The Will of Harry Helmsley
This is the will of New York billionaire real estate magnate Harry B.
Helmsley, who died Jan. 4, 1997, leaving an estate estimated at $1.7
billion. Except for a bequest to his secretary, Helmsley left his
estate to his wife, Leona Helmsley, who is also named as executor of
the will. His holdings included the Empire State Building and some of
New York City's most posh hotels.
At Chambers of the Surrogate's Court of the State of New York, held in
and for the County of New York, at the Courthouse. New York on
January, 1997
PRESENT:
HON. Eve Preminger
Surrogate
Probate proceeding, Will of
HARRY B. HELMSLEY
Deceased.
DECREE GRANTING PROBATE
File No. 85-97
SATISFACTORY PROOF having been made that jurisdiction has been
obtained of all necessary parties and that all necessary notice has
been given; AND the witnesses to said last Will bearing date -
January 25, 1994 - having been sworn and examined, their examination
having been reduced to writing and filed, or their affidavits having
been filed, and it appearing by such proof that said Will was duly
executed, and that the Testator at the time of executing it was in all
respects competent to make A will, and not under restraint, and the
Court being satisfied of the genuineness of the said will of Harry B.
Helmsley and the validity of its execution;
IT IS ORDERED, ADJUDGED AND DECREED, that the instrument offered for
probate herein be, and the same hereby is, admitted to probate as the
Will of said Harry B. Helmsley, deceased, valid to pass real and
personal property, and that the said will and this decree be recorded,
and that letters testamentary be issued to the executrix and, who may
qualify thereunder.
/s/
Eve Preminger Surrogate
SURROGATE'S COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK COUNTY OF NEW YORK
PROBATE PROCEEDING, Will of
HARRY B. HELMSLEY
Deceased.
AFFIDAVIT OF COMPARISON (Note: Attach a copy of the Will/Codicil to
this Affidavit of Comparison executed by any two persons; if a
photocopy of the will is used, only one person need make the
affidavit.)
File No.
STATE OF NEW YORK ) COUNTY OF NEW YORK ) ss.:
I/We Teresa M. Ryan (and) Lynne B. Brown being duly sworn, say, that
he/she has carefully compared the copy of decedent's Will/Codicil
propounded herein to which this affidavit is annexed with the original
Will dated the 25th day of January, 1994, about to be filed for
probate, and that the same is in all respects a true and correct copy
of said original Will and of the whole thereof.
Sworn to before me this 9th day of January, 1997
/s/ Notary Public Commission Expires: 7/30/97 (Affix Notary Stamp or
Seal)
/s/ Teresa M. Ryan
/s/ Lynne S. Brown
LAST WILL AND TESTAMENT OF HARRY B. HELMSLEY
I, HARRY B. HELMSLEY, do make this Will, hereby revoking all wills and
codicils previously made by me. Any reference to my Will shall include
any codicil thereto. I direct that my remains be interred at the
Helmsley Mausoleum at Woodlawn Cemetery, The Bronx, New York. I
further direct that permission be granted as the need arises for the
interment in the Helmsley Mausoleum of the remains of my wife, LEONA
M. HELMSLEY ("my wife"), her brother, ALVIN ROSENTHAL, and her
brother's wife, SUSAN ROSENTHAL, but for no other person.
ARTICLE FIRST: TAXES AND EXPENSES
I direct that all my funeral expenses and the expenses of my last
illness be paid from my estate. I further direct that my Executor pay
as administration expenses out of my residuary estate, without
apportionment, all estate, inheritance and similar taxes (which term
shall include interest and penalties thereon) imposed by the United
States of America or any state or subdivision thereof with respect to
my property passing under this Will and any administration expenses,
fees, commissions and expenses incurred in any ancillary proceeding
(and I authorize them in their discretion to pay any such taxes and
expenses imposed by or incurred in any foreign jurisdiction). Any such
taxes imposed on property not passing under this Will shall be paid in
the manner provided by Section 2-1.8 of the New York Estates, Powers
and Trusts Law ("EPTL"). Any such taxes imposed as a result of chapter
13 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (hereinafter
referred to as the "Code") or a corresponding provision of state law,
shall be apportioned in accordance with applicable law.
