173 A. 549 | R.I. | 1934
This probate appeal is before the court on exceptions to the decision of the Superior Court permitting the petitioners to amend their claim duly filed against the respondent.
Mr. Markham died April 9, 1926. The notice for his creditors to file their claims against his estate was first published May 21, 1926. October 15, 1926, the petitioners filed their claim for $26.93. More than six years thereafter, namely, February 1, 1933, petitioners filed a petition asking for permission to amend their claim by increasing the amount to $4,354.16. The probate court denied the petition. Petitioners appealed to the Superior Court. That court, after hearing, granted the petition. Several creditors, whose claims had been duly filed, excepted to this decision.
It appears that petitioners transacted business with Mr. Markham and that at his request it entered these transactions under two accounts: one was against Mr. Markham personally and amounted to $4,354.16, and the other was against Markham Co. and amounted to $26.93. On October 15, 1926, a claim against his estate for only this latter account was filed. Mr. Vennerbeck testified that the filing of the claim for only $26.93 was due to his neglect and that the mistake was not discovered until January, 1933. A petition was then filed in the probate court for permission to amend the claim filed. The probate court denied the petition on the ground that it had no jurisdiction to allow the amendment. We are of the opinion that this ruling was correct and that the Superior Court erred when it reversed the same.
A court of probate has special and limited jurisdiction and can exercise it only in the manner and to the extent conferred by statute. Thompson v. Clarke,
In Anderson v. Williams,
We find nothing in Potter v. Harvey,
The exceptions are sustained; the decision of the Superior Court is reversed and the case is remitted to the Superior Court with direction to enter an order dismissing the appeal and confirming the decree of the probate court.