134 Mich. 499 | Mich. | 1903
John L. Shaw died in 1900, leaving a will, in which he gave and bequeathed to his wife,
“ It is my will, and I give and direct, that the sum of three hundred dollars in money be paid to my said sister annually for her use and support as long as she shall live, and that it be paid to her by my executrix in equal sums of seventy-five dollars each, at the end of every three months from and after my decease.”
The will further directed that no inventory of his estate be required, and named his wife as sole executrix, and requested that she be required to furnish no bond. Mrs. Shaw qualified as executrix, and gave a residuary legatee’s bond in the sum of $5,000, which was conditioned to pay, or cause to be paid, all debts, legacies, and charges chargeable on said estate without fraud or delay. Six months were given from the filing of the bond for proving claims.
At the expiration of this period, the executrix filed a petition in the probate court, representing that all debts against the estate and all administration expenses had been paid, and that the estate had been closed against claims, and praying to be released and discharged as such executrix, and to have her official bond canceled. No notice of the filing of this petition, or of any hearing thereon, was published, and no notice was given to the legatee. On the same day the petition was filed, the probate court entered an order discharging, exonerating, and acquitting the executrix from all liabilities and troubles concerning her trust, and canceling the official bond, and revoking the letters testamentary that were granted. The bond itself was delivered up and removed from the files. Learning of this action something like a year after it was had, the petitioner filed her petition in the probate court, asking that the residuary legatee be compelled to file a new bond, and, in default thereof, that an administrator de bonis non with the will annexed be appointed to take charge of the estate. This petition was dismissed by the probate court, and that action affirmed on appeal to the circuit court.
It would not do to say that the order of-the probate court discharging the executrix has barred the petitioner •of the right to have an administrator de bonis non appointed, as the proceeding in which this action was taken was one to which she was not a party. She had no notice of the proposed action, nor is there any finding of the court that the legacy provided for in the will has been paid. Petitioner’s rights were in no way considered, and it is difficult to see how, without notice, they could have been adjudged in that proceeding. If we assume that the court had power to discharge the executrix, there was no power to relieve the estate from the payment of the legacy, and any attempt to do so without .notice to the legatee would be an act without jurisdiction. Buss v. Buss’ Estate, 75 Mich. 163 (42 N. W. 688).
We do not overlook the contention of defendant that this annuity is not to be treated as a legacy, but we think the language of the will is clear, and that it is a legacy, and that the legatee was entitled to notice. See section 9441, 3 Comp. Laws; Morton v. Johnston, 124 Mich. 561 (83 N. W. 369).
The order of the circuit and probate courts will be reversed, and the case remanded, with direction to enter •an order that the executrix file a new bond, in a sum to be fixed by the probate court, within 20 days from notice of such order, or that in default thereof an administrator de bonis non be appointed. The petitioner will recover costs ■of both courts.