Brock's Administrator v. Frank

51 Ala. 85

• Court: Supreme Court of Alabama
• Decided: June 15, 1874
• Status: Published

Opinion

BRICKELL, J.

It is well settled in the common law, that the laws of the domicile of the owner of personal property will govern in regard to the right of succession, whether he dies testate or intestate. In all that concerns the devise, descent, and heirship of real estate, the lex rei sites is absolute. Wharton’s Conflict of Laws, § 561; Redfield on Wills, 394-98. The reasons of this distinction are differently stated by different jurists. Some affirm that it rests upon a legal fiction, by which all movables or all personal property are sujiposed to be in the place of the domicile of the owner. Others assert that personal property has not, in legal contemplation, a situs, but is attached to the person of the owner, wherever he is, and is governed by the laws governing his person; that is, the law of his domicile. Others ascribe it to a presumption allowed to prevail, that each person expects his personal property to be transmitted by succession according to the system in which he has a domicile, and with which he is familiar. Judge Story says the probability is, that the doctrine itself had not its origin in any distinction between real laws and personal laws, or in any fictitious annexation of them to the person of the owner, or in their incapacity to have a fixed situs ; but in an enlarged policy, growing out of their transitory nature, and the general convenience of nations. Story’s Conflict of Laws, § 379. Whatever may be the reason, or may have been the origin of the doctrine, it is the settled law, subserving individual interests, and promotive of social, commercial, and peaceful intercourse between tbe citizens of different states. Tbe lex rei sitce prevails in regard to the devise, descent, or heirship of real estate, because it does not comport with the dignity, the independence, or the security of any independent state or nation, that these incidents should be affected in any manner by the legislation or the decisions of the courts of any nation or state beside itself. Redfield on Wills, 398.

2. The probate of a will, whether of personalty or of realty, or of personalty and realty, when the court decreeing it has jurisdiction, is a decree or judgment in rem, having all the force and effect peculiar to such a judgment or decree. 2 Brick. Dig. §§ 100, 531. The decree is not only evidence, but it is conclusive and final. No other tribunal will reexamine or permit to be drawn in litigation the validity or invalidity of the will. The reason is, as assigned by Judge Stoby, that it being the sentence or decree of a court of competent jurisdiction, directly upon the very subject-matter in controversy, to which all persons who have any interest are, or may make themselves parties, for the purpose of contesting the validity of the will, it necessarily follows that it is conclusive between those parties. For otherwise, there might be conflicting sentences or adjudications upon the same subject-matter between the same parties ; and thus the subject-matter be delivered over to interminable doubts, and the effect of the rules of law, as to res adjudícala, be completely overthrown. In short, such sentences are treated as of the like nature as sentences or proceedings in rem, necessarily conclusive upon the matter in controversy, for the common safety and repose of mankind. Tompkins v. Tompkins, 1 Story, 547.

In the absence of statutory provisions in regulation of the subject, the sentence of probate in the proper tribunal of the domicile of the testator is conclusive everywhere, as to the capacity of the testator, the due execution and validity of the will. In the language of the lord chancellor, “No other court could go back upon the factum, and raise any question upon the validity of the will.” Redfield on Wills, 396-8; Wharton’s Conflict of Laws, § 645; Williams v. Sanders, 5 Cold. 60. Under the general law, an ancillary probate is necessary to give effect to a foreign probate, when it is to operate beyond the jurisdiction of the domicile of the testator. When this ancillary probate is sought, no question arises except as to the validity and authentication of the original probate. If that was granted by a tribunal of competent jurisdiction, and it is properly authenticated, the ancillary probate must be allowed.

3. The statute of this State provides for the probate here of wills admitted to probate in any of the other states, or in any foreign country. When the will has been admitted to probate in a sister state, such will or a copy of the same, and the probate thereof, certified by the clerk of the court in which the same has been proved, with the certificate of the judge (or one of the judges) of such court, that the attestation is genuine, and by the proper officer ; or, if the will has been proved before a court not having a clerk, or before an officer who is his own clerk, the certificate of the judge of such court or officer, stating such fact, filed in the proper court of probate of this State, and therein recorded, is admitted to probate in this State. R. C. § 1949. When the will and probate is presented for probate here, the only inquiries the court of this State can make are, whether the foreign probate was granted by a court having jurisdiction, and whether the will and probate is properly authenticated. Ascertaining these facts, the duty of the court then becomes ministerial, not judicial, and that duty is the record of the will and probate. The law intervenes, and attaches to the probate not only the faith and credit it commanded within the jurisdiction pronouncing the sentence, but the value and dignity of a domestic decree of probate. Ward v. Oates, 43 Ala. 515.

