Steinberger v. Ross

This is an appeal by one Maggie G. Steinberger from an order made in proceedings for the final distribution of the estate of deceased, denying appellant’s motion for a dismissal of the petition filed therein by one Mary E. Ross, praying that the court proceed in accord with the provisions of section 1664 of the Code of Civil Procedure, to determine who were entitled to succeed to the estate, and denying the application for final distribution presented by the administrator.

On May 9,1917, this court affirmed the judgment in favor of plaintiff in the action of said Maggie G. Steinberger against said administrator, one Scanlan, and various persons found to' be the only heirs of deceased, decreeing that subject to the debts, charges, and expenses of administration of said estate, said Maggie G. Steinberger was entitled to all the property of the estate by virtue of a contract between herself and her stepfather and deceased, under which she was to be the sole heir of deceased. (See Steinberger v. Young, 175 Cal. 81 , [ 165 Pac. 432 ].) After the affirmance of this judgment, viz., on June 23, 1917, the administrator presented his final account, together with his petition for final distribution of the estate, as is authorized by the law. (Code Civ. Proc., secs. 1634, 1665; Estate of Sheid, 122 Cal. 528 , 531, [ 55 Pac. 328 ].) The estate proceeding had then been pending for over seven years, and the estate was in condition for final settlement and distribution. By the petition distribution was sought in favor of said Maggie G. Steinberger, according to the judgment in Steinberger v. Young, supra, all of the next of kin of deceased, alleged to constitute her only heirs, having been parties de

Two days later, February 20, 1918, one Seanlan appeared, opposing distribution pending payment to him of a claim of eight thousand dollars, alleged to be due under a compromise with the administrator, approved by the probate court, and seeking payment of this claim. A hearing was had on this and on March 15, 1918, an order was made overruling Seanlan’s opposition and denying his petition. On the same day Maggie Steinberger appealed from the portions of the order of settlement of'the account disallowing her objections to certain specified items thereof. The hearing on the petition for distribution having been regularly continued from time to time and finally to March 16, 1918, and there being apparently no further bar to final distribution to Maggie Steinberger, except possibly her own appeal from portions of the order settling the administrator’s final account, a new claimant made her first appearance on the field of action, viz.: Mary E. Ross, the surviving widow of one Albert E. Ross, deceased, who was alleged to have been a brother of R. E. Ross, the deceased husband of deceased, and to have survived such deceased husband of deceased. On March 16, 1918, more than eight years after the institution of the proceeding for the settlement of 'the estate of deceased, and nearly nine months after the filing of the final account and petition for distribution, and after the hearing on such settlement and petition for distribution was practically completed, she appeared at the hearing on distribution and opposing distribution to Maggie G. Steinberger, instituted the proceeding provided for by section 1664 of the

Upon, the filing of this petition, the hearing on final distribution was continued to April 2, 1918, at which time Maggie G. Steinberger made a motion for an order dismissing the petition of Mary E. Ross, or such other order as might be proper, on the ground substantially that the estate was then in condition for distribution and would be unreasonably and unnecessarily delayed if deferred pending the proceeding provided by section 1664 of the Code of Civil Procedure, and that the question of the heirship, of Mary E. Ross and all other persons should be heard and determined on the hearing on the' pending petition for distribution. The court having heard the motion, made an order on May 24, 1918, denying the motion to dismiss the petition of Mary E. Ross, and also denying the petition for final distribution, without prejudice, however, to the rights of Maggie G. Steinberger. This is the order appealed from by the latter. At the same time the court made an order on the petition of Mary E. Ross directing

