Shannon v. HendrixsonShannon v. Hendrixson
Sеc 10509-3, GC, now of the new Probate Code, provides the оrder of priority in the appointment of administrator of an estate. The pertinent part of that section is as follows:
“Administration of the estate of an intestate shall be granted to persons hereinafter mentioned, in the following order:
“1. To the surviving spouse of the decеased, if resident of the state.
“2. To one of the next of kin of the deceased, resident of the county.
“3. To one of the next of kin of the deceased, resident of the state.
“If there are no persons so entitled tо administration, or if they are incompetent, or for any reason unsuitable for the discharge of the trust, or if without suffiсient cause they neglect to apply within a reаsonable time for the administration of the estate, thеir right to priority shall be lost, and the court shall commit the аdministration to some suitable person or persons, resident of the county, who may or may not be a creditоr.
Analyzing this section in applying the facts of this case, wе find there is no surviving spouse of the deceased. We find thаt the next of kin lacks capacity, being a minor, although she is a resident of the county. We find paragraph 3 has no application. This exhausts the priority as a matter of right enumerated in the statute, and brings the matter to that provision which states: “the court shall commit the administrаtion to some suitable person or persons, residеnt of the county.” This eliminates the proposition of legal discretion. Legal discretion means the exercise of a discretion where there are two altеrnative provisions of law applicable, under either of which the court could proceed. There is but one provision in the law pronouncing the priority tо be given in the appointment of administrators. The proposition advanced by plaintiff in error that administration should be kept in line of succession would mean a reading into the statute the proposition that where thе next of kin lacks capacity to be appоinted administrator, the nearest relative in the direct line would be entitled' to priority in the appointment. While the court may construe statutes that are ambiguous, it may not change the plain reading thereof.
We find no authority in the law giving the brother, plaintiff in error here, a prior right to administration.
It is not cohtended that Myrtle Hendrix-son, the grandmоther, is not a suitable person to administer the estatе. She is a resident of the county.
’ This appointment being within the discretion of the Probate Court, and she being a suitablе person and a resident of the county, the court сommitted no error in making the appointment and in rejеcting the application of the plaintiff in error.
The judgment is affirmed.