Judge of Probate v. Locke

6 N.H. 396

• Court: Superior Court of New Hampshire
• Decided: December 15, 1833
• Status: Published

Opinion

RichardsoN, C. J.

delivered the opinion of the court.

The replication, in this case, is insufficient. In general, a refusal to pay a debt, or legacy, is not a breach of the condition of a probate bond. 5 N. H. Rep. 69; 6 ditto, 142. But a refusal to pay a legacy, to which an executor has assented, is a breach of the condition of a bond to pay debts and legacies. 6 N. H. Rep. 141.

And, in this case, perhaps, if the executrix had admitted the debt to be justly due, and then had afterwards refused to pay, it might have been considered a breach of the condition of this bond.

But no such admission is disclosed in this case. The course to have been pursued by the creditor, was, to bring a suit and have the validity of his claim settled by a judgment, and then a refusal by the executrix, to satisfy the judgment, would have been a breach of the condition of the bond.

. But a refusal to pay a debt, which she considers barred by the statute of limitations, is no breach of the condition of this bond.