Estate of Allen

Charles A. Zeller, in pro. per., Clausen & Clausen and Henry C. Clausen for Objectors and Appellants.

Myron Siedorf, Robert G. Harvey and G. Louis Ambrose for Petitioner and Respondent.

OPINION

FRIEDMAN, J.

The will of Ethel C. Allen contained two separate bequests to Scottish Rite Bodies, Stockton, California. One bequest, consisting of a third of the estate's residue, was accompanied by a request that the money be used to pay off the debt against the Temple building; the other, also one-third of the residue, was accompanied by a request that it be used for improving and maintaining the restaurant and food facilities in the Temple building, any remaining sum to be used for the improvement of Masonic degree work. The inheritance tax appraiser filed a report assessing an inheritance tax against these bequests. The executor filed an objection and now appeals from a probate court order overruling the objection and sustaining the tax.

Pivot of the appeal is the claim that Scottish Rite Bodies, Stockton, California, is entitled to the exemption conferred upon charitable legatees by a provision of the inheritance tax law, section 13842, Revenue and Taxation Code. [1] The statute…