Estate of Mears

Garrison, Townsend & Hall, H. Stanton Orser, Goldsmith, Siegel, Engel & Littlefield and Gerson F. Goldsmith for Objector and Respondent.

OPINION

ROUSE, J.

The principal question presented by this appeal is whether section 13851 of the Revenue and Taxation Code is constitutional. [1] That section provides for an unconditional exemption from inheritance taxation for intangible personal property owned by residents of the United States living outside of California. The exemption is extended to residents of foreign countries only on condition that the country of residence (1) impose a like tax, and (2) exempt residents of California from such tax. (1a) The question set before us for resolution is whether section 13851 denies nonresidents of the United States equal protection of the law because such nonresidents are governed by a different inheritance tax exemption than United States residents living outside of California. We hold that it does not.

Decedent Claire M. Mears died testate in 1974, a resident of Mexico and citizen of the United States. At the time of her death, Mexico imposed no inheritance tax on intangibles owned by residents or nonresidents. [2] She left to Alfred L.…