199 Misc. 118 | N.Y. Sur. Ct. | 1950
This is a proceeding for the construction of the will of decedent insofar as it purports to dispose of his house and land appurtenant thereto; his workshop and likewise land appurtenant thereto; the contents of his house and workshop and a “ Workmen’s Sick and Death Benefit Fund of the United States of America ” death benefit certificate.
•The material portions of the will read as follows: “ In gratitude for tender care in my declining years, and for faithful housekeeping, I bequeath my house to my daughter, Lucy Dawson, to share the same with my son Charles Stephan. My workshop will be kept by my son William Stephan.
“After all my cremation expenses are paid, all what is left from my savings in the “ Franklin Society ”, 217 Broadway, New York City, “ Corn Exchange Bank, Fulton and Pearl Streets, New York City, “Prudential Life Insurance Company, and “ Workmen’s Benefit Fund ” shall be divided to all my children ; Lucy Dawson, William Stephan, Elsie Stanecker, Charles Stephan, Edwin Stephan, Herman Stephan, Irene Baranoski.”
With the exception of the Prudential Life Insurance policy,' the decedent owned, at the time of his death, all of the items specifically set forth in the will and, in addition thereto, the land upon which both the house and workshop were erected together -with the contents of both.
Lucy Kowell (formerly Lucy Dawson) contends that the devise of the house to her is an absolute gift in fee and cannot be cut down nor limited by subsequent words which would reduce the devise (Matter of Blanch, 126 Misc. 421; Clarke v. Leupp, 88 N. Y. 228; Tillman v. Ogren, 227 N. Y. 495). Her brother, Charles Stephan, contends that the devise is to both of them as tenants in common.
It is true that, where there is an absolute gift of real or personal property, in order to qualify it or cut it down the latter part of the will should show equally clear intention to do so by use of words definite in their meaning and by expressions' which
In the case at bar the contention of Lucy Kowell cannot be sustained on the theory that a previous absolute gift was reduced by a subsequent limitation less clear in meaning and intention for the reason that all of the words are used in the same sentence and taken together show a clear intention on the part of the testator to give his house to his daughter, Lucy, and his son, Charles, as tenants in common. Independently of this construction, Lucy and Charles would be tenants in common pursuant to the provisions of section 66 of the Beal Property Law which reads as follows: ‘ ‘ Every estate granted or devised to two or more persons in their own right shall be a tenancy in common, unless expressly declared to be in joint tenancy; but every estate, vested in executors or trustees as such, shall be held by them in joint tenancy.”
When the testator devised his house to Lucy and Charles and his workshop to William, what part of the land was devised therewith 1 The plot upon which the house is erected was purchased by deed dated April 24, 1911, and is forty feet in front and rear and approximately 120 feet deep on both sides. The plot upon which the workshop is erected was purchased by deed dated July 16,1915, is twenty feet in front and rear and approximately 120 feet on both sides. It adjoins the “ house ” property
The decedent was born in Germany and migrated to this country many years ago. In bequeathing the workshop to William, the testator used the words “ Avill be kept ”. The English meaning of the verb “ to keep ” is to hold, to maintain, retain, reserve or Avithhold. The German word for “ keep ” is “ haben ” and the meaning of “ hahen ” is held, have, keep, possess or own.
The devise of a dwelling house and Avorkshop sufficiently definite and certain to afford means of identification thereof, passes title to all of the ground covered by the house and workshop and such additional and adjacent lands of the testator as were used in connection with the house and the workshop on the date of the execution of the will and is necessary for the reasonable use and enjoyment thereof in the absence of a clear and unambiguous expression of intention to the contrary. (Matter of Brown, 119 Cal. App. 195; Massachusetts Audubon Soc. v. Ormond Vil. Improvement Assn., 152 Fla. 1; Dudley v. Milton, 176 Mass. 167; Marston v. Stickney, 58 N. H. 609; Hartfield v. Pennsylvania Co., 89 N. J. Eq. 45; Broadhurst v. Mewborn, 171 N. C. 400; Gilbert v. McCreary, 87 W. Va. 56.)
The court concludes that the testator intended to devise to Lucy and Charles the property described in deed dated April 24, 1911, and recorded in the Richmond County Clerk’s Office in Liber 395 of Deeds, page 7, on July 26, 1911; and further intended to devise to William the property described in deed dated July 16, 1915, and recorded in the Richmond County Clerk’s Office in Liber 430 of Deeds, page 87 on July 26, 1915.
When the testator devised the house to Lucy and Charles and the Avorkshop to William, did he intend to include the contents of the house and Avorkshop % If two interpretations of a Avill or a specified portion thereof are possible, that interpretation is to be preferred which will avoid either a total or a partial intestacy (Waterman v. New York Life Ins. & Trust Co., 237 N. Y. 293). This cannon of interpretation is predicated upon the presumption that a testator who executed his will intended to dispose of
The court concludes that when the testator used the words “ my house ” he intended to include its contents, and when he used the word ‘1 workshop ’ ’ he intended likewise to include its contents.
The decedent provided “ Workmen’s Benefit Fund shall be divided to all my children ’ ’. The fund has already been paid to Lucy as the designated beneficiary. The certificate issued by “ Workmen’s Sick and Benefit Fund of the United States of America ” states that Lucy Dawson, his daughter, shall be entitled to receive the sum of $250 subject to the conditions contained in the testamentary disposition signed by said member. The words testamentary disposition do not mean the will of the decedent but have reference to a paper so described by the “ Fund ” for a change of beneficiary and annexed to the petition herein.
Enter decree in accordance herewith.