ARTICLE SECOND: RESIDENCES
(A) I devise all residential real property and any interests in such
real property (including condominiums), wherever situated, which I may
own and maintain as a residence at the time of my death, together with
all insurance policies thereon, to my wife, if she shall survive me.
(B) I devise and bequeath any interest which I may own at the time of
my death in any cooperative apartment which I maintain as a residence,
including, but without limitation, any securities of any corporation
owning the building in which such apartment is located and any lease
or other agreement with such corporation covering such apartment which
I may own or hold at the time of my death, together with all insurance
policies thereon, to my wife, if she shall survive me.
(C) If my wife shall not survive me, I direct my Executors to sell the
property described in this Article and add the proceeds to my
residuary estate.
ARTICLE THIRD: PERSONAL EFFECTS
I bequeath all furniture, furnishings, pictures, books, silver, linen,
china, glassware, wearing apparel, jewelry, and other personal and
household effects (including antiques, works of art and other
collectibles) and all automobiles which I may own at the time of my
death to my wife, if she shall survive me. If my wife shall not
survive me, I direct my Executors to sell such property and add the
proceeds to my residuary estate.
ARTICLE FOURTH: GENERAL LEGACIES
(A) I leave to my secretary, CEIL FRIED, if she shall survive me, the
sum of TWENTY-FIVE THOUSAND DOLLARS ($25,000).
(B) If my wife does not survive me, I give to each of the individuals
named below who survives me and who is employed at my death by me or
by any corporation or partnership of which I am then a substantial
owner, the sum set forth next to his name:
(1) To EDWARD BRADY, the sum of TWO HUNDRED FIFTY THOUSAND DOLLARS
($250,000).
(2) To BARBARA EVANS, the sum of TWO HUNDRED FIFTY THOUSAND DOLLARS
($250,000). For purposes of this Section, I shall be deemed to own all
property held in any trust of which I was a settlor or of which I am a
beneficiary at my death. The determination of my Executor concerning
the application of this Section shall be conclusive on all affected
persons.
ARTICLE FIFTH: CHARITABLE PLEDGES
If my wife does not survive me, I direct that all legally enforceable
pledges and commitments for charitable purposes or to charitable
organizations made by me and/or by my wife, to the extent outstanding
at my death, shall be paid as enforceable unsecured obligations of my
estate.
ARTICLE SIXTH RESIDUARY ESTATE
My "residuary estate" is the balance of my estate, whether real or
personal, and wherever located (including lapsed legacies and
devises). My residuary estate shall be disposed of as provided in this
Article. I hereby exercise the power of appointment provided to me
under Article THIRD of the trust established by me under an instrument
dated September 13, 1989 (the "Revocable Trust") to the extent only
that if my wife, LEONA M. HELMSLEY, shall survive me, I appoint to my
Executor, to be disposed of in accordance with this Will, such amounts
out of the Revocable Trust as my Executor shall demand as being
required for the satisfaction of the provisions contained in this Will
for which my estate is otherwise insufficient, and except as so
demanded, I decline to exercise such power. I do not intend, by this
Article or by any other provision of this Will, to exercise any powers
of appointment I may have except as expressly provided herein.
(A) If my wife survives me, I give my residuary estate to her.
(B) If my wife does not survive me, I give my residuary estate to the
trustees of THE HARRY AND LEONA HELMSLEY CHARITABLE TRUST, and I
direct the trustees of THE HARRY AND LEONA HELMSLEY CHARITABLE TRUST
to add the same to the principal of THE HARRY AND LEONA HELMSLEY
CHARITABLE TRUST and dispose of the same for charitable purposes in
accordance with the provisions of that Trust Agreement.
ARTICLE SEVENTH: SURVIVORSHIP
If my wife and I die under such circumstances that it is difficult or
impossible to determine which one of us survived the other, then my
wife shall be deemed to have survived me for all purposes of this
Will. If any other beneficiary under this Will and I die under such
circumstances that it is difficult or impossible to determine which
one of us survived the other, then such person shall be deemed to have
predeceased me for all purposes of this Will.
