In re the Probate of the Last Will & Testament of Healy

1 Mills Surr. 72 | N.Y. Sur. Ct. | 1899

Fitzgerald, S.

This is a proceeding to probate a will. The testator left him surviving no widow, descendants, parents, brothers or sisters. He left nephews, nieces, the issue of deceased nephews and nieces, and the issue of deceased uncles and aunts. Ho uncles or aunts survive him. The question has arisen whether, in addition to citing the nephews, nieces and the issue of deceased nephews and nieces, it is necessary also to cite the issue of deceased uncles and aunts. Thé will relates to real and personal property, and the heirs and next of kin of the testator must be cited. The nephews, nieces and issue of deceased nephews and nieces constitute all the_ heirs, and it is contended that they also constitute all the next of kin. Section 2732 of the Code of Civil Procedure does not include the combination of relatives left by this decedent among those for whom specific provision is made. Subdivision 5 of that section is as follows: “ If there be no widow, and no children, and no representatives of a child, the whole surplus shall be distributed to the next of kin, in equal degree to the deceased, and their legal representatives.” This provision was derived from the statute of 22 and 23 Car. II, chapter 10, a provision of which is identical with it. The English courts and our own have held that, under this provision, in the absence of nearer next of kin, uncles, aunts, nephews and nieces share equally, because all are included in the third degree. Durant v. Prestwood, 1 Atk. 454; Hurtin v. Proal, 3 Bradf. 414. It is clear, therefore, that the deceased uncles and aunts "of "the decedent, whose issue survive him, would, if living, share with his nephews and nieces. Subdivision 12,- which formerly provided that “ no representation shall be admitted among col-laterals after brothers’ and sisters’ children,” was amended by chapter 319, Laws of 1898, to read as follows: “ Representation shall be admitted among collaterals in the same manner as allowed by law in reference to real estate.” It is conceded that under this provision the issue of deceased nephews and nieces share with living nephews and nieces and take by representation the shares which their ancestors would have taken if living, but it is contended that in the present instance the issue of the decedent’s deceased uncles and aunts do not so take by representation. The principle of representation prescribed by the provisions of the Real Property Law relating to descents is in any given instance as follows: The primary division being made between the nearest surviving relative or relatives and the descendants of those of the same degree, such descendants take by representation the share which their ancestor would have taken, if living, in the same manner as if their ancestor had survived and died intestate. Pond v. Bergh, 10 Paige, 140-148. Thus a son of a deceased sister, four brothers and a granddaughter of a deceased brother each take one-sixth. Adams v. Smith, 20 Abb. N. C. 60. The same rule was followed, cousins sharing with the issue of deceased cousins, who took by representation their ancestors’ shares, in Hyatt v. Pugsley, 23 Barb. 301. In Hurtin v. Proal, supra, the learned surrogate says: “ representation never changes or advances the degree; though where the degrees are unequal, it operates when declared by the statute, to give the representatives of a deceased person the share he would have taken if living.” Kent says: “ Inheritance per stirpes is admitted when representation becomes necessary to prevent the exclusion of persons in a remote degree.” Kent’s Com., § 391. This principle of representation prescribed in the law of descent is precisely the same as that contained in subdivision 11 of the section above mentioned relating to distribution. The effect of the amendment of subdivision 12 was merely to remove the former limitation, of representation to brothers’ and sisters’ children. The same limitation was applied to real estate in the act of 1786, and was in like manner removed by the Revised Statutes. Hannan v. Osborn, 4 Paige, 336, 340; Pond v. Bergh, 10 id. 140, 148. In the present instance the class or stock among which division is made is composed of the decedent’s nephews, nieces, uncles and aunts and the issue of any deceased member of that class take their ancestor’s share by representation. A citation should issue to the representatives of the decedent’s uncles and aunts.

Decreed accordingly.