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Cyclopedia of Commerce, Accountancy, Business Administration, V. 05 (of 10) · American School of Correspondence — chapter 35 of 74 · ~819 words · public domain

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Edward Brown died on June 15, 1907, leaving a will which elected that after payment of all just and lawful debts the following legacies should be made:

To his widow, that part of the real estate consisting of his residence, the household effects therein, and the income from $50,000.00 to be invested.

To his son and daughter, $20,000.00 each, and an equal share of the above $50,000.00 at his widow's death.

The inventory made up for the preliminary accounting was as follows:

Cash in house $200.00 Cash in bank 1,500.00 Household effects valued at 2,500.00 Stocks 40,000.00 Book accounts 20,000.00 Merchandise, fixtures, and stock in trade 25,000.00

The real estate consists of

The residence of the deceased, valued at 15,000.00 5 houses valued at 15,000.00 (to be sold according to will)

Executor's Accounts With Trust Provisions ]

Executor's Accounts With Trust Provisions ]

Executor's Accounts With Trust Provisions ]

Executor's Accounts With Trust Provisions ]

Executor's Accounts With Trust Provisions ]

Accounting of an Executor, in the Form of an Account of Charge and Discharge ]

A FACTORY CHEMICAL LABORATORY AT THE PLANT OF THE S. OBERMAYER CO., CINCINNATI, OHIO ]

Accounting of an Executor, in the Form of an Account of Charge and Discharge ]

REALIZATION AND LIQUIDATION ACCOUNTS

=9.= A realization and liquidation account is an account showing the result of the liquidation of a business or an estate.

It is debited with the total assets as shown by the balance sheet or statement of affairs, and is credited with all liabilities to outside creditors. The account is subsequently credited with the amounts realized on assets, and debited with liabilities liquidated together with the expenses of realization and cost of liquidation.

Realization and liquidation accounts are frequently prepared in the form of an account of charge and discharge as shown in the preceding pages for executor's accounts.

STATEMENT OF AFFAIRS

=10.= A statement of affairs is frequently confused with a balance sheet. This is because, like a balance sheet, a statement of affairs exhibits the resources and liabilities of a business. The difference lies in the fact that a statement of affairs is made up partly from information gained from the books and partly from information secured from other sources.

A statement of affairs is used chiefly in the preparation of a statement of the condition of an insolvent concern, or one whose affairs have been, for any reason, placed in charge of an Administrator. In a going business, all facts that have a bearing on its financial standing should be recorded on the books, when the statement will be made in the form of a balance sheet.

Statements of affairs of a going business are sometimes made when it is desired to make a showing for a special purpose, or at a date other than a regular closing date. When the books have been improperly kept, a statement of affairs, or statement of assets and liabilities, is necessary to get all of the facts properly recorded.

=11. Statement of Affairs of a Bankrupt.= A statement of affairs of a bankrupt is prepared on a somewhat different basis than a similar statement for a going concern. Such a statement is prepared for the benefit of creditors, and should be based on the probability of the creditors receiving their claims in whole or in part.

A Statement of Affairs of a Bankrupt ]

On the left-hand side of the statement, the liabilities should be listed, showing whether they are actual, contingent, or provisional; which are preferable or ordinary, or secured partly or wholly by assets held by creditors of the concern as security for their claims. On the right, the assets of the concern should be shown. These should be classified as to whether they are free for distribution among the ordinary creditors or subject to special liability or claims and which must be liquidated before the assets can be released for distribution.

The assets may be listed on the basis of their value in a going concern, or on the basis of the prices they are estimated to bring at forced sale. The best practice is to list the assets to show, in one column, their nominal value, and in another column the amounts they are expected to realize. The statement is prepared for the express purpose of showing the probability of creditors—preferable, secured, partly secured, and ordinary—receiving their claims in full or being obliged to accept a dividend. In preparing such a statement, therefore, the investigation should be extended beyond the mere bookkeeping records. While the statement should be based on the properly balanced books of account, it must be supplemented by information from other sources.

The statement of liabilities should include, not only all of the liabilities shown on the books of the debtor, but all other enforcible claims, including contingent liabilities on account of the debtor's name being on commercial paper as an endorser.

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