Sewell v. Sewell , 207 Ala. 239 ( 1922 )

This bill is filed by M. A. Sewell individually and as administrator of the estate of J. A. Sewell, deceased, against L. F. Sewell and others, the heirs of the decedent, to remove the administration of the estate from the probate court of Cherokee county to the equity docket in the circuit court of that county. It avers under oath that complainant is an heir of the decedent and the administrator of the estate; that no final settlement thereof has been made; and it avers facts showing in the opinion of petitioners the estate can be better administered in the circuit court in equity than in the probate court.

When the bill of complaint or petition makes these averments, and it is duly sworn to, as in this cause, and is filed in the circuit court, then the order of removal of the administration of the estate must be made by the circuit court, and then the jurisdiction of the probate court of the administration of the estate ends and the jurisdiction of the circuit court begins. These averments sworn to give the bill on its face equity. Acts 1911, p. 574; Acts 1915, p. 738, amending section 3, Act 1911, p. 574; Coker v. Robertson, 205 Ala. 344, headnote 1, 87 So. 321.

The bill avers that the decedent died intestate, seized and possessed of 232 acres of land; 74 acres of it were set apart to the widow as dower, and the balance, 148 acres, was set apart to the widow as her homestead by the probate court; and that she is now dead. These two branches — dower and homestead — of this estate appeared in this court. Dake v. Sewell,145 Ala. 581, 39 So. 819; Sewell v. Sewell, 156 Ala. 616,47 So. 204.

The bill avers that L. F. Sewell and others, heirs of decedent, have filed petition in the probate court to sell the 232 acres of land for division among the joint owners, the heirs, because it cannot be equitably partitioned among them. The bill seeks to enjoin the sale of the land by decree of the probate court, and for this circuit court to order a sale of it for that purpose by him individually and as administrator. It appears after the bill was filed the probate court rendered decree of sale, and the property was advertised for sale. The court on the hearing granted the temporary injunction enjoining and restraining the sale of the property. The respondents demurred to the bill. The demurrers were overruled by the court. These decrees are assigned as errors. The bill describes the property, gives the names, ages, and residences of all the heirs, and gives accurately the interest of each in it; it also avers the property cannot be equitably partitioned among them.

The petition by some of the heirs for the sale of the land for division, on the ground it could not be equitably partitioned among the joint owners, was filed in the probate court before this bill of complaint was filed in the circuit court in equity. This gave the probate court exclusive jurisdiction of the cause. Marshall v. Marshall, 86 Ala. 383,5 So. 475. That court and the circuit court in equity have concurrent jurisdiction of such matters. Sections 5222, 5231, Code 1907.

"In such case, the chancery court [now circuit court, in equity] should not interfere with its continued exercise, unless the circumstances are such as to render the power of the probate court inadequate to do complete justice." Marshall v. Marshall, 86 Ala. 383, 5 So. 475.

Are the powers of the probate court of Cherokee county adequate to do complete justice among all the parties under all the facts in that proceeding?

The bill avers that Tad Watson owns a life interest in 210/3570 interest in the land, and the reversionary interest of that share belongs to six persons — 1/6 of 210/3570 to each; and that J. A. Robinson owns a life interest in 210/3570 interest in the land, with reversion to Annie Curtis.

There are four separate and distinct life estates in undivided interest in the land, and of necessity there are at least four separate and distinct remainder interests. If the property is sold, those entitled to the different life interest shares must, before receiving it, execute suitable and sufficient bonds for the protection of those entitled to the different reversions in that share; and on failure to give bonds the money should be loaned out and the interest paid annually to the respective owners of the different life interests and the principal preserved for the remaindermen. The probate court has not the power to make and execute such decrees; that power is in the circuit court, in equity. Chaney v. Chaney, 38 Ala. 35; Mason v. Pate, 34 Ala. 379; section 5227, Code 1907.

The complainants aver the cost of the administration of the estate has not been paid; that it should be collected out of the proceeds of the sale of this land. It appears this land is all and the only property of the estate subject to payment of cost of administration. Each heir should pay his pro rata part, according to his interest in the estate, of the necessary cost, legally incurred in the administration of the estate, out of his share of the proceeds of the land, if the personal property is insufficient. The probate court under that petition has no power to enter a decree directing that the necessary cost, legally incurred in the administration of the estate, be paid out of the proceed of the sale of the lands before a division is made among the joint owners, the heir. The administrator is not a party to the cause in the probate court. The probate court can and must decree the cost of that particular cause to be paid, including commissions to the commissioner, and the balance of the proceeds be divided among the persons entitled thereto according to their respective interests. Section 5227, Code 1907. The probate court has no adequate power to render complete justice between the heirs and the administrator of the estate from the proceeds of the sale of that property of the estate in that cause.

It appears from the bill that Hannah Sewell, the life tenant and widow of deceased, executed a mortgage on this land; it is of record, unpaid, and a cloud on the title. The probate court has no power to remove clouds on the title. Section 5232, Code 1907. There is also on record an unpaid mortgage of M. A. Sewell on his interest in the land. The probate court has no power to adjust claims of incumbrancers. Section 5232, Code. Complainant claims of the cotenants or joint owners, the respondents, for permanent improvements made on the land. The court of probate in that proceeding has no power to adjust such claims, if equitable and binding between the parties. That authority and power is conferred on the chancery court, now the circuit court in equity. Sections 5232, 5233, Code 1907; section 3255, Code, as amended by Acts 1915, p. 608; Gen. Acts 1915, p. 598; Gen. Acts 1915, p. 279. We find no averment in the bill as to the date of death of the widow, the life tenant. There is no demurrer to a part of the bill questioning the sufficiency of the averments as to the permanent improvements to make them equitable claims, erected with express or implied authority from the cotenants or joint owners, and under such circumstances as to be binding on them and the property. The demurrers are to the bill. Hence the sufficiency of these averments are not before us.

A court of equity, when joint owners or tenants in common by application seek to sell land for division among the joint owners or tenants in common, has the power to determine all questions of title and to remove all clouds upon the title. The court of equity in such a cause "may adjust the equities between and determine all claims of the several cotenants, as well as the equities and claims of the incumbrancers. Sections 5232, 5233, Code 1907; Long v. Long, 195 Ala. 560, 70 So. 733. The probate court has no power to remove the cloud on title. It has no power to relieve the land of incumbrances. It has no power to adjust the equities between and determine all claims of the cotenants. This court in Marshall v. Marshall,86 Ala. 389, 5 So. 477, in writing on this subject, said:

"The probate court has no power to compensate for inequalities in the partition; nor to take an account of rents; nor to provide for relieving the lands of incumbrances; nor to adjust and equalize the advancements among the tenants in common, when the lands descended from a common ancestor. Only the powers of a court of equity are ample to accomplish these purposes. These facts and exigencies call for its interference, in order that complete justice may be done. Wilkinson v. Stewart, 74 Ala. 198."

There is equity in the bill. The demurrers were to the bill — the entire bill. They were properly overruled by the court. The court did not err in granting on the hearing the injunction, because it appears from the allegations of the sworn bill and ex parte affidavits that there are some facts and circumstances of special equitable cognizance shown to exist, on account of which the probate court is without power to decree adequate and complete justice in the cause; and it is necessary for a court of equity to interfere to do complete justice.

We find no error in the record.

Affirmed.

ANDERSON, C. J., and SAYRE and GARDNER, JJ., concur.