Colman v. Hunt

101 N.W.2d 349, 359 Mich. 4

• Court: Michigan Supreme Court
• Decided: February 25, 1960
• Docket: Docket No. 51, Calendar No. 47,979
• Status: Published

Opinion

Black, J.

By a simple 2-paragraph will this testatrix bequeathed her entire estate in equal shares to her 2 adult sisters and adult brother. The will was duly admitted to probate.- Thereupon discord arose as the 3 legatees debated ownership of the property content of a safety deposit box. Prior to death of the testatrix, the box was maintained in the joint names of testatrix and 1 of the legatees (Elsie Hunt). While the estate was in course of probate, such legatees executed an agreement providing that the contents of the box be divided a certain way among them and providing further that testatrix’ entire estate, aside from the property found in the safety deposit box, be distributed as in the will provided.

The only seriously advanced question is whether the settlement agreement requires judicial approval under the second and third sections of the so-called Dodge act of 1921 (for discussion and citation see In re Dutton Estate, 347 Mich 186). Presumably, although this is not made clear in the briefs, the appellant (fiduciary of deceased legatee Thomas Webb) expects on hearing under the Dodge act (if ordered by this Court) to show that the agreement of settlement is invalid or, for some appropriate reason considering the statute, that it should not receive judicial approval.

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The agreement required no approval of court under the Dodge act or otherwise. The contracting parties were competent, as we must presume, and their agreement in no manner frustrated or sought to evade the expressed will of the testator. See to the point In re Peck’s Estate, 323 Mich 11, 22.

Other presented questions require no consideration. The judgment of the circuit court, affirming the probate court order of assignment of testatrix’ estate, should be affirmed, with costs to appellee.

.Dethmers, C. J., and Carr, Kelly, Smith, Edwards, Kavanagh, and Souris, JJ., concurred.

A separate chaneery action, brought by Mr. Webb’s fiduciary to set aside the settlement agreement as fraudulent, was dismissed after the briefs before us were filed. Whether such dismissal was with prejudice does not definitely appear.