ARTICLE EIGHTH: TAX ELECTIONS
I authorize my Executor (a) to elect to value my gross estate for
state or Federal estate tax purposes as of the date of my death or as
of the alternate valuation date or dates as allowed for such purposes,
(b) to make any other elections permitted under state or Federal
estate tax law with respect to valuation of assets, income tax basis
of property or deferral of payment of estate taxes, and (c) to claim
as income tax deductions expenses that would otherwise qualify as
estate tax deductions, in each case without obligation to make any
adjustment or apportionment with respect thereto; provided, however,
that my Executor shall make or refrain from making any adjustment
which, but for this provision, would be required by applicable law, in
such manner as will maximize the deductions allowable to my estate
under Sections 2055 and 2056 of the Code.
ARTICLE NINTH: FIDUCIARY POWERS AND PROVISIONS
(A) Without limitation of the powers conferred upon them by statute or
general rules of law, my fiduciaries are specifically authorized and
empowered with respect to any property held by them:
(1) To retain any property owned by me at the time of my death
irrespective of the proportion of the total assets of my estate which
such property or property of a similar character, so held, may
represent;
(2) To sell (at public or private sale, without application to any
court) or otherwise dispose of any property, real or personal, for
cash or upon credit of any duration and to grant options for the
purchase of any property, with or without consideration and without
any limitation on the period of any such option, in such manner and on
such terms and conditions as they may deem best, and no person dealing
with them shall be bound to see to the application of any moneys paid;
and without limiting the generality of the foregoing, if it becomes
advisable at any time in order to sell any securities held by them to
register the same under the Securities Act of 1933 or any similar
Federal law or to register or qualify any such securities for sale
under state securities law, I authorize my fiduciaries to do all acts
which they may deem advisable for that purpose, including without
limitation, to enter into any agreements with underwriters and with
the corporation securities of which are being sold, which they shall
deem advisable, to make such representations and warranties, assume
such obligations and engage in such undertakings of indemnity as they
may deem proper (or to make such other arrangements concerning the
same, including without limitation the purchase of an insurance policy
or policies, charging the cost thereof to the principal of my estate),
to create escrows, to enter into custody agreements, and in any case
in which it becomes advisable for them to enter into any agreement
containing representations or undertakings which, but for qualifying
terms of the agreement, would render them personally liable therefor,
at their option, to enter into and execute any such agreement in their
fiduciary capacities only and not individually, in which case, if the
terms of the applicable agreement so provide, the representations and
undertakings shall be binding upon my estate, but shall not be binding
upon them personally; and, further, without limiting the generality of
any of the foregoing, I expressly authorize my Executors, if and to
the extent they deem it advisable under any provision of the Federal
tax statutes, to deliver such part of any securities which I may own
at the time of my death as they may deem advisable to the issuing
company for redemption against payment of a redemption price
satisfactory to my Executors and upon terms approved by them;
(3) To invest in and to retain and hold (including the retention of
any such property owned, beneficially or of record, by me at the time
of my death) securities of HELMSLEY ENTERPRISES, INC. (such
corporation being herein called the "Corporation") or of any
corporation or other business entity (hereinafter referred to as a
"Successor Corporation") into or with which the Corporation or any
Successor Corporation shall be merged or consolidated or to which part
or all of the assets of the Corporation or any Successor Corporation
may be transferred, or of any corporation or other business entity
(hereinafter referred to as a "Related Corporation") which controls,
is controlled by, or is under common control with the Corporation or
any Successor Corporation irrespective of the proportion of the total
assets of my estate which such investment may represent and
irrespective of the fact that one or more of my fiduciaries may be a
director or an officer of or otherwise connected with any of such
corporations; and my fiduciaries shall not be liable or responsible
for any loss, either of income or of capital value, incurred by reason
of their retention of securities of the Corporation or of any
Successor or Related Corporation, and shall have no duty to
investigate the underlying assets of any of such corporations or to
seek other information regarding any of such corporations;
(4) To continue or to permit the continuation of any business,
incorporated or unincorporated, which I may own or in which I may have
any interest at the time of my death, for such period as they shall
deem advisable including, without limitation, the power to organize a
corporation (or a partnership) to carry on such business, by
themselves or with others, to contribute all or part of the property
of said business as capital to such corporation (or partnership) and
to accept stock in such corporation (or an interest in such
partnership) in payment thereof, and to hold such stock (or
