104 Kan. 521 | Kan. | 1919
The opinion of the court was delivered by
Has an informant the right to appeal from an order of the probate court approving the verdict of a jury finding that a subject of inquiry is not feeble-minded? A negative answer was given in the district court, and the informant complains of the ruling.
The inquest was initiated by J. E. Erickson, who alleged in his affidavit that Erick Erickson was feeble-minded, incapable of managing his affairs, and he asked that a guardian of the person and estate of Erick Erickson be appointed. He did not state his relationship fio or interest in Erick Erickson, but in one of the papers in the attempted appeal it is incidentally mentioned that he is a son of the respondent. The statute provides for an appeal from a decision of the probate court by or on behalf of the respondent, when the finding and decision is against him. (Gen. Stat. 1915, § 6101; Ald v. Appling, 89 Kan. 340, 131 Pac. 569.) It also provides for an appeal from a final order or decision in any matter arising under the act, upon the terms and conditions that appeals áre allowed in the act respecting executors and administrators. (Gen. Stat. 1915, §§ 4675, 6131; Ald v. Appling, supra.)
“That the expectancy of an heir or the apprehension of being ultimately compelled to maintain a lineal ancestor or descendant is no present vested interest which the law .can recognize.” (Nimblet v. Chaffee, 24 Vt. 628, 630.)
(See, also, In re Varnum, 70 Vt. 147; Gannon v. Doyle, 16 R. I. 726; In re Brooks, 104 N. Y. Supp. 670; Merrill v. Merrill, 134 Wis. 395.)
Although the filial relation between parent and child prompts, or should prompt, a child who is able, to maintain and care for an indigent and helpless parent, it is a well-recognized doctrine of the common law that there is no obligation that he should do so, however old or needy the parent may be. (29 Cyc. 1619; Note, 4 L. R. A., n. s., 1159; Note, 9 Ann. Cas. 1019.) Many of the states place such an obligation on children of a needy parent, but no such statute has been enacted in this state. We have a statute which provides that in cases where persons are adjudged to be insane and have been kept at public expense, the county or the state bearing the expense may recover the same from the estate of the insane person, or from the husband, wife, parent, or child of the insane person. (Laws 1907, ch. 247, §§ 31-33, Gen. Stat. 1915, §§ 6128-6130.)
This provision for reimbursement applies only to the case of those adjudged insane, and has no application where persons charged with insanity are found to be of sound mind, nor in any other cases than those specifically mentioned in the statute. A statutory liability of this kind is not extended beyond the cases mentioned, nor in any other mode than those prescribed by the statute. (29 Cyc. 1620.)
Our conclusion is that the appellant was not entitled to maintain his appeal, and hence the judgment of the district court is affirmed.