Belcher's Estate
Belcher's Estate
Opinion of the Court
Opinion by
The first question is whether the appeal from the appraisement to the orphans’ court was in time. The appraisement was filed July 21, 1902, but no notice given until July 28, and the executors entered their appeal on August 22. Did the time for appeal begin to run from the filing of the appraisement or from the date of notice ? The statute is silent on this subject. Its language is that “any person or persons not satisfied
The court below held that there should be notice of the appointment of the appraiser, of the time and place of a hearing for the parties, and of the intended filing of the appraisement. The method of procedure suggested is admirable, and apprais
The second question is what estate is presently taxable for collateral inheritance. The testator bequeathed his whole estate practically, to his executors in trust to pay the income to testator’s parents, brothers and sisters “in equal proportions, and to the issue of any of said brothers and sisters in case of their death, semiannually for and during the term of their natural lives, and the lives of the survivors of them. . . . And after the death of my said father or mother, or any of my said brothers and sisters, without issue, then in such an event, the portions of the income of my estate so to be paid to them during their life shall go to the survivor or survivors thereof for and during the remainder of their natural lives; and after the death of my said father and mother and all of my said brothers and sisters as aforesaid, then my estate shall descend to the issue of any of such brothers and sisters who may then be living, share and share alike in fee.”
It is claimed by the commonwealth that under the rule in Shelley’s case the brothers and sisters took a fee, and their estates should be so taxed.
In Shapley v. Diehl, 203 Pa. 566, it was said, “ In determining whether the rule in Shelley’s case is applicable the test is how the donees in remainder are to take. If as purchasers under the donor then the particular estate is limited by the literal words of the deed and the rule in Shelley’s case has no application. But if the remaindermen are to take as heirs to
Judgment affirmed.
Reference
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- Syllabus
- Taxation—Collateral inheritance tax—Appeal from appraisement—Notice. In the appraisement for collateral inheritance tax the statute gives a right of appeal which necessarily implies notice, and the thirty days limitation of the right of appeal begins only from such notice. The statute, however, contains no provision for a hearing except in the orphans’ court upon appeal. Wills—Life estate—Rule in Shelley’s case—Collateral tax. Testator bequeathed his whole estate practically, to his executors in trust to pay the income to testator’s parents, brothers and sisters “in equal proportions, and to the issue of any of said brothers and sisters in case of their death, semiannually for and during the term of their natural lives, and the lives of the survivors of them, .... And after the death of my said father or mother, or any of my said brothers and sisters, without issue, then in such an event, the portions of the income of my estate so to be paid to them during their life shall go to the survivor or survivors thereof for and during the remainder of their natural lives; and after the death of my said father and mother and all of my said brothers and sisters as aforesaid, then my estate shall descend to the issue of any of such brothers and sisters who may be living, share and share alike in fee.” Held, that the brothers and sisters did not -take a fee under the rule in Shelley’s case, and that their estates were not taxable as such. In determining whether the rule in Shelley’s case is applicable the test is how the donees in remainder are to take. If as purchasers under the donor then the particular estate is limited by the literal words of the deed and the rule in Shelley’s case has no application. But if the remainder-men are to take as heirs to the donee of the particular estate, then what has been called the superior intent as declared in Shelley’s case operates and the first donee takes a fee whatever words may be used in describing the estate given to him.