The general law would not permit any contestation here of the validity of the will. The statute does not provide for or expressly prohibit such contestation; but the general law, operating in the absence of a statutory prohibition, does forbid it. We are of opinion that the statute, when construed in the light of previous statutes which it superseded, must be deemed to withdraw from our courts of probate all jurisdiction of such contestation. The statute of 1806 (Clay’s Digest, 598, § 12) provided for the probate in this State of authenticated copies of wills, proved according to the laws of any of the United States, touching or concerning estates within this State, but declared, “ such will shall be liable to be contested and controverted in the same maimer as the original might have been.” In Varner v. Bevill (17 Ala. 286), this statute was construed as enlarging the jurisdiction of our courts of probate, in so far as it provided for a contestation here of the will of a testator having his domicile abroad. The Code, generally reenacting substantially preexisting statutes, and its framers and the legislature adopting it having knowledge of the construction these statutes had received from the courts, omitted all provisions for the contestation here of a foreign will, though -making express provision for its probate. The just conclusion is, that it was not intended to confer on our courts of probate jurisdiction of such a controversy. This conclusion is strengthened, if it needs fortifying, by the fact that no notice of the application for probate of a foreign will is necessary. All tbe proceedings in tbe court of probate, for tbe contestation of the will of the testator in this case, are mere nullities, —could not have been introduced for any rightful purpose, and should never have been received or entertained by that court.

4. It appears from the record the testator had his domicile in South Carolina, and there made his will, with all the formalities, so executed and attested as to pass real estate according to the laws of Alabama. It further appears that in South Carolina modes of probate of a will analogous to those recognized at common law are observed, — probate in common form, and probate in solemn form of law. The executor having proved the testator’s will in common form, a copy of the will and its probate, duly authenticated, was filed and recorded pursuant to the statute, in the court of probate of Calhoun county, in which county the testator had assets, real and personal. Subsequently, the executor not appearing to qualify within the time prescribed by the statute, and administration being necessary to preserve the assets from waste, a special administration under the statute (R. C. § 1994), answering to the administration ad colligendum, or administration pendente lite, was granted. Subsequently, the heirs and next of kin of the testator cited the executor in the proper forum in South Carolina to probate of the will in due (or solemn) form. An issue devisavit vel non was framed, and the will was admitted to probate in form of law. After the will had been admitted to probate in solemn form in South Carolina, the special administrator appointed in Calhoun county resigned, and made settlement of his accounts, and letters of general administration were granted to him by the court of probate. A question has been argued by counsel as to the character of this grant of administration; the one insisting it is void, the other that it is irregular and voidable only.

It seems to have been a rule of the common law, formerly, that if there be an executor, and administration be granted before probate and refusal, it shall be void on the subsequent probate of the will, although the will was suppressed, or its existence unknown, or it was dubious who was executor, or he was concealed, or abroad at the time of granting the administration. Toller on Executors, 120; 1 Williams on Executors, 518. The common law traced the title and authority of an executor to the will. Without regard to the time of its probate, his title and authority were by relation referred to the death of the testator. The executor was regarded, not as an officer of the court of probate, but rather as a private trustee, nominated and appointed by the testator, and charged with such duties as the testator declared. Probate was essential only to establish, by judicial sentence, his right and authority. Before probate he could do nearly all the.acts he could rightfully do after probate, except the institution and prosecution of suits, in which proferí of probate and letters testamentary was necessary. The grant of administration before probate was in derogation of his right and title, of which he could not by judicial sentence be collaterally deprived. Therefore, Mr. Williams says: “It may, perhaps, be laid down as a general test whether an administration is void or voidable, that where the grant is in dero-’ gation of the right of an executor, it is void; but where the administration is granted by the proper jurisdiction, and is only in derogation of the right of the next of kin, or residuary legatee, it is merely voidable.” 1 Williams on Executors, 520; Griffith v. Frazier, 8 Cranch, 9; Kane v. Paul, 14 Peters, 33.

I have not found any American authority recognizing this rule of the common law. It is believed to be inapplicable, generally, in this country. It certainly is, as was held at an early day in this court, inapplicable to this State. Cleveland v. Chandler, 3 Stew. 489. If the testator does not expressly relieve his executor, he must, before assuming to act as such, have given bond and security, payable as the law requires, conditioned for the faithful performance of his duties. If the testator relieves him from giving such bond, any person having any interest has the right of applying to the court granting probate, and on making affidavit of his interest, and that it is endangered for want of security; or if, in the opinion of the judge of probate, the estate is likely to be wasted, security can be demanded, and is a matter of right. It is not consistent with these statutory provisions to ascribe to the executor any power over the assets beyond that of a mere custodian, until probate, and the grant of letters testamentary; otherwise, all the beneficial purposes of the statutory requisition of bond and security could be defeated. When the will is proved, and letters testamentary are granted, the title of the executor is referred to the will, and has relation to the testator’s death for all proper and legitimate purposes.- As, prior to probate and the grant of letters testamentary, the estate of an executor does not under our law arise, a grant of administration, in the absence of the probate of a will, is not in derogation of the title of the executor, and is not void. Hence, the current of American authority is as stated by Judge Redfield in his work on Executors: “ Thus, where an administrator is appointed, and it afterwards appears that a will exists, and an executor is named ; or where probate of a will is made, and letters testamentary issue, and it, subsequently comes to light that a later will exists, and a different executor is named; in all such cases, it may be good ground for recalling the probate, or letters of administration. But, as the court had full jurisdiction both of the subject-matter and of the particular cause, the appointment, while it remained unrevoked, cannot be regarded as void; nor can the recall or repeal of the appointment be fairly regarded as placing the appointees of the court in the same position as if the decrees had never existed. On the contrary, all acts done in the due course of administration, while such decrees remained in force, must be held entirely valid.” Redfield on Wills, 109; Bigelow v. Bigelow, 4 Ham. (Ohio) 138; Kittredge v. Folsom, 8 N. H. 98; Price v. Nesbit, 1 Hill (Ch.), 461; Foster v. Brown, 1 Bailey (Law), 221. In accordance with this exposition of the common law is the statute (R. C. § 2045) declaring an administration as in case of intestacy revocable, if a will is subsequently proved, and letters testamentary claimed.

