15 Ark. 41 | Ark. | 1854
delivered the opinion of tbe Court.
Tbe executor, at an annual settlement, claimed credit for several sums of money, which be bad, without an order of court for any distribution of tbe estate, paid out to some two or three of the heirs, in anticipation of, and as a part of their probable distributive shares, respectively, in the ultimate residue of the estate. Other heirs excepted to these items in his account; but the Probate Court overruled their exceptions, and allowed the executor thus to credit himself. Upon bill of exception, and appeal to the Circuit Court, the ruling of the Probate Court on this point, was held erroneous, and the Circuit Court, thereupon restating the account, excluded these items from the credits allowed the executor; and he, in his turn, has appealed to this court.
Although an executor or administrator may pay out legacies or distributive shares, before an order of court for that purpose, it is at his own peril. He has no right to make creditors of the estate, or some of the heirs or distributees, when he has paid out only to others of them, share this responsibility with him against their consent. The several provisions of the statute, relating to the payment of legacies and distributive shares, are not for his protection alone, (Digest, j?. 134, seos. 130,131,132,135); but for that of all persons interested; and especially-for the protection of creditors whose rights are paramount to those of heirs or dis-tributees. The assets are in the custody of the law, primarily for the benefit of creditors; and it is presumed, by the law, that they remain in the hands of the executor or administrator, subject to the claims of creditors only; until ordered by the court to be paid out, or distributed to legatees or distributees. Such orders of court, in the progress of the administration, are easily obtained under the provisions of our statute in cases where the rights of creditors are not jeopardised; andaré always tobe encouraged, when this is not the case: and the voluntary payment of legacies or distributive shares by executors or administrators, without an order of court, are sufficiently encouraged by holding the payment or distribution valid as between him and the legatee or dis-tributee to whom it is made; although not so as to others having paramount rights in the premises.
yfe think there was no error in the action of the Circuit Court. Judgment affirmed.
