In the Matter of the Estate of Augusto Gutierrez

Superior Court of Guam·Decided February 16, 2022·No. PR0063-76·Unknown

Opinion

u UPERIOH COURT GUM1

2022 FEB 16 PM 4' 49 COURT 1

2 3 IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF GUAM 4

5 IN THE MATTER OF THE ESTATE ) PROBATE CASE NO. PR0063-76 6 ) 7 OF ) ) DECISION AND ORDER RE: 8 AUGUSTO GUTIERREZ, ) PETITION FOR CONFIRMATION OF ) COMMUNITY PROPERTY 9 DECEASED. ) ) 10 _______________________________) 11 INTRODUCTION 12 This Probate matter began over forty-five (45) years ago, on June 10, 1976, when heir 13

14 James C. Gutierrez ("James") filed a Petition for Special Letters of Administration of this estate.

15 Although the Court has previously observed the lack of any substantial progress of the probate of 16 this estate over the last four decades in its 2015 Decision and Order Re. Proposed Petitions for 17 Final Distribution (May 13, 2016), the delay occasioned by the continued contentious nature of 18 these proceedings merits further discussion, particularly in light of the Petition for Confirmation 19

20 of Community Property (the "Petition") currently before it. 1

21 The original heirs of this estate included James, Decedent's spouse Engracia M. Gutierrez

22 ("Engracia") and Decedent's other children Jane Gutierrez Maanao ("Jane"), Alvin D. Gutierrez 23 ("Alvin"), Charles C. Gutierrez ("Charles"), Thomas A. Gutierrez ("Thomas") and Barbara G. 24 Leon Guerrero ("Barbara"). Since the filing of the original Petition for Special Letters, several 25

26 1 The Court's predecessor assigned to this matter also expressed its concerns with the delays occasioned by the administrators during a status hearing on November 5, 2009 and ordered the co-administrators Barbara and James to 27 file accountings with the Court, among other actions. Status Hearing of 11/05/2009 at 10:58:22 AM to 11:09:22 AM (Nov. 05, 2009). 28 In re Estate ofAugusto Gutierrez; PR0063-76 Decision and Order re. Petition for Confirmation of Community Property Page 1 of 13 1 original heirs have passed away, including Engracia, both co-Administrators Barbara and James

2 and Alvin and Jane. The current successor administrator is Kenneth J. Gutierrez, son of James 3 and grandson of the Decedent. Pet. for Letters of Admin. as Successor to James C. Gutierrez 4 (Dec. 31, 2020); Order Appointing Successor Administrator to James C. Gutierrez (Dec. 2, 5 2021). Counsels in this matter include Attorney F. Randall Cunliffe for Estate Administrator 6

7 Kenneth and Attorney Raymond Haddock for Petitioner Lemeral Camacho ("Petitioner" or

8 "Lemeral"). 2

9 Between 2013 and 2021, this Court has ruled on several disputes between the heirs, 10 mostly involving disputes over who shall serve as administrator of the Estate, but including 11 challenges to the validity of a prior map of the Estate which has since been nullified, 3 the failure 12 of prior co-administrators to make an accurate accounting of rents due to the Estate, and the First 13

14 and Final Account and Report of Co-Administrator and Petition for Its Settlement, for Allowance

15 of Fees and Costs and For Final Distribution (Nov. 23, 2015). 4 In its Findings of Facts and 16 Conclusions of Law Re. Objection to Distribution ("FFCL Re. Objection" or "March 2019 17 FFCL"), the Court found that Jane was entitled to a distribution of the Estate Property because a 18 piece of real property deeded to her by Augusto and Engracia did not constitute an advancement 19

20 of her interest in the Estate Property. FFCL Re. Objection (March 1, 2019). The Court also

21 identified the Estate Property to include the following:

22 1. Lot No. 23-2E-1, Agana Heights, Guam 23 2. Lot No. 23-2-R3-W, Agana Heights, Guam

