Teat v. Lee

| Ala. | Jan 15, 1839

COLLIER, C. J.

— Three points have been made upon the record, in this case.

First — It is insisted that the Orphan’s court should not have approved of the division and distribution of the estate of the defendant’s intestate, because it is unequal.

Second — That the advancements of the distributees brought into hotch-pot, have not been valued in the manner the law directs.

Third — There is no law which authorised the rendition of a final decree and award of execution against the plaintiff, as one of the distributees, for an excess of intestate’s estate (beyond his share) received on the distribution.

1. We are not aware of any law which would coerce a distributee to receive a larger portion in value of his intestate’s estate than his distributive share, and thus become chargeable to the administrator for the excess. In distributing an estate, consisting of slaves and other personal property, it is difficult so to equalise a division, that none of the distributees shall be better provided for than the others. To prevent all controversy, in such a case, where the parties in interest either will not, or are incapable of consenting to an adjustment, the only legal' course seems to be, for the administrator to obtain permission to sell so much of the estate as will enable him tomake an equitable division— (Aik. Dig. s. 12, p. 155.)

2. By the second section of the act of eighteen hundred and twenty-eight, entitled “ an act concerning the estates of deceased persons,” it is enacted, that “ when one or more of the heirs of any deceased intestate, shall have received property of the ancestor in his life time, and shall wish to bring the same into hotchpot, and the parties cannot agree as to the value of such property, the same shall be ascertained by testimony, and affixed by the judge of the County court of the county, where letters testamentary or of administration shall have been granted ; and it shall be his duty to do so, on the application of any person concerned in interest, on due nqtice to the other persons interested; and the said judge may, at his discretion, empannel a jury to assess the value"of the property in question; and on-the application of either party for a jury, it shall be the duty of the judge to cause the same to be empanneled; and in all cases, the value of the property at the time it was delivered, shall be fixed by said judge or jury, as the case may be; and the value so fixed, or the value agreed upon by the parties, shall be deducted from the share of such heir£or heirs” —(Aik. Dig. s. 16, p. 155, 156.)

In the case before us, we are informed by the record, that four o-f the five commissioners appointed by the Orphan’s court, to divide and distribute the personal estate of the defendant’s intestate, ascertained the value of the advancements of the several distributees brought into hotchpot. In doing this, it is conceived that the commissioners transcended the legal duties of their office, not the less, because, the court appointing them, undertook 'to confer such an authority. The statute, itself, delegates the power to the judge of the “County court,” as a. judicial officer, and does not authorise him to substitute others to act. in his stead, except so far as it permits him, in his discretion, to cause a jury to be impanneled; In departing, then, from .the course-of procedure prescribed by the law, we think there is error in the pro-" ceedings. of'the Orphan’s court.

- 3. In rendering a decree, and directing the issuance of an execution against the plaintiff, tiré Orphan’s court exceeded its authority, for the law is entirely silent in such a case. .The act of eighteen hundred and thirty, “ to extend the powers of the County and Orphan’s court in certain cases, and for other purposes,” declares,.that “all decrees made by the Orphan’s court, on final settlements oh the accounts of executors, administrators and guardians, shall have the force and effect of judgments at law, and-executionsmay issue thereon, for the collection of the several distributive amounts, against such executor, administrator or guardian — (Aik. Dig. s. 37, p. 252.) This act, it is clear, does not extend to authorise the rendition of decrees and the award of executions thereupon, against distributees for balances against them on distribution ; yet, it is the only statute which affords the semblance of aid, to legalise the proceeding before us.

In every view in which the case has presented itself to us, we think the decree of the Orphan’s court is erroneous, and it is therefore reversed.