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Voluntary Payments To Widows Of Corporate Executives: Gifts Or Income?, Paul A. Rothman

Michigan Law Review

The solicitude of hardhearted corporations for the widows of corporate executives has given rise to an abundance of cases involving the question whether payments to these widows constitute gifts or income. In the cases to be considered in this comment, payments are made by the corporation to the decedent's widow on a purely voluntary basis. In the typical situation, the board of directors adopts a resolution eulogizing the decedent and authorizing payments to his widow in recognition of his long and faithful service. In most cases, these payments are measured by the decedent's salary and continue for periods ranging from …