partnership interest) for such period as they shall deem advisable;
and without limiting the generality of the foregoing, my fiduciaries
are authorized to invest additional sums in any such business
(notwithstanding that my estate may be invested largely in such
business), to act as or to select other persons to act as directors,
officers or other employees for partners) of any such business, and to
make such other arrangements and exercise such powers in respect
thereof as they shall deem advisable; and, if they shall deem it
advisable, to liquidate all or any part of any such business in such
manner and upon such terms as they in their discretion shall
determine, all without application to any court; and I designate my
wife, if living, or otherwise my Executors, or an individual
designated by my Executors, as successor to me as a member of any
partnership in which I have an interest at my death;
(5) To manage any real property at any time forming part of my estate
in the same manner as if they were the absolute owners thereof,
including without limitation, the power from time to time to lease the
same, without application to any court, for any term of ten years or
more or less, although such term may extend beyond the period of the
administration of my estate, with options for renewals and the
purchase or disposal of buildings thereon or to be placed thereon; to
make ordinary and extraordinary repairs and alterations to any
building, to raze old buildings and to erect new buildings and make
other improvements; to insure against loss by fire or other
casualties; to subdivide and plot any such property; to refrain from
paying taxes and maintenance charges thereon and to convey any such
property for nominal consideration or to abandon same, all as they
shall deem advisable; to partition any such property held by them or
in which they hold an interest, even though one or more of them may
hold an interest in the same property in his own right or in some
other capacity; to give or receive money for equality of partition; to
extend any existing mortgage or mortgages; to borrow upon the security
of any such property, and to execute a mortgage or mortgages as
security therefor; and to determine whether or not to establish any
reasonable reserves for depreciation of any buildings or improvements
thereon;
(6) To vote on any securities by discretionary proxy or otherwise; to
deposit any property with voting trustees or protective or similar
committees, to delegate to them discretionary power, to pay a share of
their expense and compensation, and to pay any assessment levied with
respect to any such property or securities; and to consent, or to
decline to consent, to the election (including any that is in effect
at my death) by any corporation to be taxed under subchapter S of the
Code;
(7) To retain as an investment any interest which I may have in any
partnership, and to perform each and every condition, provision or
agreement affecting my estate contained in any partnership agreement
existing at the time of my death to which I am party; to enter into
new partnership agreements and to retain an interest whether as a
general partner, limited partner or otherwise in any successor
partnership for such period of time as they shall deem advisable; to
purchase any property, real or personal, or an undivided interest in
any property from any such partnership as an investment; to determine
the manner and degree of their participation in the business of such
partnership; to contribute to the capital of such partnership; to make
loans to such partnership; to assume obligations arising from or in
connection with such partnership; and to pledge assets of my estate as
collateral for any borrowing of such partnership; and in receiving any
payment in liquidation or partial liquidation of my interest in any
partnership, to accept cash, securities or other property, including
an undivided interest in any property;
(8) To abandon such property, real or personal, as they shall deem
advisable, or to dispose of same without consideration or for nominal
consideration; to extend the time for, or modify the terms of, payment
of any claim or obligation, and to abandon, compromise, settle, renew,
release, adjust or submit to arbitration upon such terms as they shall
deem advisable any claim or obligation, in each case without
application to any court;
(9) To lend or borrow such amounts, to or from such persons, upon such
terms and conditions and for such purposes as they may deem advisable
and to pledge assets of my estate to secure the repayment of any
amounts so borrowed; provided that all loans shall be made at a
reasonable rate of interest and further provided, that my fiduciaries
shall be prohibited from making any loans to any beneficiary of my
estate (other than my wife);
(10) Except to the extent prohibited by law, to delegate in whole or
in part, to any agent or agents (who may be one or more of my
fiduciaries), any of the powers granted to my fiduciaries, including
but not limited to the authority and power to (a) sign checks, drafts
or orders for the payment or withdrawal of funds from any account in
which funds of my estate shall be deposited, (b) endorse for sale,
transfer or delivery, or sell, transfer or deliver, or purchase or
otherwise acquire, any and all stocks, bonds or other securities or
any other property whatsoever and (c) gain access to any safe deposit
box or boxes in which assets of my estate may be located or which may
be in the names of my fiduciaries and remove part or all of the
contents of any such safe deposit box or boxes and release and
surrender the same;
