134 Misc. 868 | N.Y. Sur. Ct. | 1929
This is an appeal by Katherine B. Smith, individually, from the report of the transfer tax appraiser and the order entered thereon upon the ground that the tax was assessed on the transfer of five savings bank accounts as property passing to Rose Kenney instead of property passing to Katherine B. Smith and that the tax so assessed is illegal.
The decedent died on September 23, 1927. Prior to his death he had opened two savings bank accounts in the name of “ Charles F. Kiernan in trust for Katherine B. Smith.” These accounts were in the Manhattan Savings Institution and the Metropolitan Savings Bank respectively. He had likewise opened a savings account in the East River Savings Institution in the name of “ Charles F. Kiernan in trust for cousin Katherine B. Smith.” In addition to these he had opened an account in the Maiden Lane Savings Bank in the name of “ Charles F. Kiernan for Katherine B. Smith ” and an account in the Emigrant Industrial Savings Bank in the name of “ Charles F. Kiernan for cousin Katherine B. Smith.” These are the five accounts in question which, on the date of the decedent’s death, amounted'to $20,096.77. The appraiser has found that the entire estate of the decedent, including these savings bank accounts, passed to his cousin Rose Kenney and the taxing order has assessed the tax accordingly.
Testimony was taken by the transfer tax appraiser as to the ownership of the bank accounts in question. Upon that testimony he based his conclusion that the entire estate of the decedent passed to Rose Kenney and that Katherine B. Smith was not entitled to the possession of the moneys in these accounts. When this appeal from the taxing order, entered upon the report of the appraiser, came on to be heard it was adjourned by me for a further hearing in order to take testimony of the witnesses who appeared before the appraiser. Such testimony was subsequently taken by me and at the close of the hearing a motion was made to strike out all the evidence taken upon that hearing and for the affirmance of the taxing order. This
Moreover, entirely disregarding the evidence presented before me, and considering only the record before the appraiser, I hold that upon the death of the decedent the moneys in the savings bank accounts in question passed to Katherine B. Smith. It is conceded that the accounts were opened by the decedent as above set forth and that the bank books were in the possession of the decedent at the time of his death. The record contains testimony to the effect that Katherine B. Smith had knowledge of these accounts, that there had been a delivery of the pass books and that the money was to go to her upon the death of the decedent. Whether or not there was a completed gift inter vivos need not be considered here as the parties admit that the transfer of these moneys is taxable. The rule as to trusts of savings bank deposits was definitely laid down in Matter of Totten (179 N. Y. 112), as is stated by the court as follows: “ A deposit by one person of his own money, in his own name as trustee for another, standing alone, does not establish an irrevocable trust during the lifetime of the depositor. It is a tentative trust merely, revocable at will, until the depositor dies or completes the gift in his lifetime by some unequivocal act or declaration, such as delivery of the pass book or notice to the beneficiary. In case the depositor dies before the beneficiary without revocation, or some decisive act or declaration of disaffirmance, the presumption arises that an absolute trust was created as to the balance on hand at the death of the depositor.” In the instant case the decedent, at the time of his death, had not revoked the tentative trusts. On the contrary, the uncontradicted testimony shows that he desired this money to become the property of Katherine B. Smith at his death. He had pre
From these facts it is apparent that the tentative trusts created by the decedent for Katherine B. Smith became absolute at his death and that the transfer of the bank deposits was a transfer to her and not to Rose Kenney.
An order may be submitted, on notice, sustaining this appeal and modifying the taxing order accordingly.