Korsmo v. Citizen's National Bank

220 N.W. 128, 56 N.D. 927, 1928 N.D. LEXIS 216

• Court: North Dakota Supreme Court
• Decided: June 21, 1928
• Status: Published

Opinion

Christianson, J.

This controversy originated in the county court of Grand Forks county and involves the report and account of Siri Korsmo, executrix of the last will and testament of Peter N. Korsmo, deceased. Peter N. Korsmo died on or about February 17, 1914. He left as his heirs at law and as devisees and legatees under his last will and testament his wife, Siri Korsmo, and six sons and two daughters. Siri Korsmo and A. S. Ellingson (then cashier of the Citizen’s National Bank of Northwood) were named in the will as executrix and executor. The will was admitted to probate and Siri Korsmo and A. S. Ellingson were appointed executrix and executor according to the directions of the will and both duly qualified as such and letters testamentary were issued to them on April 24, 1914. The evidence indicates that Ellingson was the active executor and had principal charge o-f the affairs of the estate; he kept the accounts, paid the bills, signed and verified the reports to the county court, etc., and Siri Korsmo, although duly qualified as executrix had little or nothing to do with matters of that kind. She continued to live on the farm, and she and the members of the family continued to labor thereon and carry on the farming operations. Ellingson died on July 25, 1925, and since that time Siri Korsmo has been the sole executrix. It appears that Ellingson, from time to time, filed certain reports with the county court but that no hearing was had on such reports; and after the death of Ellingson the widow, filed what is denominated a consolidated report covering the entire period of the administration of the estate; and the controversy here arose upon written objections filed by the Citizen’s National Bank of Northwood (which is an assignee of the interest of Ole Korsmo, a son of the deceased) and J. A. Peterson (who is an assignee of the interest of Oscar Korsmo, another son of the deceased), such written objections being levelled at a number of items in the report and account of said executrix. A hearing was had upon the report and the county court sustained the objections so filed to a number of items and disallowed the same. The executrix appealed to the district court from the decision of the county court and demanded a trial in the district court of the questions of fact involving such items. The matter came on for hearing in the district court, evidence was adduced by both parties to the controversy, and after due consideration the district court rendered a decision allowing certain items which had been disallowed by the county court and directed that the order of the county court be modified accordingly. The Citizen’s National Bank of Northwood appeals from the decision of the district court.

The facts necessary to an understanding of the questions involved are substantially as follows: Peter N. Korsmo was possessed of considerable property, both real and personal. The real property consisted of some eight hundred acres in Grand Porks county in this state. By the provisions of his last will and testament, Peter N. Korsmo de vised unto his wife, Siri Korsmo, a tract of land consisting of one hundred sixty acres which is specifically described in the will and denominated by the testator as “my homestead.” The will made provision for certain small legacies and provided that until the children should become of age the realty should be kept intact, and directed and authorized the “executors” to do whatever was necessary to carry out such directions. The will further provided that after the children should become of age the executor's might continue to manage the realty and personal prop-erty until “said children or any of them may be in a position, in the judgment of the executors, to take over and buy out or release the said realty other than the homestead, or any of it, in which ease the estate may be closed and partitioned and distributed . . . provided, however, that the said executors shall, within five years after all my children become of age, unless it has been closed as hereinbefore mentioned, close up this estate and distribute said property, real and personal, other than homestead, to my beloved wife, Siri Korsmo, and children to hold in common and equal shares.” The decedent left certain insurance policies upon his life made payable to his wife. Of the moneys received by her upon such policies she advanced some $2,000 to the estate. -It is undisputed that the money was so advanced and used by and for the estate; that such moneys were deposited to the credit of the estate and distributed by Ellingson for the benefit of the estate in the regular course of administration. The evidence shows that the farm was operated in accordance with the directions of the testator and that the one hundred sixty acre tract devised to the widow was utilized for the benefit of the estate, and that all income from the same became a part of the funds of the estate.

The two principal questions presented, and we think the only questions involved, in this controversy are: (1) Whether Siri Korsmo was entitled to interest upon $2,000 of life insurance money which she advanced to the estate; and (2) Whether she is entitled to compensation for the use of the tract of land devised to her in the will and known as the homestead.

(1) It is undisputed that $2,000 of moneys belonging to Siri Korsmo was advanced to and used for the benefit of the estate and no question is raised as to her right to be reimbursed for the moneys so advanced. The sole question presented is whether she is -entitled to recover inter est upon such moneys during the time the estate has had the use thereof. The district court allowed interest and the appellant contends that the district court erred in so doing. In a memorandum opinion filed in this case the trial court said: “The estate had the use of Mrs. Korsmo’s money and it was of great benefit to the estate.” In our opinion this statement is fully justified by the evidence. The evidence shows that in addition to the money advanced by Siri Korsmo, the executors found it necessary to borrow money from the appellant bank and that the estate was compelled to pay for the money so borrowed a rate of interest considerably higher than the legal rate of 6 per cent per annum which Siri Korsmo claimed and the trial court allowed.- We think the evidence fully justifies the conclusion that the money was loaned to the estate by Siri Korsmo in good faith and that it was properly used for the benefit of the estate. Under our laws a loan of money is presumed to be made upon interest unless otherwise expressly stipulated at the time in writing. Comp. Laws 1913, § 6069. ■ We are of the opinion that in the circumstances established in this case the trial court was justified in allowing interest on the moneys advanced by the executrix. 24 C. J. 442, 443.

