Walker v. Johnson , 82 Ala. 347 ( 1886 )

CLOPTON, J.

— The bill, one of the purposes of which is to recover a pecuniary legacy, was filed by appellee before the expiration of eighteen months after the grant of letters testamentary. A demurrer was interposed, the only ground-assigned being that the bill is prematurely filed. The manifest policy and design of the statutory system, relating to the administration of the estates of deceased persons, are to allow the personal representative eighteen months within which to ascertain the condition and settle the affairs of the estate, and to be prepared to apply the residue, after paying the debts, among those entitled to distribution, if the estate is solvent. Eighteen months are allowed for the presentation of claims, and no judgment can be rendered against the executor or administrator, as such, until eighteen months after the grant of letters testamentary, or of administration, though suit may be commenced after six months, the claim having matured. The personal representative, when satisfied that the estate is solvent, may at any. time so report it, and obtain an order of distribution as to the whole, or any part of the property ; but such order, if made before a final settlement, and the proceedings thereon, is not a defense in any action brought against the representative as such. — Code of *1876, §§ 2597, 2614, 2474. After eighteen months from the grant of letters, the court may, in cases of intestacy, make an order of distribution out of the assets of the deceased, on the application of any person entitled ; and in cases of intestacy, a legatee may apply to the Probate Court to compel payment of the legacy, when the assets are more than sufficient to pay the debts of the deceased. — Code of 1876, §§ 2482, 2475.

These statutory provisions operate to appoint eighteen months after the grant of letters testamentary as the period when a pecuniary legacy, no time of payment being fixed by the will, may be demanded. Until then, it is not considered due, does not bear interest, unless in exceptional cases, and the legatee can. not compel payment. — Hallett v. Allen, 13 Ala. 551. Except in cases otherwise specially provided, a suit, neither at law nor in equity, can be instituted to enforce the payment of a pecuniary demand, until the right to demand payment has accrued. A legatee can not sue at law, and recover his legacy, upon proof that the executor assented to the same, as authorized by section 2634 of the Code, and can not apply to the Probate Court to compel payment, until after eighteen months from the grant of letters. The same rule applies when the suit is in equity to enforce the payment of a legacy. The statutes operate to postpone the commencement of the suit in any forum until the expiration of the eighteen months. — Horton v. Averett, 20 Ala. 719.

If the sole purpose of the bill was to recover the legacy, the demurrer would be well taken. But there is another phase' of the bill, which it does not reach. The bill alleges, that the executor resides out of the State, is exempt from giving bond, and has no property except what he derives under the will. It further alleges, that the testatrix did not owre debts to an amount exceeding five hundred dollars; that she owned personal property of about the value of five thousand dollars, some of which had been sold by the executor, and a part of which he had removed out of the State ; and that he had sold a lot in Huntsville worth about five thousand dollars. For the purposes of this appeal, the truth of these averments must be assumed. Notwithstanding the statutory provisions for the l’ecovery of a pecuniary legacy at law, after assent by the executor, and for the application to the Probate Court to compel payment, courts of equity retain and exercise their original jurisdiction in cases of legacies. The jurisdiction rests on the ground, that the executor is regarded a trustee for the benefit of the legatees — that the relation is one of constructive trust, which equity has power to enforce, the power of no other court being adequate and complete to protect and adjust the rights and claims of all the parties. — Leavens v. Butler, 8 Por. 380; Pearson v. Darrington, 18 Ala. 348. When there is danger of waste, the jurisdiction will be exercised protectively, whether or not the executor has assented, and though the legacy may be payable at a future day, or even contingently. In 1 Story’s Eq. Jur., § 603, the author says : “ In cases of pecuniary legacies, due and payable at a future day (whether contingent or otherwise), courts of equity will compel the executor to give security for the due payment thereof; or, what is the modern, and perhaps generally the more approved practice, will order the fund to be paid into court, even if there be not any actual waste, or danger of waste, of the estate.” And in Randle v. Corter, 62 Ala. 95, it is said : “ Though, generally, the court will not withdraw assets from the custody of the executor or administrator, unless he has been guilty of misconduct, or there is just cause to apprehend loss ; in the exercise of its jurisdiction for the protection of future rights and interests, it will intervene though there has been no misconduct, no devastavit, or reason to apprehend itwhether or not the ,period for the payment of the legacy has arrived, or whether it is vested or contingent. The rule is, that a court of equity, in the exercise of its original jurisdiction, will interpose to protect a legacy, though not payable, when there is reasonable cause for protection. This jurisdiction is not ousted by the statute providing that the legatee may require bond from an executor exempt from giving it by the ■will; and such remedy is not always adequate. — Code 1876, § 2367.

Though the primary purpose of the bill is to compel payment of the legacy, its allegations — the non-residence of the executor, his exemption from giving bond, the want of property, other than that given to him by the testatrix, to satisfy any decree or judgment rendered against him, and his removal beyond the jurisdiction of the court of personal property, the fund primarily liable for the payment of the legacy — sufficiently show danger of waste, give good cause to apprehend loss, and make a case where tliefcaid of a court of equity may be invoked for the security of the rights and interests of the legatees, and the application of the assets of the estate • to the payment of the legacy when .it becomes payable — for the enforcement of the trusts devolved on the executor by the will. The averments of the bill might have been more definite and specific; but no objection was made on this ground, and they are amendable, if amendment be necessary. The appropriate relief — security for the payment of the money into court — may be obtained under the prayer for general relief. The demurrer going to the entire bill, and being insufficient as to its second phase, was properly overruled ; and for the reasons above stated, the plea is aiso insufficient.

Affirmed.