National Bank of D. O. Mills & Co. v. Rider

251 P. 805 | Cal. | 1926

This appeal is from the same decree of distribution in theEstate of George Rider, Deceased, from which two other appeals were taken and which have been decided this day (ante, p. 724 [251 P. 799]). The appeal herein is from that portion of said decree charging the appellant, the executor of the will of the deceased, with $56,206.32, as representing the total balance in cash on hand in said estate. Appellant contends that it was erroneously charged with $28,051.49, which it had paid to Annie Rider, the surviving wife of said deceased, and that an error in the figures, amounting to $322.76, had been made in computing said balance.

The item of $28,051.49 was paid by said executor to Annie Rider, the widow of said deceased, under what said executor conceived to be the intent and purpose of the last will and testament of said deceased, a copy of which may be found in the decision of this court above referred to. By the terms of this will the whole estate of the testator was devised and bequeathed to the National Bank of D.O. Mills Co., as trustee, to pay the entire income therefrom to the widow of said deceased during her lifetime. The National Bank of D.O. Mills Co. was also appointed the executor of said will and during the administration of said estate and, acting under the terms of said will as it construed them, said executor paid to Annie Rider the income from the estate as it received the same from time to time. $11,851.49 was in this way paid to Annie Rider during what was practically the first year after decedent's death. This item was included in the executor's first annual account. During the next period of time, practically eighteen months, covered by the second annual account, the executor in the same manner paid Annie Rider $16,200 and this amount was included in its second annual account. These accounts each came on regularly for hearing after due notice given and were approved and allowed by the probate court. Thereafter, however, and at the hearing of the petition for distribution the probate court, notwithstanding these previous orders approving the first and second annual accounts directed said executor to account for all sums of money paid Annie Rider during the period of time covered by said accounts and charged said amounts against said executor in fixing the balance of money in its hands for distribution. Appellant contends that this action of the probate court was erroneous and that the court had no power after settling the two accounts of the executor to thereafter charge it with the items which had been included in said accounts and allowed and approved by the court. As supporting this contention appellant relies upon section 1637 of the Code of Civil Procedure and Estate of Grant,131 Cal. 426 [63 P. 731]. The court in Estate of Grant, supra, goes into the matter quite thoroughly and concludes that the order settling accounts, whether it be an annual or a final account "is conclusive to all `items contained therein' except as to persons under legal disability." On the other hand, respondents contend that an order approving an account is binding and conclusive only as to the items that are properly included in such an account; that advances made to beneficiaries are not proper items either in an annual or a final account; and that an order of court approving such an account is not conclusive or binding as to such items improperly included therein. It was held in Estate of Willey, 140 Cal. 238, 241 [73 P. 998, 999], that: "The duties of the executors are to preserve the estate, pay the indebtedness of the deceased, the charges of administration, and put the estate in such condition that distribution may be had to those entitled to it under the will. In the matter at bar, however, the executors did something more. They assumed in advance of the decree of distribution, to construe the terms of the will, the validity of particular bequests, who were the beneficiaries thereunder, and to make payments of the funds of the estates upon their own judgment as to these matters. This was clearly outside of their duties, was an attempt to intrench on the exclusive jurisdiction of the court to determine these matters on distribution, and an infringement upon the rights of all persons interested in the estate to have these matters disposed of solely on distribution — partial or final." This case arose, however, on an appeal from an order striking out from an account certain payments made to beneficiaries under the will of the deceased on the ground that they were not proper items for settlement or approval in an executor's account. The question as to the conclusive and binding effect of an order settling an executor's account, including such items, did not arise in this case. Neither was it one of the questions decided in Estate of Ross, 179 Cal. 358 [182 P. 303], cited by respondents.

We think, however, that the payments made by the executor to Annie Rider were more than mere advances to a beneficiary under the will of the deceased. By the terms of the will of George K. Rider, deceased, his wife, Annie Rider, was to receive all the income from the property of said estate. Included in the decedent's estate was not only his separate property, if he had any, and his interest in the community property, but also the interest of his wife, Annie Rider, in the community property. In consideration of the provisions in the will giving to her the income during her lifetime she surrendered her right in the community property and waived all her right to any of the property of her deceased husband as his surviving wife and heir at law. There is no evidence that she was possessed of any other property than that which she received under the will of her husband. The testator in turn evidently attempted to provide for her every need, even making provision therein for the payment of her debts and liabilities after her death and her funeral and expenses of last illness. It is inconceivable that he could have been so solicitous for her welfare as manifested by his scrupulously making provision for her care, support and maintenance after the property of the estate should come into the hands of the trustee, not forgetting to provide for her last illness and final interment, and then refusing or intentionally neglecting to provide for her immediate needs following his death and during the administration of his estate. To attribute to deceased any such intention would be to place an unreasonable and unnatural, and we believe unwarranted, construction upon the terms of his will and the conduct and actions of the testator surrounding its execution. Undoubtedly he intended the provisions that he had made in his will for the care and support of his wife should be for her maintenance until such a time as the property of the estate should be distributed to the trustee, when she would continue to receive the entire income therefrom. Such a provision in the will under such circumstances is sometimes referred to as a bequest for maintenance and it has been held that such a bequest dates from the death of the testator and that the beneficiary therein is entitled to receive the income from the property of the estate immediately upon the decedent's death (Estate of Dare, 196 Cal. 29 [235 P. 725]).

The proceedings at the hearing of the first and second annual accounts in which the items in dispute were contained are not before us. It must be presumed that the orders of the court approving these accounts were made upon proper and legal proof and that all legal requirements had been complied with. It appears that these items were paid by the executor under the claim that the will required their payment as maintenance for the widow during the administration of the estate and they were, accordingly, included in its accounts. As such, they were proper items to be included in the executor's accounts and the orders thereafter approving said accounts were conclusive and binding upon the parties interested in the estate. It was error, therefore, on the part of the probate court to charge said executor with the items which had previously been allowed and approved by the court in the order settling the first and second annual accounts. These orders were conclusive against all parties in any way interested in the estate, saving, of course, persons laboring under any legal disability (Code Civ. Proc., sec. 1637).

As to the item of $322.76, claimed to be an error against appellant, made in computing the amount of cash in the hands of the executor, it is evident that a new decree of distribution will have to be made in the matter of this estate. In preparing such decree any error in computation made in the previous decree, if any such error was made, can be readily corrected in such a new decree.

That part of the decree of distribution appealed from on this appeal is reversed.

Shenk, J., Richards, J., Waste, C.J., Finlayson, J., Seawell, J., and Sullivan, J., concurred.