108 Va. 204 | Va. | 1908
delivered the opinion of the court.
Travers H. Carter died intestate, unmarried and without issue, possessed of considerable real and personal estate in the county of Loudoun, and at the November term, 1892, of the County Court of Loudoun county his estate was, on motion of Edwin J. Carter, a distributee, committed to the shei’iff for administration.
The actual administration of the estate was entrusted to William S. Summers, a deputy sheriff, within whose district the decedent had resided. Summers proceeded promptly to settle his accounts as administrator before William N. Wise, a commissioner of accounts, and a balance was ascertained to be in his hands of $2,197.14, which the commissioner reported as payable to “E. J. Carter, sole heir at law of said decedent.” This report was duly confirmed by the court.
At the March term, 1894, of the county court, an order was entered, that the creditors of the decedent, Travers H. Carter, appear on the first day of the May term, 1894, and show cause, if any they can, against the payment and delivery of the estate of said Travers H. Carter to his distributee, Edwin J. Carter, without a refunding bond; and at the May term, 1894, an order was entered, reciting due publication and posting of the former order, that no creditors had shown cause against it, and ordering the payment to the distributee, E. J. Carter, of the said sum of $2,197.14, without refunding bond. This payment was accordingly made.
On December 1, 1903, John H. Skillman, of the State of Washington, and Bushrod Skillman, of the State of Indiana, filed their bill in chancery, in which they made H. BE. Bussell,
It was originally claimed that the bill was one to surcharge and falsify the accounts of the personal representative of Travers H. Carter, but this contention was properly abandoned. The accounts of the administrator contained a full, complete and fair settlement of the estate committed to his charge. There is no pretense that a dollar has been omitted with which the administrator should have been charged, or that a penny has been credited to him with which he should not have been credited.
The sole questions are, first, was Edwin J. Carter the sole distributee, and, secondly, did the proceedings before the commissioner of accounts of Loudoun county and before the county court protect the administrator under the circumstances disclosed in this record ?
The circuit court was of opinion that the sheriff, as administrator, was not protected by the order of the county court in making payment to E. J. Carter as sole distributee, and by its decree of the April term, 1906, the sheriff of Loudoun county was directed to pay to John H. Shiftman and Bushrod Skill-man, each, the sum of $1,046.10, with interest on $610.32, a part thereof, from April 14, 1906, until paid, and the costs of the suit. Erom this decree an appeal was allowed.
The facts have already been sufficiently stated. The law with respect to the settlement of fiduciary accounts, prior to the adoption of the Code of 1849 was in a very unsatisfactory condition. The revisors, in their report, say (Report of Revisors,
To remedy these evils, the revisors reported, and the legislature adopted, what appears in our Oode of to-day as chapter 121, and which remains, with a few changes which add to the promptness and efficiency of the remedy, substantially as it was prepared by and appears in the Report of the Revisors of 1849. Its object was to afford a prompt, certain, efficient and inexpensive method by which the accounts of fiduciaries might be settled and estates distributed in accordance with law.
By section 2671, the judge of each court having jurisdiction of the probate of wills and granting administration on estates of decedents is required to appoint a commissioner of accounts, who shall have a general supervision of all fiduciaries admitted to qualify in said court and make all ex parte settlements of their accounts; and this commissioner is directed to obtain from the clerk of his court within twenty days after each term thereof a list of the fiduciaries authorized to act as such under orders entered at the said term, and examine as to
By section 2678 it is provided that there shall be laid before the commissioner a statement of all money which any personal representative, guardian, curator, or committee shall have received, become chargeable with or have disbursed, within one year from the date of the order conferring his authority, or within any succeeding year, together with the vouchers for such disbursements, within six months after the end of every such year; 'and the commissioner shall state, settle and report to the court an account of the transactions of any such fiduciary, as provided by law. And if any such fiduciary fail to make such exhibit, the commissioner and the court shall proceed against him in like manner, and the court shall impose the same penalty, unless the fiduciary is excused for sufficient reason, as is provided in cases where fiduciaries fail to return inventories of their respective estates.
By section 2679, it is provided, that if any fiduciary shall fail to lay before the commissioner a statement of receipts for any year, within six months after its expiration, and though a statement be laid before the commissioner, yet if the fiduciary be found chargeable for that year with any money not embraced in the said statement, he shall have no compensation for his services during said year, nor commission on such money, unless allowed by the court.
By section 2686 it is provided, that when any personal representative, etc., except a sheriff or other officer, shall have laid such statement before a commissioner, he shall examine whether the fiduciary has given such bond as the law requires, and whether it is in a penalty, and with sureties sufficient. Any commissioner of the court in which the order was made conferring on the fiduciary his authority, shall, at any time before such statement is laid before a commissioner, upon the application of any person who is interested or appears as next friend of an infant interested, after reasonable notice to such fiduciary, examine into any of the said matters, or inquire whether security ought to be required of a fiduciary who may have been allowed to qualify without giving it, or whether, by reason of the incapacity, misconduct, or removal of any fiduciary from this State, or for any other cause, it is improper to permit the estate of the decedent, ward, or other person, to remain under his control.
