Chadwick v. Hanson

34 N.W.2d 300, 76 N.D. 171
CourtNorth Dakota Supreme Court
DecidedSeptember 8, 1948
DocketFile No. 7065
StatusPublished

This text of 34 N.W.2d 300 (Chadwick v. Hanson) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering North Dakota Supreme Court primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Chadwick v. Hanson, 34 N.W.2d 300, 76 N.D. 171 (N.D. 1948).

Opinion

Christianson, Ch. J.

This is an appeal from a judgment of the District Court of Grant County affirming a decree of distribution of the County Court of Grant County in a proceeding for the probate of the last will and testament of James Glavkee, deceased.

The decedent, James Glavkee, died on or about September 4, 1943, at Leith in the County of Grant in this state. He left a last will and testament which reads as follows:

“I, James Glavkee, a single man, Now past 73 years old, a Resident of Leith Post Officé Grant County N Dak on this first day of Oct 1942 appoint my neices, one Christine Chadwick, of Breien 'Post Office Morton County N. Dak. for her to act is Executrix for my Estate after I am death, including Real Estate and Personal Property, Money notes and accounts, and I empower my Executrix to collect all outstanding Notes and accounts, which my not been collected before my death, and for her is my Executrix to [176]*176make distribution of all income from Estate herein mentioned in equal shares to my Heirs named below in this Will.
“For Land described here in being SE-|: of Section 24-133-87 of Grant County N Dak. I have prepared a Deed to my nephew one Carl Glavkee of Baldwin Post Office Burleigh County N Dak. Said Deed I wish my Executrix to hand to Carl Glavkee after I am death.
“I also have four Federal Farm Mortgage Corporation Bonds which together amounts to $1600.00 Sixteen hundred Dollars said Bonds I wish my Executrix to hand to my neices one Evelyn Westling of Woodburn Post Office, State of Oregon All income from other Estate, except Land and Bonds must be divided in Equal shares to my Heirs named below in this Will.
“I hereby revoke all former Wills, made by me at any time. First settle all Debts and pay Funeral Expenses, and also erect a suitable dark Granite tombstone, not to exceed $150.00
Names of Heirs below
Christine Chadwick of Breien Post Office Morton County N Dak Chris Glavkee of Breien Post Office Morton County N Dak Carl Glavkee of Baldwin Post Office Burleigh County N Dak John Glavkee, now go by name of John H. Hanson
1405 N Jordan Miles City Mont
In witness hereof I have here to set my hand this 25th day of May One thousand Nine Hundred and Forty three James Glavkee testator
Witnesses
A. Landaas
Sam Landaas
Hans Landaas”

Such last will and testament was written on a sheet of plain white paper. With the exception of the signatures of the subscribing witnesses the instrument is wholly in the handwriting of the decedent, James Glavkee.

The heirs at law of said James Glavkee at the time of his death were: Christ Glavkee, John H. Hanson, Christine Chad,wick, Evelyn Westling, Carl Glavkee, Glen Nelson, Clarence [177]*177Nelson, Marion Olson, James Nelson and Reynold Nelson.

After the death of James Glavkee there was found in his dresser drawer in the room which he had been occupying in Leith, North Dakota, an envelope addressed to Christine Chadwick. The address on the envelope was in the handwriting of the deceased, James Glavkee. The envelope contained the above mentioned last will and testament, and also a deed executed and acknowledged by James Glavkee conveying to Carl Glavkee of Baldwin, Burleigh County, North Dakota, the SE¼- of Section 24,. Township 133, Range 87. The deed is on a regular printed form in general use in this State. The blank lines in the printed form such as the names of the parties, the consideration, and the description of the land were all filled in with appropriate words', with pen and ink by the decedent James Glavkee himself. The deed is dated October 1, 1942. The execution of the deed was attested by two subscribing witnesses, and was acknowledged by James Glavkee before a notary public in Grant County, North Dakota on April 6, 1943. The deed recites receipt by said party of the first part (James Glavkee) of the sum of One Dollar ($1.00) and other consideration to him in hand paid by said party of the second part.

On September 9, 1943, the said Christine Chadwick, who was appointed in the will as executrix filed with the county court of Grant County a petition in due form for proof and probate of the will. Citation was duly issued and served upon the heirs at. law of said James Glavkee, deceased, as required by law, setting the petition for hearing on October 25, 1943. On the day so appointed the matter came on for hearing pursuant to the citation. There was no contest. Some of the respondents filed a. written request that the will be admitted to probate. After the hearing, an order was made on October 25, 1943, admitting the will to probate. No appeal was taken irom such order. Christine. Chadwick qualified as executrix and took into her possession all the assets and property of the estate. The final decree of distribution distributed the estate as follows: To Carl Glavkee, the SE¼ of Section 24-133-87; to Evelyn Westling, four Federal Farm Mortgage Corporation bonds and $64.00 in cash [178]*178being the balance of interest collected on. snch bonds; to each of the respondents, John H. «Hanson, Christ Glavkee, Christine Chadwick, and Carl Glavkee, one-fonrth of the remaining assets of the estate which consisted of cash. Glen Nelson, Clarence Nelson, James Nelson and Marion Olson appealed to the district court from the final decree of distribution and demanded a trial anew in the district court and that “all the issues therein be tried and determined anew in the said court and that said district court hear the allegations and proofs of the parties and determine all questions of law and fact therein.” The matter came on for trial pursuant to the appeal.

Upon the trial the parties appeared by their counsel. The papers transmitted by the county court on the appeal to the district court including the will, the petition for proof and probate of will, the certificate of proof of will, the order admitting the will to probate, and the “testimony of the subscribing witnesses” were admitted in evidence upon the trial in the district court pursuant to stipulation by the counsel for the respective parties. Such counsel also entered into a stipulation as to who were the heirs of the said James Glavkee and the degree of the relationship of each of such persons to the deceased. Counsel for the appellees offered in evidence a deed (the deed mentioned in the will) executed by the deceased, James Glavkee, as grantor to Carl Glavkee as grantee for the SE¼ of Section 24, Township 133, Range 87, in Grant County. Such deed had not been offered or received in evidence in the county court. Counsel for the appellants objected to the admission of the deed. The deed was admitted. Thereafter counsel for the appellees on the appeal from the county court moved that the record in the case be remanded to the county court for the purpose of permitting such deed to be offered and received in evidence and to permit the county court to receive and file and probate such deed as part of the last will and testament of James Glavkee, deceased. The district court granted the motion. In Re Glavkee’s Estate, 75 ND 118, 25 NW2d 925. The case was accordingly remanded to the county court, and additional evidence was taken and the deed was offered and received in evidence. Additional findings were [179]

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Related

Re Glavkee
25 N.W.2d 925 (North Dakota Supreme Court, 1947)
Glass' Estate
1 A.2d 239 (Supreme Court of Pennsylvania, 1938)
Henderson v. Gray
146 N.W. 722 (North Dakota Supreme Court, 1914)
Estate of Wells
199 N.W. 52 (Wisconsin Supreme Court, 1924)

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Bluebook (online)
34 N.W.2d 300, 76 N.D. 171, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/chadwick-v-hanson-nd-1948.