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In re Morgan's Estate

74 N.Y.S. 478 Court N.Y. Sur. Ct. English

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p. 478
(36 Misc. Rep. 753.)
In re MORGAN’S ESTATE.
(Surrogate’s Court, New York County.
January, 1902.)

Headnote

Transfer Tax—Deduction of Debts.
The surrogate is without jurisdiction to deduct debts where they are-not urged at a transfer tax appraisal before the appraiser, nor reserved for future action, and the time for an appeal from the order fixing the tax has expired.
Proceedings on the report of an appraiser appointed to assist in the transfer of tax on the estate of Annie Taylor Morgan.
Decree rendered.
p. 479
Charles Fox, for petitioner.
Edward H. Fallows, for comptroller.

The order fixing the tax was an adjudication-binding on the parties and on the state as to all matters litigated before the appraiser and passed upon by him. The appraiser had the claim of Alexander C. Morgan against the decedent’s estate-brought to his attention, but he did not pass upon it for the reason, that it was then in litigation, and this fact appears upon the face of his report. The question as to the propriety of a deduction for this claim has, therefore, not yet been determined. The matter will be sent back to the appraiser to take evidence and report what,, if any, rebate or deduction from the tax imposed should be made-because of this claim. The other claims for which deductions are-asked do not appear to have been urged before the appraiser, and no-general reservation on the subject of claims was made by him. Such reservation would have been proper under In re Westurn’s Estate, 152 N. Y. 93 , 100, 46 N. E. 315 , and in the absence of it the only remedy under the statute for an omission to give proper credit for debts is by appeal. The time to appeal from the order has long since expired, and I am without jurisdiction to grant the relief asked for as to those claims. In re Crerar’s Estate, 56 App. Div. 481 , 67 N. Y. Supp. 795 . The order denying this part of the application will state-that such denial is upon the ground of want of jurisdiction.

Decreed accordingly.

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