and McLaughlin, JJ., concurred.

Decree modified as directed in opinion, and as modified affirmed, with costs to the appellant.