(2) Is Siri Korsmo entitled to be reimbursed for the use of the land devised to her ? As has been indicated the decedent by express provision in the will, devised to his wife a one hundred sixty acre tract of land denominated as “my homestead.” The evidence shows that at the time of the death of Peter N. Korsmo this tract of land was occupied as the family home and that the widow and the other members of the family continued to occupy the same. The records also show that in the inventory and appraisement filed in the estate this tract was listed as the homestead and occupied and claimed as such. The evidence shows that Siri Korsmo did not use this tract of land for her own benefit but that it was all used for the benefit of the estate. It is urged by the appellant that the rents and profits of this tract of land belonged to the estate and not to Siri Korsmo for the reason that it had not been set aside to her as a homestead under § 8723, Comp. Laws 1913. In our opinion this argument is not well founded. This is not a case involving real property of the decedent which the executor or administrator is entitled to possess and which is subject to the debts of the decedent. Blakemore v. Roberts, 12 N. D. 394, 96 N. W. 1029. Nor is it a case -where' a widow merely has a right to petition, that a certain tract of land-be set aside as a homestead and where upon her petition being granted she becomes vested merely with a homestead estate, that is, with a right to possess and occupy the same during her life or so- long as she does not marry. Comp. Laws 1913, § 8723. But it is a case where a tract of land, which at the time of the death of the husband is occupied as a family home and is impressed with the characteristics of a homestead, is devised absolutely to the widow. In other words, it is a case where the executor or administrator has no right of possession (Comp. Laws 1913, § 8707) and the widow has not merely a homestead estate but is vested with a fee title, free and clear of the debts of the decedent.' ' (Comp. Laws 1913, §§ 5631, 5678; Cullen v. Sullivan, 51 N. D. 384, 199 N. W. 760); and where she has at all times been in actual occupancy and control of such premises but in order to facilitate the proper management and operation of properties belonging to the estate-has permitted the land belonging to and occupied by her to be utilized by and for the benefit of the estate.

We are not concerned in this case with the measure to be adopted in computing compensation. The primary question is whether, in the circumstances stated, the rents for a tract of land so situated belong to the estate and are part of the funds of the estate, or whether such rents and profits' belong to the widow. We are of the opinion that in the circumstances the widow is entitled to the rents for the tract of land occupied' by her and that in a controversy between her and the representatives' of' the estate as regards such rents the widow must prevail. And we' are wholly agreed that under the evidence in this ease the allowances made by the trial court to the widow for the use aiid Occupancy of her land is not at all excessive.

Some argument is advanced by appellant to the effect that certain portions' of the claim for rent are barred by the statute of limitations. This argument is predicated upon the theory that the claim for rent for the homestead property was and is a claim provable against the estate. In óur opinion the claim is not a claim against the estate within the statutes relating to proof of such claims. It was not a debt contracted by the decedent or arising during his lifetime or out of any transaction’ had with him but was an expenditure incident to the administration and preservation of the estate, and is therefore properly allowable to tbe representative in his account. Garver v. Thoman, 15 Ariz. 38, 135 Pac. 724.

Tbe trial court, also, awarded interest upon tbe items allowed for rent. In our opinion interest should not bave been allowed. Tbe claim for use and occupation' of tbe land was unliquidated. It was incumbent upon tbe executrix to include such claim in tbe various reports wbicb sbe was ¡required, by law to render and we do not believe that sbe ought to be permitted to recover interest during tbe time sbe failed to present sucb claim in her reports. Hence, interest on sucb items should be disallowed and tbe order of tbe district court should be modified so as to disallow all interest on allowances for rent. Tbe executrix, however, will be entitled to recover interest on such'items from tbe date of their allowance by tbe district court.

Tbe district court also allowed to tbe executrix certain items for two promissory notes wbicb bad been paid by tbe “executors” and wbicb items bad been disallowed by tbe county court. While tbe appeal was taken from tbe whole of tbe decision of tbe district court, no reference is made in appellant’s brief to tbe action of tbe district court in allowing tbe sums paid for sucb promissory notes. Consequently, under well established rules, tbe rulings of tbe court as regards sucb notes will not be considered as involved on this appeal.

This disposes of tbe questions presented by tbe appellant. It is contended by tbe respondent, however, that tbe district court should bave allowed certain other items wbicb bad been disallowed by the county court; and tbe respondent asks that this court review tbe correctness of tbe rulings in disallowing sucb items. Tbe request thus made by tbe respondent cannot be entertained. This case is not here for trial anew. There is no demand by tbe appellant for sucb trial; Tbe review sought is restricted to certain specified errors and there was no appeal by the executrix from tbe decision of tbe district court. In these circumstances we are obviously restricted on this appeal to the1 errors assigned by tbe appellant.

It follows from what has been said that tbe decision of tbe district court must be and it is modified so as to disallow interest upon tbe items allowed to Siri Korsmo for rent of tbe homestead property and as so modified tbe decision of tbe district court is in all things affirmed.

Nuessle, Ob. J., and Birdzell, Burke, and Burr, JJ., concur.