In Re Sikorski's Estate

268 P.2d 395
CourtMontana Supreme Court
DecidedMarch 30, 1954
Docket9245
StatusPublished
Cited by5 cases

This text of 268 P.2d 395 (In Re Sikorski's Estate) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Montana Supreme Court primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
In Re Sikorski's Estate, 268 P.2d 395 (Mo. 1954).

Opinion

268 P.2d 395 (1954)

In re SIKORSKI'S ESTATE
SIKORSKI
v.
BRUSKI et al.

No. 9245.

Supreme Court of Montana.

March 30, 1954.

*396 P. F. Leonard, Miles City, for appellant. Al Hansen, Baker, for respondent.

ADAIR, Chief Justice.

On May 1, 1950 John V. Sikorski died testate in Fallon County, Montana, whereof he was a long time resident and wherein he then was domiciled. He left estate consisting of both real and personal property, some of which was in Fallon County, Montana, while the remainder was in the city and county of Winona in the State of Minnesota.

In his last will and testament the decedent nominated and appointed his daughters Gertrude A. Bruski and Sally Bowmer to be the executrices thereof and therein the testator further directed that said executrices shall employ Al Hansen, Esq., of Baker, Montana, as their attorney to represent, advise and aid them in all matters pertaining to the estate and in carrying out the provisions of the will.

The will was filed for probate on May 17, 1950, in the district court of Fallon County, Montana, and on June 14, 1950, by order entered in such court the will was duly admitted to probate and letters testamentary were issued to Gertrude A. Bruski and Sally Bowmer, who duly qualified, personally administered the estate in Montana and saw to it that such portion of the estate as was in Minnesota was administered and then on January 29, 1952, said executrices filed in the district court of Fallon County, Montana, their final account showing the expenses of administration and also their petition asking that all the property be distributed as directed in their father's will, to which account the petition their brother Edward R. Sikorski interposed written objections.

This is an appeal by said Edward R. Sikorski from an order allowing, approving and settling the final account of the executrices of filed.

In his will the testator gave to his son, the appellant Edward R. Sikorski, all his real estate situate in Fallon County, Montana, same being particularly described in the will and comprising approximately 480 acres of land together with all of testator's farm machinery, chattels, livestock, personal effects and other personal property located in said Fallon County, but expressly providing that such devise and bequest was subject to the condition that said Edward R. Sikorski shall pay to testator's son Harry, $500, to testator's son Klemmens, $500, and to testator's daughter, Sally, $800.

Montana Property. The property left by the testator and physically present in Fallon County, Montana, as listed in the inventory and appraisement, was appraised as follows: Real estate, $6,620, improvements, $5,600; Personal property: Cattle, $1,700, cash in Bank of Baker, $632.38, cash in Baker National Bank, $1,594.80.

After the filing of the aforesaid inventory and appraisement the executrices discovered the following property, viz: Certificate of deposit on the Bank of Baker for $353.50, savings stamp book for $5, and savings bonds cashed for $620.50, making the total value of the estate in Fallon County, $17,226.18.

Minnesota Property. In addition to the above property, the testatory also left property in the city and county of Winona, in the State of Minnesota, the disposition whereof was expressly provided for in paragraphs designated "Third" and *397 "Fourth" of the will, which in part read:

"Third: I direct that my executrices as hereinafter named sell to the best advantage of my estate as soon as convenience may permit and as they see fit the following described property, situated in the City of Winona, Winona County, State of Minnesota; That property standing of record in my name and known as 350 and 352 Mankato Avenue of the Hubbard's Addition to the City of Winona, County of Winona, State of Minnesota; that the said property be converted into cash, and that the proceeds so realized be distributed to my children and grandchildren according to the schedule of gifts, devises, or bequests as follows:

"a. To my son John S. Sikorski, the sum of $500.00; to my daughter Gertrude A. Bruski, the sum of $500.00; to my daughter Sally Bowmer, the sum of $500.00.

"b. To Barbara Sikorski, the adopted daughter of my deceased son Alozi A. Sikorski, the sum of $200.00; a James, Joan and Mary, the two daughters and one son of my deceased son Lee, the sum of $200.00 each; this provision to assure to each of the children of my deceased sons the sum of $200.00.

"c. To each of my grandchildren who are the children of my daughter Gertrude A. Bruski, namely Sylvester, Ralph, Raymond, and Lucille, the sum of $200.00; this provision to assure to each of the children of Gertrude. A. Bruski the sum of $200.00. * * *

"Fourth: I then give and bequeath unto my grandchildren Eddie Sikorski, Jackie Sikorski, Mike Sikorski, Jerry Sikorski, and Timmy Sikorski, the foregoing children being those my son Edward R. Sikorski, and to Dennis Bowmer, Richard Bowmer, Celia Bowmer, and Mary Bowmer, being the children of my daughter Sally Bowmer, share and share alike to the nine children named in this fourth clauses of my will, all the rest, residue, and remainder of my property, both real and personal, wherever the same may be situated or located."

The property in Winona, Minnesota, consisted of a store building and an adjoining house. There was considerable dispute as to the value of such property, but the district court's findings of fact state that the total receipts from the sale of the property in Winona, Minnesota, were $9,643.33, and that after paying the expenses incurred by the administrator of the estate appointed by the Minnesota court there was left the sum o;f $8,258.28 for the payment, out of the Minnesota property, of the above specific legacies so provided for in the will.

It also appears in the record that all such legacies were duly paid in strict accordance with the provisions of testator's will and that testator's estate in Minnesota was duly closed.

At the time the will was admitted to probate and letters testamentary were granted to the respondents Gertrude A. Bruski and Sally Bowmer, each executrix was then a bona fide resident of the State of Montana, by reason whereof each was ineligible, under the laws of Minnesota, to be granted letters testamentary in such state, but notwithstanding such fact it was plainly the will and wish of their father that respondents should see to it that all of his property, wherever situate, should be distributed in accordance with the terms of his will, for he sought to make them the executrices of all his property and to place upon them the responsibility of making it their business to carry out his express directions when it came to disposing of or distributing any of testator's estate wherever found. The testator well knew that someone must attend to the business and property he was leaving and he sought to appoint and name respondents as the ones who should manage and attend to such matters.

In 21 Am.Jur., Executors and Administrators, § 862, pp. 854, 855, it is said: "Duty to Collect Assets beyond Jurisdiction. —Notwithstanding the well-recognized limitations on the authority of executors and administrators in reference to property belonging to the estate of the decedent located beyond the jurisdiction of the court in which the letters of administration have been granted, it is the duty of a domiciliary *398

Free access — add to your briefcase to read the full text and ask questions with AI

Related

McDonald v. Hoffman
320 P.2d 357 (Montana Supreme Court, 1958)
In Re Stoian's Estate
269 P.2d 1085 (Montana Supreme Court, 1954)
Minder v. Gray
270 P.2d 404 (Montana Supreme Court, 1954)
In Re Minder's Estate
270 P.2d 404 (Montana Supreme Court, 1954)
Vonica v. Stoian's Unknown Foreign & Non-Resident Heirs
269 P.2d 1085 (Montana Supreme Court, 1954)

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
268 P.2d 395, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/in-re-sikorskis-estate-mont-1954.