By section 2690 it is provided, that any commissioner who has for settlement the accounts of a personal representative of. a decedent shall, when requested so to do by such representative, or any creditor, legatee, or distributee of the decedent, appoint a time and place for receiving proof of debts or demands against the said decedent or his estate, and four weeks
By section 2693 it is provided, that every commissioner shall post at the front door of the court-house of the circuit or corporation court a list of fiduciaries whose accounts are before him for settlement, stating the names of such fiduciaries, the nature of their accounts, whether as personal representative, guardian, curator, committee or trustee, and the names of their decedents, or of the persons for whom they act; and that no account of any fiduciary shall be completed by any commissioner until it shall have been mentioned in such list, for ten days after being so mentioned. By section 2697, he is directed to file his report in the office of the court by which he is appointed as soon as practicable after its completion, and with his report return such of the vouchers or evidence before him as any person interested may desire him to return, or as he may deem proper.
By section 2698 it is provided, that every such account shall lie in the clerk’s office thirty days for exceptions, and shall stand confirmed at the expiration of said thirty days, if not excepted to. And the court, or judge thereof in vacation, shall examine every such account as to which exceptions shall be filed, correct any errors which may appear in the exceptions,
By section 2700 it is further provided, that where it appears by a report made as aforesaid, or a special report of the commissioner, that money is in the hands of any fiduciary, the court, in the clerk’s office of which said report is filed, may order the same to be invested or loaned out, or make such other order respecting the same as may seem to it proper.
By section 2702 it is provided, that when a report of the accounts of any guardian, curator, committee, or trustee, shall be confirmed, either in whole or in a qualified manner, the court, in the clerk’s office of which said report is filed, may order payment of what shall appear due on such accounts to such persons as would be entitled to recover the same by suit in equity. And by section 2703 it is declared, that when a report of the accounts of any personal representative, and of the debts and demands against the decedent’s estate shall be confirmed as aforesaid, the court shall order to be applied to the payment of such debts and demands so much of the estate in the hands of such representative, and to such creditors as shall appear proper, reserving, where it seems to the court reasonable to do so, to meet a claim of a surety for the decedent, or any other contingent claim against the estate, the proof of which has to be deferred, or to meet any other claim not finally passed upon, such sum as it may deem sufficient to pay it or a proportion thereof equal to what is ordered to be paid to other creditors of the same class, should the payment of it or such proportion afterwards appear proper.
Section 2707 provides: “If any personal representative pay any legacy given by the will or distribute any of the estate of his decedent, and there be filed in the said clerk’s office a proper refunding bond for what is so paid or distributed, with security therein sufficient at the time of taking it, such personal representative shall not, on account of what is so paid or distributed, he personally liable for any debt or demand against the decedent, whether it be of record or not, unless, within one year from his qualification or before such payment or distribution, he shall have had notice of such debt or demand.”
By section 2708 it is provided, that “When a report of the accounts of any personal representative and of the debts and demands against his decedent’s estate shall have been filed in the office of a court, whether under this chapter or in a suit in chancery, the said court, after one year from the qualification of such personal representative, may, on the motion of a legatee or distributee of his decedent, make an order for the creditors of such decedent to show cause on some day to be named in the order against the payment and delivery of the estate of the decedent to his legatees or distributees; a copy of which order
And by section 2710, the county court, for good cause shown, is required to have removed to the circuit court having jurisdiction over such county any report made to the county court under this chapter.
We have quoted these sections very extensively in order that it may appear how minute, how careful and how sufficient is the provision made by our statute law for the settlement of the accounts of fiduciaries. It is full, ample and complete. It guards and protects every interest as amply as could be done by a formal suit in chancery. By the death of the decedent the probate court acquires jurisdiction. It appoints the administrator and commits the estate to his control; and, at every step of his administration, the law provides proper machinery by which the fiduciary can be compelled to collect and distribute the funds committed to his care, and to settle his accounts showing the manner in which his trust has been executed.
If the administrator in this case, instead of proceeding in strict obedience to the provisions of chapter 121 of the Code, had instituted a suit in chancery for direction as to his conduct in the administration of this estate, in what respect would the proceeding have differed from that which has been pursued? There is not a suggestion or a hint that he had any knowledge, or that anyone else within the jurisdiction of the court had any
If these were creditors making the attack, we think it is scarcely denied that the administrator would be saved harmless by the statute, for by section 2Y 0Y it is .expressly provided, that “a personal representative shall not, on account of what is so paid or distributed, be personally liable for any debt or demand against the decedent, whether it be of record or not, unless, within one year from his qualification or before such payment or distribution, he shall have had notice of such debt or demand.” AYhile there is no such precise language of exoneration with respect to distributees, the legal effect of a compliance with the requirements of chapter 131 is, to give protection as ample against the claims of a distributee as though the statute had so declared in express terms. In other words, it is because the statute has given to all concerned an opportunity to present their claims and demands and to have them litigated before a competent tribunal that exemption from liability attaches in favor of those who have pursued the terms of the statute. It is what has been done, or what might have been done, under the statute by those diligent in the assertion of their rights which affords protection to those who have acted in obedience to the mandate of the law.
