WTE Morning 3 #1: Inspiration & Updates

(1) A Good Mistake

Last Thursday, I made a mistake that ended up being wonderful. At 2:30 PM, I went on Zoom for Linda Maryanov's Thursday Think Tank. Linda signed on and informed me and another participant that there was no meeting that day.

Linda said that she had to attend another meeting and asked me to stay on for a few minutes to inform others who made a similar mistake that the meeting is next week. But a few minutes later, Linda came back. Her other meeting was canceled and we ended up having a wonderful conversation about content creation, curation, and monetization – topics that I love!

The Thursday Think Tank is Linda Maryanov's study group for New York trusts & estates (and real estate and elder law) lawyers. Some meetings are focused on a single topic with someone knowledgeable sharing useful information. Others are "open-mic," where lawyers ask questions that others discuss. At a time when COVID has required us to keep our distance, Linda (a self-proclaimed non-techie) used Zoom to connect us. The Thursday Think Tank is a priceless gift to lawyers like me. (The meetings are free to attend and open to everyone. Contact Linda for more information.)

My mistake led to a realization: I look forward with great excitement to the Think Tank meetings! This insight and my conversation with Linda gave me the idea to start this blog post series, "WTE Morning 3." My goal for these posts is to share 3 interesting or useful updates. I hope readers will look forward to these posts as I look forward to the Thursday Think Tank meetings. I also hope that some readers will join the conversation by commenting on the posts.  

(2) Glossary Updates

WTE Morning 3 gives me the opportunity to share information about the website. (See About for a collection of posts about the site or its authors.)

Last week, I updated the Glossary, which now has 122 words:  

• Revised the definition of executor by adding the definition from NY SCPA 103(20)
• Revised the definition of devise by adding the definition from NY SCPA 103(12).
• Added definitions of administrator cum testamento annexo (c.t.a.), administrator de bonis non (d.b.n.), decedent, devisee, fiduciary, letters, pro tanto, and statutory will.

(3) What I'm Reading

I am still researching the immediate vesting of title to real property upon a decedent's death. My post, Record Confirmatory Deed for Specific Devise in NY, Suggests Daniel Reiter in Lawline CLE, sparked a debate about the best practice for handling a specific devise. I have been discussing the issue on the New York State Bar Association's Trusts & Estates Section listsev, in emails, and in Zoom meetings. I have been collecting questions and am researching them by reading secondary material, statutes, and cases.

Cases that I have recently studied include:

• Matter of Williams, 295 N.Y.S. 56 (Sur. Ct., Kings. Co. 1937).
• In re Lindsay's Estate, 18 N.Y.S.2d 800 (Sur. Ct., Delaware Co. 1940).
• Estate of Da Silva, 239 N.Y.L.J. 55 (Sur. Ct., Nassau Co. 2008).
• Mack v. Igwegbe, 2013 N.Y. Slip Op. 30750 (N.Y. Sup. Ct., Queens Co. 2013)