[1] In view of our statutes and the decisions of this court thereunder, it is clear that the administrator was authorized to file with his final account, his petition for the final distribution of the estate among the persons entitled to succeed thereto, and that the filing of this petition and the giving of the notice prescribed by law conferred upon the court jurisdiction in the proceeding thus initiated to proceed with the matter of such distribution immediately upon settlement by it of the final account. (Code Civ. Proc., secs. 1634, 1665; Estate of Sheid, 122 Cal. 528 , 531, [ 55 Pac. 328 ]; William Hill Co. v. Lawler, 116 Cal. 359 , 361, [ 48 Pac. 323 ]; Smith v. Westerfield, 88 Cal. 374 , 379, [ 26 Pac. 206 ].) [2] It is entirely immaterial in this connection that the administrator has no legal interest in any dispute that may arise between claimants on distribution as to how the estate shall be distributed. The statute expressly authorizes the administrator to so initiate the proceeding, the purpose perhaps being, as was suggested in Estate of Sheid, supra, “to enable the administrator to hasten the closing of the estate and to make one notice and one hearing serve both purposes.” [3] By the notice required by the law upon such a filing being given, as was said in William Hill Co. v. Lawler, supra, “the entire world is called before the court, and the court acquires jurisdiction over all persons for the purpose of determining their rights to any portion of the estate; and every person who may assert any right or interest therein is required to present his claim to the court for its determination. ’ ’ [4] The law contemplates that this proceeding thus properly instituted shall be carried on to decree of distribution as speedily as is reasonably practicable with due regard to the interests of all concerned, and any interested party appearing is entitled to have it so carried on. Certainly such a party may justly complain of the absolute

Doubtless but for the petition filed by Mary E. Ross, the trial court would have proceeded with the matter of distribution. The record seems to indicate that the learned trial judge was of the view that the institution and pendency of the special proceeding given by section 1664 of the Code of Civil Procedure, a proceeding in the nature of an action to determine heirship, either required or authorized a denial of the pending proceeding for distribution. [5] We think it clear that it could not have such effect. The nature and effect of the proceeding authorized by this section, a special proceeding which may be instituted by “any person claiming to be heir to the deceased, or entitled to distribution in whole or in any part of such estate,” for the purpose, as said in Whalen v. Smith, 163 Cal. 364 , [Ann. Cas. 1913E, 1319, 125 Pac. 905 ], “of ascertaining and determining, in advance of distribution, the persons who have succeeded to the estate,” are sufficiently shown by the section itself, and the decisions of this court 'thereunder make extended discussion unnecessary. The section itself provides: “Nothing in this section contained shall be construed to exclude the right upon final distribution of any estáte to contest the question of heirship, title, or interest in the estate so distributed, where the same shall not have been determined nnder the provisions of this section; but where such question shall have been litigated, under the provisions of this section, the determination thereof as herein provided

In view of the expressions of this court referred to it seems clear not only that "the lower court erred in absolutely terminating the pending proceeding for distribution by its denial of the petition for distribution duly, presented by the administrator, but also that there was nothing shown in connection with the attempted proceeding under section 1664 that would have warranted a continuance of the hearing of the distribution proceeding pending the determination of the proceeding under that section. Clearly, the claim thereby made was one that could as well be determined in the latter proceeding as in a proceeding under section 1664. No showing whatever was made of inability to at once produce the testimony desired in support thereof. It is worthy of note that the petition filed by Mary E. Ross did not in its allegations of specific facts show any right in her to share in the estate of deceased, even upon the theory upon which she claimed such right. [6] Under no circumstances does the “surviving widow” of a deceased brother of- a deceased husband of a deceased take directly from such deceased under subdivision 8 of section 1386. The subdivision specified to whom the property shall go in the event therein stated, and such a surviving widow is not among those enumerated. She could only take through her dead husband, the brother of the deceased husband, or one or more of his descendants, and then only in the event that such husband or descendant survived deceased Elizabeth B. Ross, for of course descent is cast under subdivision 8 of section 1386 as of the date of death of the surviving spouse whose estate is being administered and whose heirs are being determined. If no relative of the deceased spouse specified in said subdivision 8 of section 1386 of the Civil Code survives the surviving spouse, there can be no shccession under such subdivision. The petition of Mary E'. Ross does not suggest that her husband or any descendant of her husband survived deceased Elizabeth B. Ross, who died more than twenty-five years after her own

'The order appealed from is reversed, and the matter remanded for proceedings not inconsistent with the views herein expressed.

Lennon, J., Shaw, J.; Olney, J., Wilbur, J., Melvin, J., and Lawlor, J., concurred.