In Woerner on Am. Law of Administration (3nd ed.), sec. 505, it is said: “Einal settlements of the administration, when
It is said, however, that this is a court of limited jurisdiction, and that we may concede; but the only difference between a court of limited and one of general jurisdiction is, that with respect to the latter there is a presumption in favor of the jurisdiction, while with respect to courts of limited jurisdiction the presumption is against that jurisdiction.
Mr. Justice Strong, in Miller’s Ex’or v. United States, 11 Wall. 268, 20 L. Ed. 135, speaking of this subject, says: “It is insisted that the district court did not find that the stocks belonged to a person engaged in the rebellion, or who had given aid or comfort thereto, which it is said are made necessary findings by the Jth section of the act, before a decree of condemnation can be entered. This is not an objection to the jurisdiction of the court. We have already shown that that was complete. It is an objection to the regularity of proceeding, and it assumes that the record must show affirmatively there was no irregularity. It presumes, therefore, against the record. The general rule, however, is, that in courts of record all things are presumed to have been rightly done. In courts of limited jurisdiction, indeed, there is a presumption against jurisdiction, but when that appears they are entitled to the same presumptions in favor of their action as other courts are. The district and
In Erwin v. Lowry, 7 How. 181, 12 L. Ed. 655, the court said: “Wherever a judgment is given by a court having jurisdiction of the parties and of the subject-matter, the exercise of jurisdiction warrants the presumption in favor of a purchaser, that the facts, which were necessary to confer jurisdiction, were found.” See also Howard v. Landsberg’s Committee, ante p. 161, 60 S. E. 769, decided at this term.
After the full citation which we have given from the statute law on the subject, we do not think there can be any question as to the jurisdiction of the county court in this case, for as has been well said, “The power to hear and determine a cause is jurisdiction;” and, as we have seen, the jurisdiction being established all the presumptions are in favor of the rightful exercise of that jurisdiction.
It may be well to give in full, before closing this opinion, the orders of the County Court of Loudoun county, which are as follows :
“At a county court held for Loudoun county, March 13, 1894.
“It appearing to the court that Commissioner W. H. Wise’s report of the accounts of W. S. Summers, D. S., for H. H. Russell, sheriff of Loudoun county and as such administrator of Travers H. Carter, deceased, and of the debts and demands against said estate, have been filed in the office of this court under chap. 121, Code of Va., and that more than one year has elapsed since the qualification of said administrator,
“A copy of this order shall be published once a week for four successive weeks in a newspaper published in Loudoun county, Va., and posted at the front door of the court-house on the first day of two successive terms of this court.”
“At a county court held for Loudoun county, May 14, 1894, in the matter of the estate account of Travers H. Garter, deceased.
“It appearing that the order of the court made upon the motion of Edwiif J. Garter, sole distributee of said estate, for the creditors of said decedent to show cause, if any they can, why the estate in the hands of his administrator should not be paid and delivered to the said distributee, has been duly published in the 'Washingtonian’ and posted at the front door of the court-house as prescribed by section 2708 of the Code of Va., 1887, and no creditors of said decedent having shown cause against such payment and delivery. It is ordered that the said estate of said decedent, which has or may come into the hands of his personal representative, shall be paid and delivered to the said Edwin J. Garter, or John H. Alexander, his attorney, according to law without a refunding bond, and the account of said decedent’s administrator having been returned to the office of this court for more, than thirty days, the same is approved and confirmed, and it is ordered to be recorded, and in accordance therewith said W. S. Summers, D. S., for H. H. Russell administrator of T. H. Garter, is ordered to pay to said Edwin J. Carter or J. H. Alexander, his" attorney, the sum of $2,197.14.”
Erom these orders it appears that everything was done regularly and in order, as prescribed by the statute law of this
“The payment in distribution is, however,” says Oroswell on Executors and Administrators, sec. 524, “dependent largely on the condition of the estate as shown in the administrator’s accounts; for as was said previously in regard to payment of legacies, if his accounts show that all the debts are paid and nothing remains to be done but to distribute, the court may order the administrator to distribute, either wholly or partially, and will not allow him to retain the estate in his hands. The decree of distribution, when it is made by the court, settles the duty of the administrator to pay over the estate forthwith, if so ordered, and also protects him in making such a payment.” In some States, the administrator may, before paying a distributive share, require a refunding bond to secure him against unknown debts, and so our statute provides; but, as we have seen, provision is also made for dispensing with the refunding bond, as was done in this case.
In Sayre's Admr. v. Sayre, 16 N. J. Eq. 505, it is said, that “The -decree of distribution is final and conclusive between the administrator and the distributees, as to the amount of each share, and the party entitled to receive it. It is an effectual protection to the administrator against all claims for moneys paid pursuant thereto, though it should prove that the decree was erroneous and the-money paid to a party not entitled.”
And it would be a hard case, indeed, if an administrator’, acting in perfect good faith, and in obedience to the order of the court from which he received his appointment, should not
We are of opinion that tbe decree of tbe circuit court sbouM be reversed, and this court will enter sncb decree as that court should have entered.
Reversed.