5. The authorities cited do not meet the precise question this record presents; and it is insisted that, conceding they state the law correctly, they are not applicable to this case, in which the administration was granted after the probate of the will, and while that probate was of full force, in the court granting the administration; that they apply only when there has not been probate; that when probate is taken, the question of testacy or intestacy is finally and conclusively adjudicated, all jurisdiction of it is exhausted, and the grant of general administration is therefore void. While we feel the force of this reasoning, and without 'expressing any opinion if the question were res integra,, we are constrained, in obedience to former decisions of this court, to pronounce the grant of general administration voidable only. The question was directly presented in the case of Broughton v. Bradley (34 Ala. 694), and the grant declared voidable and revocable only. That decision has stood for fifteen years. It has been acquiesced in by the profession. It may have become the foundation of titles to property. It is supported by a sound judicial conservatism, that must ever hesitate, in a collateral proceeding, to adjudge a sentence of nullity against a decree or judgment of a tribunal which, by possibility, could have jurisdiction of the subject-matter. The decision was followed by this court in the case of Ward v. Oates (42 Ala. 225), in which it was held, that the intestacy of a decedent, upon whose estate an administration with the will annexed was granted, would render such administration revocable, not void, if the court had jurisdiction of the grant of administration. In Jennings v. Moses (38 Ala. 402), a grant of administration as in case of intestacy, where the decedent left a nuncupative will, which had been duly admitted to probate, is not held void, but voidable. We are unwilling to depart front these decisions. Consistently with them, the grant of general administration in this case can and must be deemed, in legal effect, a grant of administration with the will annexed, though not so expressed. The form of letters testamentary, and of administration, is, under our statute, substantially the same. The one authorizes the execution of the will; the other, the administration of the estate. R. C. §§ 2007-8. If there is a will of probate, there cannot be a legal administration of the estate without its execution ; and authority to administer is, of necessity, authority to execute the will. The court could not, legally and properly, grant any other administration than one with the will annexed. In Mosely v. Martin (37 Ala. 216), there was a grant of administration, general in form, when an administration de bonis non only was proper. This court held, the grant must be taken as a grant of administration de bonis non. The cases of Steene v. Bennett (24 Verm. 303), Grand v. Herera (15 Texas, 533), cited in the opinion of the court, support its conclusion. In Clemens v. Walker & Brickell (40 Ala. 189), a grant of administration, expressed to be a “special administration,” was held and declared an administration de bonis non, with the will annexed, that being the only character of administration properly grantable. Pursuing these authorities, we hold the general grant of administration to John Brock to be a grant of administration with the will annexed.

6. The will expressly confers on the executor power to sell the testator’s lands in this State, and directs among whom the proceeds of sale shall be distributed. This power, under the statute, an administrator with the will annexed has authority, and is required to execute. R. C. § 1609. The will thus conferring power of sale, the court of probate had no jurisdiction to order a sale of the premises in controversy, for division among the heirs. Such jurisdiction can only arise, when the testator dies intestate as to the lands, or when no power of sale is given by the will, and a division among the devisees is necessary. In the language of this court, in the case of Ala. Con. M. E. Church v. Price (42 Ala. 49), “the direction in the will, that the land be sold, vests the authority to sell in the executor, and presents a contingency in which there is no authority in the probate court to sell for the purposes of the will. The order shows no want of authority under the will to sell for the payment of debts, and no necessity to sell for a division among the devisees.” McCollum v. McCollum, 33 Ala. 711. The order of sale being void — an excess of jurisdiction by the court of probate —no title passed to the purchaser, and it presents no obstacle to the plaintiff’s recovery. Consequently, tbe circuit court erred in tbe refusal to charge as requested by the appellant, and in the charge given; and its judgment is reversed, and the cause remanded.