In re the Estate of Lane

John M. Keane, S.

In George Orwell’s 11 Animal Farm ’ ’, the last of the seven commandments was simple and precise: “All animals are equal.” As the six equally precise prior commandments were eventually subverted by porcine gloss, so was this last commandment subverted at the end of the story to, ‘ ‘ All animals are equal but some animals are more equal than others.”

Similarly SCPA 2307 contains precise language regarding payment of commissions on specific bequests or devises: ‘ ‘ this *89[commissions] shall not apply in case of a specific legacy or devise.” Perhaps the determination made in this…