Opinion
June 10, 1940.
Appeal from Surrogate's Court of Orange County.
Present — Lazansky, P.J., Hagarty, Johnston, Taylor and Close, JJ.
As so modified the order is unanimously affirmed, with costs to appellants and respondents, payable out of the estate. We agree with the surrogate that the provision in the divorce decree for the support and maintenance of testator's son contemplated only the usual college course of four years; but the monthly payments were not limited to the periods actually spent in college. The claim should, therefore, have been allowed to the extent of the difference between the amount paid and the total amount payable for four years at $1,200 a year. Sections 134 Banking and 239 Banking of the Banking Law are not applicable to the interest account standing in the name of the testator and his wife. Ownership of the fund must, therefore, be determined under common-law rules. The usual rule that a bank deposit made in the names of two persons is presumed to be made for convenience only ( Matter of Bolin, 136 N.Y. 177) is subject to an exception where the parties are husband and wife. In the latter case the husband is presumed to have intended to benefit the wife by conferring upon her the right of survivorship. ( Matter of Meehan, 59 App. Div. 156; West v. McCullough, 123 id. 846.) Here, the presumption in the wife's favor is supported by other evidence of such intention on the part of the husband.