Almy v. Crapo

100 Mass. 218

• Court: Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court
• Decided: October 15, 1868
• Status: Published

Opinion

Wells, J.

The Gen. Sts. c. 98, § 8, do not make an executor or administrator liable for the use and occupation of real estate for which he would not otherwise be liable in some form. The purpose of that section is to provide a mode for determining the amount and disposition of what may be due for the use or income of real estate, when the occupation is such as to create a liability therefor.

It is no part of the duty of administrators to take charge of the real estate ; and, whether they do so or not, creditors are not entitled to require them to account for the income. Gibson v. Farley, 16 Mass. 280. Newcomb v. Stebbins, 9 Met. 540. An executor or administrator may occupy or receive the income of real estate, by request of the heirs, or with their acquiescence. It is often convenient that he should do so, pending the settlement of the estate and until partition can be made; especially while there remains any uncertainty whether its sale will bé required for payment of debts. The statute in question provides a ready mode, in such cases, for the adjustment of his accounts with the heirs or devisees. If he does not avail himself of this mode, the heirs may, if they choose, sue him as their bailiff, at common law. Gibson v. Farley, 16 Mass. 280. When however the executor or administrator has an interest as heir, devisee or otherwise, which entitles him to possession, and there is no arrangement with other parties interested, and no ground upon which to charge him for rents except the fact that he is also executor or administrator, he will be presumed to have entered by virtue of his legal right, as being most for bis advantagc; and, if that right will justify his occupation without liability to account for income, he cannot be required to account by force of the statute only. Newcomb v. Stebbins, 9 Met. 540. Palmer v. Palmer, 13 Gray, 326.

In Stearns v. Stearns, 1 Pick. 157, the administrators were required to account, notwithstanding their claim that they occupied as heirs and not as administrators. But that decision was put explicitly upon the ground that they had voluntarily rendered a return of income of the real estate in their first account, with the assent of the other heirs, and had continued afterwards to occupy without notice of any change ; thus giving the heirs a right to consider that they were holding upon the same terms as before.

In this case the widow, being also one of the administrators, has occupied the homestead estate since the decease of her husband in 1861. Her occupation has not been exclusive, but joint with two minor heirs of whom she is the guardian, and one adult heir; and for a part of the time with two others of the» seven heirs. The others have not been excluded, and do not appear to have ever demanded to be admitted to share in the occupation. No arrangement appears to have been made for the occupation of the land by the administrators, or with either of them as administrator. By the “ assent of all the heirs,” mentioned in the statement of facts, we do not understand that anything more is intended than the assent contemplated by the Gen. Sts. c. 90, § 7

* The occupation of the widow is justified, not only by her legal rights as widow, but also as guardian of the minor heirs. And that it was not for any purpose of being held to account for the use is indicated strongly by the fact that it was shared by some of the adult heirs. One tenant in common thus occupying the common property is not liable to account for the use to his cotenant. Sargent v. Parsons, 12 Mass. 149. The decree of the probate court, refusing to appoint commissioners, and allowing the account of the administrators, is therefore affirmed.

« When a widow is entitled to dower in lands of which her husband died seised, she may continue to occupy the same with the children or other heirs of the deceased, or to receive one third part of the rents, issues or profits thereof, so long as the heirs do not object thereto, without having her dower assigned; and whenever the heirs or any of them deem it proper to hold or occupy their share in severalty, the widow may claim her dower and shall have the same assigned to her according to law.”