In re Estate of Roeser

47 N.E.2d 410, 37 Ohio Law. Abs. 374, 1942 Ohio App. LEXIS 747
CourtOhio Court of Appeals
DecidedApril 16, 1942
DocketNo. 596
StatusPublished
Cited by4 cases

This text of 47 N.E.2d 410 (In re Estate of Roeser) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Ohio Court of Appeals primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
In re Estate of Roeser, 47 N.E.2d 410, 37 Ohio Law. Abs. 374, 1942 Ohio App. LEXIS 747 (Ohio Ct. App. 1942).

Opinion

OPINION

By HORNBECK, J.

This is an appeal from a judgment of the Common Pleas Court affirming an order of the Probate Court of Darke County, Ohio, dismissing the exceptions filed by appellants to the first and final account of T. A. Billingsley, administrator of the estate of George N. Roeser, deceased.

The facts essential to an appreciation of the questions presented are that on August 2, 1932, George N. Roeser was killed in an automobile accident in Indiana. The appellants, Funeral Directors, conducted the funeral at a cost of $313.00. Counsel for the respective parties in their briefs agree that George N. Roeser, at the time of his death, was unmarried and the minor son of Harley J. Roeser and Florence B. Roeser. These agreed facts do not appear in the record nor from the papers from the Probate Court, which are made an exhibit in the case.

Appellants made the charge for funeral services the subject of an account against George Newto-n Roeser, the father of decedent, and made the notation on the ledger, “Ordered by Harley J. Roeser, charge to same.” The funeral services were conducted on the 4th of August, 1932, and on the 19th of that month Harley J. Roeser made a payment of $123.00 on account, which was credited to him, leaving a balance of $190.00 which, with interest at 6% per annum, was the amount of appellants’ claim.

On August 10, 1932, the administrator was appointed for the purpose of bringing a wrongful death action but soon after the appointment the administrator also learned that the decedent had an accident policy upon which the administrator made collection of $1100.00. The action for damages for wrongful death was instituted and as a result thereof the court [376]*376authorized settlement upon payment of the sum of $2000.00, which also came into the hands of the administrator. The administrator filed, no schedule of debts, paid the debts which he recognized as claims against the estate and distributed the money on hand to the father and mother, heirs at law of the decedent.

The proceeds of the insurance policy from which appellant claims it should be paid were distributed in September prior to the expiration of the four month period within which claims could properly have been filed with the administrator.

The administrator filed his first and final account on January 23, 1S37 and it was set for hearing on February 27, 1937. The account shows distribution of the funds coming to the estate after payment of debts listed. On February 23, 1937, appellants filed their exceptions to the account on two grounds, first, because the account of the exceptors had not been paid and second, no schedule of debts had ever been filed. The Probate Judge overruled the exceptions upon two grounds:

First: “That the evidence is insufficient to establish the presentation of the claim of C. J. Miller and Sons to the administrator for allowance.”
Second: “That the evidence submitted tends to prove that C. J. Miller and Sons looked to H. J. Roeser for payment of the fuñera,! expenses, which said expense account has been incurred upon the orders and directions of H. J. Roeser.”

Upon the question of the presentation of the claim of appellant to the administrator, it is testified bv Homer A. Miller of. the appellant firm that on several occasions, beginning as early as August, 1932, he had talked to Mr. Billingsley about the balance due on its claim and that on October 8, 1932, he took a statement of appellants" account to Mr. Billingsley’s office and delivered it to Miss Leaman, Secretary to Mr. Billingsley. The identical form of the account which was presented to Mr. Billingsley is not set forth but from all that appears, it may be assumed that it was a copy of the original account, made up at the time that the appellant performed the ser-i vices and furnished the supplies incident to the funeral of decedent. Mr. Billingsley testifies that he did not receive the statement of the account left with his secretary; that he saw no claim and none was presented to him, either with or without affidavit, by appellant, and he did not know that the funeral expenses were unpaid until after the money which came into •his hands as administrator 'had been dispersed. Miss Leaman, Mr. Billingsley’s Secretary, did not take the stand.

If the Probate Judge was correct in his determination that the' evidence failed to establish presentation of the claim of the appellant to the administrator for allowance or that appellant did not look to the estate of the decedent for payment of its account but to H. J. Roeser, decedent’s father, or, if for any other reason the exceptions should have ioeen overruled, the judgment of the Common Pleas Court must be affirmed. It is our opinion that there is support in the record for both propositions upon which the Probate Court predicated its action.

Upon review, the Common Pleas Court and this Court must indulge every reasonable presumption to support any finding of fact by the Probate Judge upon which there is credible evidence and [377]*377likewise must accord to the Probate Judge the right to weigh the evidence and determine the credibility of the witnesses. If this rule be strictly observed, we could support the judgment upon the test of the credibility of the witnesses but ic is our judgment, and it is probable, that the Probate Judge gave full weight and credence to the testimony of all witnesses. This, we believe, can safely be done without disturbing the judgment.

At the outset, the query arises if exceptions to the administrator’s account was the proper procedure, if a claim had been filed with the administrator inasmuch as it is conceded that it was neither allowed nor rejected. Re: Heimberger, 6 OO 51.

Though not set up in the Probate Court, it is urged here, that the failure of the administrator to file a schedule of debts as required by §10509-118 Gc precludes the approval by the court of the account of the administrator. If any penalty is to be visited upon the administrator for failure to observe this statutory requirement it does not appear how it will operate to the advantage of appellant nor enable it to require an allowance or disallowance of its claim.

Appellants’ rights must rest upon its compliance with the law requiring the presentation of its claim to the administrator for allowance. Adams and Hosford Probate Practice and Procedure (3rd Ed.) 943, Rockel’s Ohio Probate Practice, p. 477, note 24, Devers v Schreiber, 50 Oh Ap 442. The. record does not require the conclusion that the administrator’s knowledge of the claim of the appellant was such that he waived its presentation or was charged with the obligation of reporting it in the schedule of debts as a claim against the estate. Time for compliance with the Code as to presentation of claims §10509-112 GC, unless within an exception, had elapsed before the schedule of debts was required to be filed. §10509-118 GC.

We may assume that Mr. Miller presented appellants’ claim to Miss Leaman, the Secretary of Mr. Billingsley, the administrator, on the date suggested, namely, sometime in October, 1932. Miss Leaman not taking the stand, we may indulge the presumption that she would not have contradicted Mr. Miller’s statement had .she testified. It is generally held that as to' presentation of a claim to the administrator literal compliance with the statute is required. Adams & Hosford O. P. P. 943.

If it be granted that Mr.

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Bluebook (online)
47 N.E.2d 410, 37 Ohio Law. Abs. 374, 1942 Ohio App. LEXIS 747, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/in-re-estate-of-roeser-ohioctapp-1942.