24 2 Attorney John C. Terlaje previously represented Co-Administrator Barbara Leon Guerrero, however, upon her 25 death he was discharged as counsel. Order Granting Mot. to Withdraw as Counsel of Record for Co-Administrator Barbara Leon Guerrero (March 8, 2021). 26 3 Order Re: Map (Jan. 26, 2015) nullifying the map filed at the Department of Land Management, Government of Guam under Instrument No. 797782 and reinstating the map recorded on the 181h day of October, 2002 under 27 Instrument No. 664392A as the legal map of the Estate Properties. 4 Decision and Order Re. Proposed Petitions for Final Distribution (May 13, 2016). 28 In re Estate ofAugusto Gutierrez; PR0063-76 Decision and Order re. Petition for Confirmation of Community Property Page 2 of13 1 3. Lot No. 46-New-4-5A-R2, Agana Heights, Guam

2 4. Lot No. 46-New-4-5A-2, Agana Heights, Guam and 5. Lot No. 46-New-4-5A-1, Agana Heights, Guam 3 (the "Estate Property") FFCL Re. Objection at~ 5. 4 Lemeral now brings this Petition seeking an Order of this Court confirming that the 5 Estate Property is not property of the Estate of Augusto Gutierrez after all, but rather, is the 6

7 property of the Estate of Engracia Matanane Gutierrez. 5 Pet. for Confirmation of Comm.

8 Property (Feb. 3, 2021). Kenneth filed his Objection to Petition for Confirmation of Community 9 Property on March 15, 2021, and Lemeral filed her Reply to Opposition on April 8, 2021. On 10 April 12, 2021, Kenneth filed a Submission of Deed. On November 18, 2021, this Court held a 11 hearing on the Petition for Confirmation of Community Property. Present at the hearing were 12

13 Kenneth Gutierrez with Counsel, Lemeral Camacho with Counsel and several heirs including

14 Joey Leon Guerrero (son of Barbara), Tom, Charles and Arnold Maanao (Jane's heir).

15 Having reviewed the record and relevant law, the Court now issues this Decision and 16 Order DENYING Lemeral Camacho's Petition. 17 DISCUSSION6 18 I. Petitioner Previously Sought Distribution Pursuant to Intestate Succession of 19 Decedent's Separate Property. 20 For over five years, Lemeral Camacho has argued that the Estate Property consists of the 21 five pieces of property which should be distributed to all heirs, including "the children of Jane 22 Gutierrez . . . as required by Guam Code Annotated, Title 15, Chapter 9." See Entry of 23

24 Appearance and Objection to Petition (Aprill3, 2016). In her April 2016 objection to then Co-

26 5 In the Matter of the Estate of Engracia Matanane Gutierrez and Alvin Don Gutierrez, Superior Court of Guam Probate Case No. PR0193-18. Lemeral is the Administrator ofthe Estate ofEngracia and Alvin. 27 6 Except as may be clarified herein, the Court incorporates its Findings of Fact as previously set forth in Paragraphs 1 through 20 of its March 2019 FFCL Re. Objection. 28 In re Estate ofAugusto Gutierrez; PR0063-76 Decision and Order re. Petition for Confirmation of Community Property Page 3 of13 1 Administator James Gutierrez's First and Final Account and Report of Co-Administrator and

2 Petition for Settlement, Lemeral stated that "the heirs of the estate include the children of Jane 3 Gutierrez and [James] failed to make an equal or any distribution, to them as required by Guam 4 Code Annotated, Title 15, Chapter 2_." !d. (Emphasis added). Title 15, Guam Code Annotated, 5 Chapter 9 addresses the intestate "succession to Separate Property" of a decedent. Specifically, 6

7 Petitioner argued that Augusto and Engracia's inter vivos deed to Jane of Lot No. 46-NEW-4-

8 2A, Sinajana, Guam in 1969 was not an "advancement" nor did she waive any interest in the

9 Estate, and, therefore, "the assets of the estate of Augusto Gutierrez should be distributed 10 pursuant to Guam's law on intestate succession 15 GCA § 901 et seq. [Succession to Separate 11 Property]." Reply to Responses Filed by Administrators at pp. 2- 3 (Nov. 4, 2016)(emphasis 12 added). The provisions governing the succession to community property are found in Title 15, 13

14 Guam Code Annotated, Chapter 10 ("Succession to Community Property").

15 Now, for the first time since her appearance in 2016, Lemeral seeks an order of this Court

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