New York Surrogate's Court, 1962

In re the Estate of Baker

In re the Estate of Baker
New York Surrogate's Court · Decided July 24, 1962 · Herman
36 Misc. 2d 426; 231 N.Y.S.2d 470; 1962 N.Y. Misc. LEXIS 2890

Counsel

Smith, Ranscht & Pollock for petitioners. Eugene Nadelman, as special guardian.

In re the Estate of Baker

Opinion of the Court

Harry G. Herman, S.

In this proceeding for a construction, the executors, the daughter and son-in-law of the decedent, request a determination as to the validity, construction and effect of the following provision contained in paragraph “ second ” of the will, to wit: “ Trust funds to be set up for each of my two grandsons, Thomas A. Klein and Christopher J. Klein, in the amount of Two Thousand Dollars ($2,000.00) for each of them ”.

The testatrix has failed to provide a duration for the trust, or any trustees, or to place upon trustees, any duty or standards to guide their actions. In these circumstances the testatrix has created at most two passive trusts which by operation of law (Real Property Law, §§ 92, 93) title to the bequeathed property vests directly in the beneficiaries (Jacoby v. Jacoby, 188 N. Y. 124; Denison v. Denison, 185 N. Y. 438; Matter of Kuehnle, 4 Misc 2d 540). The named beneficiaries are infants *427who reside in Dade County, Florida, with their father, their duly appointed general guardian, and the person authorized to receive the bequests as such guardian. (Surrogate’s Ct. Act, I 271-a.)

Case-law data current through December 31, 2025. Source: CourtListener bulk data.