(11) Except to the extent prohibited by law, to cause any securities
to be registered in the names of their nominees, or to hold any
securities in such condition that they will pass by delivery;
(12) To employ such attorneys, accountants, custodians, investment
counsel, real estate consultants and other persons as they may deem
advisable in the administration of my estate, and to pay them
reasonable compensation, without any diminution of or offset against
the commissions to which my fiduciaries may be entitled by law and
this Will, notwithstanding that one or more of my fiduciaries may be
members of, or otherwise connected with, any of such firms;
(13) To use any securities or brokerage firm or bank or trust company
in the purchase (but only as authorized herein) or sale of securities
or property for the account of my estate and to pay such organization
such brokerage commissions or other compensation in connection
therewith as they may deem proper, without any diminution of or offset
against the commissions to which my fiduciaries may be entitled by law
and this Will, notwithstanding that one or more of my fiduciaries may
be members of, or otherwise connected with, such organization;
(14) To distribute any part of my estate in cash or in kind, or partly
in cash and partly in kind, and in making any such distribution to
take into account such considerations as they shall deem appropriate,
including without limitation the effect of any relevant tax laws, it
being my intention that my fiduciaries not be under any obligation to
make pro rata distributions of the assets of my estate. Any assets
distributed in kind shall be valued in good faith by my fiduciaries
for the purposes of such distribution as of the date or dates of any
such distribution (or as near thereto as may be practicable), and the
appreciation or depreciation in the value of assets selected for
distribution in kind from my estate to any beneficiary shall be fairly
representative of the appreciation or depreciation in the value of all
assets in my estate between the date of my death and the date or dates
of any such distribution or distributions;
(15) In general, to exercise all powers in the management of my estate
which any individual could exercise in the management of similar
property owned in his own right, upon such terms as to them may seem
best, and to execute and deliver all instruments and to do all acts
which they may deem necessary or advisable to carry out the purposes
of my Will, and my fiduciaries shall have no liability by reason of
any action, inaction, determination or exercise of discretion taken or
made in good faith nor by reason of any loss sustained as a result of
the purchase, retention, sale, exchange or other disposition of any
property made in good faith.
(B) No power or discretion granted to my Executors by this Will or by
law, including, without limitation, any investment power, shall apply
to any disposition of property hereunder to my wife or to any
charitable organization (including THE HARRY AND LEONA HELMSLEY
CHARITABLE TRUST) if the authority to exercise such power or
discretion would affect the availability to my estate of a Federal
estate tax marital or charitable deduction for such dispositions. All
powers or discretion conferred on my Executors may be exercised only
in such manner as is consistent with the allowance of such deductions.
This Section (B) shall be construed as a precedent (and not as a
subsequent) limitation or condition.
(C) To the extent not prohibited by law, my Executors shall have the
right to maintain physical possession of any tangible and intangible
property in my estate in any jurisdiction, notwithstanding that my
Will may have been probated in another jurisdiction or that my
Executors may have qualified pursuant to the laws of such other
jurisdiction.
(D) As to each and any corporation, partnership or other business
entity, public or private, in which my Executors hold any equity
interest exceeding one percent (1%) of the net value of such
corporation, partnership or other business entity (each such
corporation, partnership or other business entity being hereafter
referred to as the "Entity"), my Executors are hereby authorized to
retain the shares thereof or interest therein for as long as they deem
to be in the best interests of my estate, regardless of any duty to
diversify investments, and notwithstanding any other fiduciary
obligation which might require them to dispose of such shares or
interest, other than the obligation to act with reasonable care.
In addition, I authorize and empower my Executors, to the extent
permitted by law, to exercise their rights and powers as holders of
such shares or interest, to effect the continued operation of the
Entity, or the sale or other disposition of its assets or business or,
in their sole discretion, to sell, exchange, offer for redemption or
otherwise dispose of the shares of or interest in the Entity owned by
my estate, or to effect the liquidation or dissolution of the Entity,
at such time or times and upon such terms and conditions as shall, in
the opinion of my Executors, be in the best interests of my estate.
So long as my Executors continue to hold any interest in the Entity, I
authorize and empower them to participate in the management of the
Entity to the extent that their interest therein enables them to do
so, without liability or responsibility for any loss resulting from
the exercise of the powers hereby granted, or to delegate their
managerial authority to others, whether by means of employment
agreements or other arrangements, and they may enter into voting
trusts and grant irrevocable proxies, as they deem advisable.
