Lay v. Lay , 1923 Ky. LEXIS 240 ( 1923 )

Opinion of the Court by

Judge McCandless

Reversing.

T. C. Lay died intestate in Whitley county. lie had no children, but was survived by several brothers and sisters and also a widow. The latter had a son, L. C., who was bom prior to her marriage to T. C. Lay, and who was six years of age at that time.

T. C. Lay did not adopt him but at his suggestion the boy took his surname and lived as a member of the family, and it seems that he and his stepfather were intimate and fond of each other. At the time of the death of the latter L. C. was 30 years of age and established as railroad agent at the village of Mountain Ash.

At his death deceased owed a physician $25.00, and thereafter his widow and stepson, L. C. Lay, asserted certain claims against his estate.

No administration was had, but the widow, stepson and physician brought suit jointly against the heirs at law in the circuit court setting out their several claims, alleging there was no personalty and asking the sale of certain real estate described in the petition, and seeking a settlement of the estate.

The heirs paid the physician’s bill, but there was no reference to the master, and it is not disclosed whether or not there was any other indebtedness, nor as to whether there was any personal property other than $2.00 in cash, this being on hand at decedent’s, death.

Judgment was rendered in favor of the widow in the sum of $350.00; in favor of L. O. Lay for $100.00,- and the sum of $100.00 was also allowed for attorneys ’ fees, with a decree to sell the land described in satisfaction of the claims and costs. The heirs have appealed and are now urging that each of these allowances was erroneous.

The claim of Mary Jane Lay was for a sum alleged to have been paid on the purchase money of one of the lots sought to be sold. It appears that deceased owned two lots, in Mountain Ash. On the first was located the dwelling house, consisting of several rooms but which had no garden. Tlhe second was purchased from L. C. Lay in the year 1918 at the price of $500.00. It consisted of several acres suitable for gardening and truck patches, it appearing from the evidence that the dwelling was used as a boarding house, and that the latter lot was necessary for its economical use. There was a cash payment of $150.00 and a note given for $350.0Q as a deferred payment on tlhe purchase of this land.

T. C. Lay was a miner, .and the evidence indicates that he had been in delicate health for some time prior to his death and depended largely upon his wife, a stout, robust and industrious woman who kept boarders, raised vegetables for sale, and was in a way thrifty and economical. L. C. Lay testifies positively that his mother paid the $350.00 deferred payment and she has, shown by several that -she made and had money. We think this uneontradicted evidence is sufficient to support the findings, of the chancellor.

As to the claim of L. C. Lay it is shown that he was sick in a hospital at the time of Inis stepfather’s death and that his mother looked after the burial of the, latter and that in so doing she incurred the- burial expense of $100.00; that the brothers,, and sisters, of the deceased failed to pay this bill, and that after his recovery and at the urgent insistence of his mother, who was greatly distressed about it, he paid the bill and. took a receipt therefor.

In doing this, we cannot ,say that he acted as a volunteer. It has always been recognized as one of the first duties of the living to see that the dead -are properly interred. The care and religious- solemnity with which sueih obsequies were attended in ancient times are a matter of history. The Roman law made the cost of burial a charge against the heirs if not otherwise paid, and under the common law it has always been recognized to be just and proper for the expense of decent interment to be paid out of 'the estate of the decedent when he left property sufficient for that purpose. (8 R. C. L., pages 688-90).

Under our statute a burial bill is made a preferred claim against the estate. Naturally a moral, if not a legal obligation rested upon the widow to see that such interment was had, and when in the absence of a personal representative she did this, there can be no doubt that the estate became liable to her or to the one with whom she contracted for the reasonable expense of such burial. In view of the relationship existing between the parties we can see no reason why her son at her request should not pay this- bill, take an assignment thereof and be subrogated to her rights therein. As it is not intimated that the prices charged were unreasonable the chancellor did not err in so holding.

Complaint is made that there was no verification or demand made upon the claims allowed as required by sec. 3870-72, Ky. Statutes. This being a suit against the heirs no demand was, necessary. Hill’s Admr. v. Grizzard, 133 Ky. 818. Nor was it necessary for L. C. Lay to make verification thereof as section 3870, Ky. Statutes, applies only to obligations that were created by the decedent and not to those created by a personal representative or persons acting in his stead. Berry v. Gratty, 1 Met. 553; Crenshaw v. Duff, 113 Ky. 912.

However, as to the claim of Mary Jane Lay which was created by the decedent, verification is necessary, and while not a prerequisite to filing suit it is essential for the conscience of claimant tO' be so purged before judgment is entered. Hill’s Admr. v. Grizzard, supra; Ishom v. Holcomb, 110 S. W. 249; Albertson v. Prewitt, 49 S. W. 196.

This was in form a suit to settle the estate but in substance and reality an action to recover1'on two contested claims and the services performed by the attorneys were for the benefit of their1 clients alone. "We cannot distinguish between it and the same character of action if brought in favor of a single client. Under such circumstances we do not think the attorneys’ fee should have been allowed. Dougherty v. Cumming, 20 R. 1948, 50 S. W. 551; Hall v. Metcalf, 114 Ky. 886; Holburn v. Pfanmiller’s Admr., 114 Ky. 831.

For tbe reasons, indicated- tbe judgment is reversed and remanded for proceedings in conformity with this 'opinion.