Estate of Ehrenfels

Raymond B. Haizlip, Charles Cline Moore and Haizlip, Moore & Ring for Objectors and Appellants.

Thelen, Marrin, Johnson & Bridges, Max Thelen, Jr., William F. Hoefs and Graham G. Campbell for Objector and Respondent.

No appearance for Petitioner and Respondent.

MOLINARI, J.

Appellants, some of the legatees under the will of Camille Ehrenfels, appeal from the trial court's "Decree Determining Interests in Estate," which decree determined in part that the various bequests in decedent's will of shares of common stock of Standard Oil Company of New Jersey (hereafter referred to as Standard Oil) be satisfied out of shares of common stock of Diversification Fund, Inc., on the basis of 2.008 shares of the latter stock for each bequeathed share of Standard Oil stock. The sole contention of appellants is that this determination by the trial court was erroneous because the bequests of Standard Oil stock constituted general legacies and, accordingly, appellants are entitled to either Standard Oil stock in kind or to the cash equivalent of this stock as of the date of decedent's death or, alternatively, the date on which appellants could first petition the court for preliminary…