Phillips v. Phillips ( 1892 )

Morse, C. J.

Upon the allowance of the final account of the administrator with the will annexed of John Phillips, deceased, the probate court of Lenawee county found that property in his hands, amounting to $32,-369.57, should be distributed as follows: The sum of $7,894.93 to testator’s widow, Eliza M. Phillips, who had refused the bequest by the will made to her, and had elected to take under the statute; and the remainder, $34,474.64, to the testator’s children and grandchildren, —one-sixth thereof ($4,079.11) to each of five children, and one-twelfth thereof ($3,039.55) to each of two children of testator’s deceased daughter; and a final order of distribution, so assigning the estate, was thereupon entered. The widow, claiming that under the statute she was entitled to a larger sum than the probate court assigned to her, appealed to the circuit court, and, that court having affirmed the decree of the probate court, she brings error.

The decision of this case is dependent upon the construction of the first subdivision of section 1 of an act entitled “An act to restrict the. disposition of personal property by last will,” approved March 10, 1881 (How. Stat. § 5834), which reads:

“ Section 1. That all dispositions of personal property by last will and testament shall be subject to the following limitations and restrictions:

“First. If the testator shall leave surviving him a wife, the testamentary disposition shall be subject to the election of such wife to take any interest that may be given to her by the testator in his last will and testament, or, in lieu thereof, to take the sum or share that would have passed to her under the statute of distributions had the testator died intestate, until the sum shall amount to five thousand dollars, and of the residue of the estate one-half the sum or share that would have passed to her under the statute of distributions had the testator died intestate; and, in case no provision be made for her in said will, she shall be entitled to the election aforesaid.”

Under the statute of distributions (How. Stat. § 5847), of the net estate of an intestate (using the words “ net estate” to specify the whole personal estate remaining after disposing of chattels specifically appropriated by statute, and the payment of debts, costs, allowances, expenses of administration, etc., for distribution among heirs or distributees) there passes to his widow—

1. One-third, if the intestate leaves children or their issue.

2. One-half, if he leaves but one child, or its issue.

3. All the first $1,000 and one-half the excess, if he leaves no issue, but does leave father, mother, brother, or sister, or issue of brother or sister.

4. The whole, if he leaves no child, father, mother, brother, or sister, or issue thereof.

The probate judge gave the widow first one-third of $15,000, which sum made the $5,000 provided by the statute. Deducting the $15,000 from $32,369.57, left a residue of $17,369.57. Of this sum he gave the widow one-sixth, to wit, $2,894.93. This, added to the $5,000, made her total portion $7,894.93. This was a correct interpretation of the statute.

It was claimed by the widow that, the “residue of the estate” mentioned in this statute was the whole sum to be distributed, the residue remaining after the debts, expenses of administration, a.nd special legacies were paid, — in this case the sum of $32,369.57: that the $5,000 should be deducted from this sum, leaving $27,369.57, of which she should have one-sixth, to wit, $4,561.59; making a total of $9,561.59. There is no warrant in the statute for this contention. It is too plain for argument.

It will be certified to the circuit and probate courts of Lenawee county that the order of the probate court is affirmed, with costs against the appellant.

McGrath, Grant, and Montgomery, JJ., concurred. Long, J., did not sit.