Subject to the overriding provisions of the last paragraph of this
Section (D), I expressly authorize my Executors to select, vote for
and remove directors of the Entity (if the Entity is a corporation),
to take part in the management of the Entity and, to the extent
permitted by law, in their managerial capacity to fix, determine or
change the policy thereof; to name or change officers, the managing
personnel and/or the operating personnel; to employ new management; to
reduce, expand, limit or otherwise change the business or type of
merchandise dealt in or property invested in and investments held by
or product manufactured by or service rendered by the Entity; to
require the employees and/or the officers of the Entity to file bonds
for the faithful performance of their duties; to determine the amount
of the bond or bonds to be secured; to select the bonding company; to
employ expert outside and disinterested accountants or engineers to
make a full and complete survey or appraisal of the Entity's business
and its prospects in the trade; to employ investment or legal counsel
(including any firm with which an Executor hereunder may be
associated) whenever my Executors shall deem it advisable; to charge
the cost of all such services against the interest in the Entity held
by my Executors or to vote or take other action to require the Entity
owning said business to pay such expense; to contribute additional
working capital or to subscribe to additional stock as they may see
fit; and to take all steps and perform all acts which they shall deem
necessary or advisable in connection therewith.
Any one or more of my Executors may act as officer, partner, director,
manager or employee of the Entity, and the Executors are specifically
authorized to exercise their rights inhering in their ownership as
Executors for the election or appointment of any person or persons,
including themselves, as directors, officers, managers or the like.
Any Executor who serves as officer, partner, director, manager or
employee of the Entity shall be entitled to receive compensation for
such services notwithstanding that my Executors may themselves
(whether individually and/or as Executors hereunder) be in a position
to determine, or control the determination of, the amount of such
compensation, and I direct that no such person shall be required to
furnish any bond in connection with any such employment.
I am aware that conflicts of interest may arise by reason of service
on the part of my Executors as such and as officer, partner, director,
manager or employee of the Entity and by reason of my Executors owning
an interest in the Entity in their own right. I intend that my
Executors shall, in all respects, be free to exercise the powers and
discretion herein conferred as fully and unrestrictedly as if there
were no such conflicting interests. With this thought in mind, I
expressly exempt my Executors from the adverse operation of any rule
of law which might otherwise apply to them in the performance of their
fiduciary duties by reason of conflict of interest. Without limiting
the generality of the foregoing, I specifically direct that my
Executors shall not have any greater burden of justification in
respect of their acts as Executors by reason of conflict of interest
than they would have in the absence of any such conflict.
(E) Notwithstanding anything in this Article NINTH to the contrary, my
fiduciaries shall be limited, in the investment of funds held in my
estate, to prerefunded municipal bonds, if and to the extent they are
readily available, and, to the extent that they are not readily
available, to United States Treasury obligations, including Bills,
Notes and Bonds, with any maturity date. These investments shall be
held by a financial institution, preferably one which does not charge
for such service. This restriction shall not affect the power of my
fiduciaries to retain and deal with any assets which I may own at my
death or which my fiduciaries may receive by reason of my death.
ARTICLE TENTH: FIDUCIARIES
(A) I appoint my wife, LEONA M. HELMSLEY, as the Executor of this
Will. If my wife fails to qualify or ceases to act as Executor for any
reason, the Executor shall be any one or more individuals or corporate
fiduciaries, acting together or in succession, as my wife shall have
appointed, whether before or after my death. Any such appointment
shall be made by a written instrument signed by my wife in accordance
with Section (C) of this Article or by my wife's Last Will and
Testament. If my wife fails to qualify or ceases to act as Executor
for any reason and no Executor shall have been effectively appointed
in accordance with this Section (A), then RAY ACQUADRO, HAROLD M.
HOFFMAN ("HAROLD"), HOWARD W. MUCHNICK ("HOWARD") and SILVANA NANDIN,
or such of them who qualify, shall be the Executors; provided,
however, that as a condition to HAROLD or HOWARD serving as Executor,
each of them must agree, in writing, that he will not retain his legal
firm to act as counsel to my Executors.
(B) I authorize my wife to revoke or amend, by instrument in writing,
any designation as to any designee who has not commenced serving. I
further authorize my wife to direct the immediate resignation of any
Executor who shall have commenced serving and to appoint successor
Executors as provided in Sections (A) and (C) of this Article. Any
such resignation directed by my wife shall be effective on the date
stated in the instrument signed by my wife which shall direct such
resignation, and shall have the effect of a resignation under Section
(F) of this Article, whether or not such resignation is acknowledged
in writing by such Executor.
