In re the Judicial Settlement of the Estate of Meuschke , 61 Misc. 9 ( 1908 )

Heaton, S.

The objections to the account of the executor have been tried on judicial settlement. The testator left a will giving his real estate, worth $4,000 or $5,000-, to his widow, with .all the household furniture, a, piano, bed and bedding, bureau -and bookcase, to 'his adopted daughter, and $300 to each of six classes of collateral relatives, most of whom live in Germany, the same to be paid from the deposit in the savings bank, and the residue of such deposit to- his widow. - , The account as filed shows money in savings bank received, with interest, $2,0'5'5.'60 as constituting all the assets. None of the household furniture or articles specifically bequeathed to the daughter appears in the account. The charges for expenses and ¡debts made by the account may be.summarized as follows: Funeral expenses, $381.50; monument, $50 ; expenses of administration, $1'2'3.25; widow’s mourning clothes, $120; widow’s sustenance, $180; widow’s- set-off (section 2713, subd. 5), $150'; debts, $521.83.

Objection is made to the allowance of each of the following items : Funeral expenses, $381.50; monument, $50; attorney’s fees, $100; widow’s mourning, ¡$120'; widow’s- sustenance, $180’; debt of Alma Meuschke, $398.65.

The funeral expenses are perhaps larger than were necessary, but they seem to have been contracted in good faith; and, although Mr. Meuschke never earned large wages, yet he had aecumulated from $7,000 to $8,000 and was somewhat prominent ■among his fellow Germans. The objections to the funeral expenses are disallowed.

The item of $50 for headstone is allowed, with permission' to unite with other relatives in purchasing and erecting a monument according to the proved intention of the deceased, a! voucher and proof for which must be filed bythe executor within three months.

The attorney’s charges are allowed.

The item of $120 for widow’s mourning clothes are disallowed.

¡No vouchers are filed showing its payment by either the executor or the widow. There is no statute permitting' the allowance of such an expenditure, but .the courts have established the rule. Allen v. Allen, 3 Dem. 524; Matter of Wachter, 16 Misc. Rep. 137; Matter of Weaver, 53 id. 244. The reason for the allowance as part of the funeral expenses is found in the fact that it is the almost universal practice for members of the family, of a deceased person to wear mourning; and a change of apparel is thus rendered necessary as part of the preparation for the funeral and as a mark of proper respect for the deceased. This expenditure should only be allowed, however, in behalf of ■those members of the family for whom the deceased was bound to provide, and should be moderate in amount. The representative should not pay over a lump sum for this purpose but there! should be filed with him proper evidence of the exact amount used and for what it was expended, so that he may act with a due regard for the rights of all interested parties-. He is ras much bound to have before him the items of such expenditure as he is of the funeral expenses proper.

The charge of $180' for the “widow’s sustenance” is not 'allowed. ¡No vouchers are filed showing its payment by the executor or its expenditure by the widow. There are two provisions of the law for the support of the widow for forty and sixty days respectively, and these statutes do not seem to he .clearly separated when sustenance is spoken of. One is section 2713, subdivision 3, Code of Civil Procedure, where provisions and fuel may be set off for the support of the widow and minor children for sixty days. If such articles do not exist, no money can be allowed in their place. Heaton, Surrogate’s Courts^ paragraphs 696-699. The other provision is found in section 184 of the Beal Property Law, relating to widow’s dower, and it ■provides that the widow may remain in the chief house of her husband, for forty days (if she has dower therein) without being liable for rent; “ and in the meantime she may have her reasonable sustenance out of the estate of her husband.” These statutes ought to be construed so that they will harmonize as far as ■possible. Certainly it was not intended that a widow should be allowed for her support from two different sources at the same time, and yet it is not easy to see how this can be avoided in some instances. Where there are provisions and fuel on hand that can be set off by the appraisers, the widow and minor children are entitled to the same for their support for sixty days. It would seem that this is the only support the widow would be entitled to, unless the deceased left real estate in which the widow had a dower right, in which case, and in which case only, the widow is entitled to' sustenance for forty days.

By this will the widow is given all the real estate, absolutely; and, having accepted this provision of the will, she has no claim under the Beal Property Law for forty days’ sustenance.

The executor has paid a claim presented by Alma Meuschke, the daughter, of $398.65. This claim is made up of items paid for repairs to the real property, gas and other expenses, incurred by the deceased and paid by the daughter with money earned by her. These items, amounting to $161.65, are allowed. Matter of Brown, 60 Misc. Rep. 35. The balance of the bill is for $3 a! week advanced by the said daughter to defray household expenses and for $45 advanced to Mrs. Meuschke for clothing. The evidence is that Miss Meuschke was employed in a nearby; city and came home every Saturday afternoon and spent Sunday with her parents, and at that time bought provisions for family use to the extent of $3 a week. So far as the evidence goes, these payments seem to have been a voluntary contribution by the daughter for family use and cannot be allowed against the estate of her father under the evidence in this ease.

Decreed accordingly.