Billings's Estate
Billings's Estate
Opinion of the Court
Opinion by
Sarah M. Billings died December 8, 1912, leaving a will in which she gave her residuary estate to ten nephews and nieces by name to be paid them “One thousand dollars to each of them within one year after my decease. Two thousand to each of them, additional, three years after my decease, one-half of the share of each of the remainder to each of them at the end of six years from my decease and the balance going to each one
Under section 9 of the Act of April 18,1853, P. L. 503, it cannot be seriously questioned that accumulations of income pending the time of payment are void. No express disposition of income is made by the will and payments of the corpus of the estate are limited to specific amounts at stated periods. The beneficiaries being of full age and the gifts not being to charities, no excuse appears for accumulating the income. While there is no specific direction that the income be accumulated, accumulation will necessarily result in executing the terms of the will and such cases are as fully within the act as those in which accumulations are expressly directed : Neel’s Est., 252 Pa. 394.
It is contended, however, that even though the income accumulation for the ten-year period is illegal no such improper accumulation occurred during the time for accounting, inasmuch as the total amount required to pay the inheritance taxes, legacies and expenses of administration, exceeded the income for that period. This argument begs the whole question, as the legacies are payable at certain future times and whether the accumulations are within the act must be determined as of the
Neither is a different rule to be applied to the accumulations accruing during the first year of the administration. The act contemplates the inclusion of this year in the computation of time during which accumulations are proper for the benefit of minors, stating that it shall be “from the death of any such grantor, settler or testator.” During the process of settling the estate all assets, whether principal or income, may be applied, if necessary, to the payment of debts and expenses. The question of the validity of the provision for accumulation cannot be made to depend upon the financial condition of the estate, as would be the case if the income for the first year were to be excluded from consideration.
Finally, it is contended the illegal accumulations are payable to the residuary legatees, or their personal representatives, and not to the heirs at law. Testator “gave, devised and bequeathed” to the persons named the legacies in question “to be paid to them” at the times stated. The legacies were consequently, vested, the time
The decree of the court below is affirmed. Costs to be paid by appellant.
Reference
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- Wills — Perpetuities—Accumulations—Time will lakes effect — ■ Future payments — Collateral inheritance tax — Expenses of administration — Accumulations during first year — Illegal accumulations go to heirs — Act of April 18, 1858, section 9, P. L. 508. 1. Where a testator gives her residuary estate to nephews and nieces, all of whom are of full age with directions for deferred payments at periods of two, six and ten years, hut without any express disposition of income pending time of distribution, the accumulation of income until times of payment are illegal and void under the Act of April 18, 1858, P. L. 508, and such accumulation passes to the heirs at law and not to the residuary legatees. 2. Cases where accumulations of income necessarily result, in executing the terms of a will, are as fully within the Act of 1853' as those in which accumulations are expressly directed. 3. Whether accumulations are within the Act of 1853, and invalid, must be determined as of the time when the will takes effect. 4. A direction to accumulate for the future payment of a legacy is void. 5. The collateral inheritance tax is a charge on such part of the estate as passes to collaterals as it stands at the death of the testator, and its status is fixed at that time. It is payable at once, and income subsequently accruing is not subject to the charge; nor does the Act of 1853 permit the accumulation of income for its payment. 6. Where a will provides for deferred payments of the residuary estate to collaterals, all of full age at the death of testatrix, without directions as to payment of income, such accumulations cannot be treated as valid on the theory that they are available for the payment of collateral inheritance tax on legacies, and expenses of administration; nor is a different rule to be applied to the accumulations accruing during the. first year of the administration. Wills — Legacies—Tested and contingent interests — Accumulations. 7. Where testatrix gives her residuary estate to nephews and nieces, all of full age, naming them, with payments deferred until stated times, the legacies are vested, even though they are subject to be divested by death of the legatees without children before the time of distribution; but the fact that the legacies are vested does not give the legatees the right to the illegal accumulations which have accrued pending the time of distribution. Such accumulations go to the heirs at law of testatrix.