Subject to the foregoing paragraph, I authorize any Executor serving
hereunder from time to time to designate successors to serve in such
office, in the manner provided in Section (C) of this Article and to
revoke or amend, by instrument in writing, any designation as to any
designee who has not commenced serving. Any designation made by my
wife shall take precedence over a designation made by an Executor
other than my wife.
(C) Any designation authorized by this Article shall: (1) be in
writing, (2) state the time at which or the event upon which it is to
be effective, and (3) if more than one successor is designated, state
the order of succession. If there are inconsistent instruments of
designation, the instrument that bears the most recent date and that
makes an unrevoked designation shall govern.
(D) Each Executor shall be entitled to commissions for receiving and
paying out all sums constituting principal and income of my estate at
the rates provided under the laws of the State of New York in effect
at the time of payment; provided that the amount payable to each
Executor other than my wife for administering my estate shall not
exceed the sum of $250,000, and he or she shall not be entitled to any
other commissions or additional compensation.
(E) Each instrument that designates a fiduciary, that revokes or
amends a designation or that signifies a fiduciary's acceptance of
office shall be filed with the records maintained by the fiduciaries
of my estate and a copy of it shall be mailed or personally delivered
to the next successor fiduciary, if any.
(F) Any fiduciary at any time in office may resign as such by mailing
or delivering a written notice of resignation to the next successor
fiduciary. The resignation shall take effect upon the date stated in
the notice or, if court approval is required for such resignation,
upon the granting of such approval, whereupon all duties of the
resigning fiduciary shall cease, other than the duty to account.
Any resigning fiduciary shall take all steps necessary to effect and
perfect the delivery and transfer of all property then held by such
fiduciary to each successor to the resigning fiduciary. No successor
fiduciary shall be obliged to examine the accounts, records, and acts
of any previous fiduciary or any allocations of receipts or
disbursements as between principal and income made by any previous
fiduciary.
(G) All powers, authority and discretion herein conferred upon my
fiduciaries shall pass to and be exercisable by each successor
fiduciary.
(H) I direct that no fiduciary serving under this Will at any time
shall be required to file or furnish any bond or other security, any
provision of law to the contrary notwithstanding.
(I) If any beneficiary of my estate is or becomes incapacitated
(whether by reason of illness or other cause) in the sole judgment of
my Executor, then payment to or for the benefit of such beneficiary
may be effected ti) by making payment to a legally appointed guardian,
committee or conservator of such beneficiary; (ii) by making payment,
on behalf of such beneficiary, to such beneficiary's attorney-in-fact
under a durable power of attorney, or to any person with whom such
beneficiary resides or who has charge of his custody or care; or (iii)
by application thereof directly for the use or benefit of such
beneficiary. Any such payment or application may be made without
requiring any bond, and the receipt of any person receiving such
payment or application shall be a full discharge to my fiduciaries who
shall not be bound to see to the further application of any such
payment.
ARTICLE ELEVENTH: IN TERROREM
If any beneficiary under this Will or any Codicil hereto shall,
directly or indirectly, institute or become an acting party to any
proceeding to set aside, interfere with, or make null any provision of
such Will or Codicil, or to offer any objections to the probate
thereof, or shall in any manner, directly or indirectly, contest the
probate thereof, I direct that any property or interest that such
beneficiary might otherwise have had or received under this Will or
any Codicil hereto, outright or in trust, shall thereupon terminate,
any provision of law, whether in the form of any anti-lapse statute or
otherwise, to the contrary notwithstanding, and such property or
interest shall be added to my residuary estate.
ARTICLE TWELFTH: TITLES
The title to each Article in this Will is used to aid in
identification of each Article. However, the titles shall not be
deemed to be part of this Will for purposes of ascertaining the
meaning of any provision contained in this Will or for any other
reason.
ARTICLE THIRTEENTH: CONSTRUCTION
Whenever the masculine or feminine gender is used in this Will, it
shall be deemed, when appropriate to the context, to include the
opposite gender as well. Whenever appropriate, the singular shall
include the plural and the plural shall include the singular, as the
context may require.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have signed my name to this Will on this 25th
day of January 1994.
/s/ Harry B. Helmsley
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