141 Misc. 428 | N.Y. Sur. Ct. | 1930
In this accounting proceeding a question arises as to the amount of income which is payable to the widow as life tenant of the residuary trust. Counsel for the widow contends that the method of computation laid down in Matter of Benson (96 N. Y. 499) should not be followed, and argues that the gross income earned during the period of administration should be paid to the life tenant. These contentions must be overruled. The rule of ascertainment of income in the Benson case has been uniformly followed by the surrogates and the appellate courts in arriving at the true residue of an estate and the amount of net income payable from the date of death to the cestui of the trust. (Matter of Brokaw, 165 N. Y. Supp. 700; Matter of Emery, 134 Misc. 714; Matter of Brookfield, 109 id. 345; Williamson v. Williamson, 6 Paige, 298.) It provides a fair and equitable allocation of gross income between the life tenant and remaindermen. (Matter of Phillips, 128 Misc. 896.) It does not offend against the statute prohibiting accumulations, for the true net income is paid from the date of death and the true principal, constituting the residuary trust fund, is set up. Only recently my decision in Matter of Lord (134 Misc. 198), which applied the rule of the Benson case, was affirmed by
The claim for computation of the income asserted by the widow must, therefore, be overruled. Submit decree on notice settling the account and construing the will accordingly.
