Case ID: la-ann_13/html/0557-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "Spofford, J.", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

Succession of Valery Martin—Opposition to Administration.
    Tho priority of application, has weight principally in tho appointment of curators to vacant successions, or to application by creditor^ to bo appointed, administrators, and then only among persons otherwise having egual rights.
    A Judge is not bound to appoint two beneficiary heirs, oven with equal claims, administrators of a succession, the law leaving it discretionary with him to appoint one or two, regard being had to tho solidity of the appointee.
    Allegations of fraud cannot bo noticed in an opposition to an application for administration, as thoy form the subject of an independent litigation, and should not be triod collaterally.
    APPEAL from the District Court of the Parish of St. Martin, Martel, J.
    
      BeBlanc & Fuselier, for plaintiff and appellant.
    
      C. II. <§ E. Mouton and Simon á Gary, for defendant.
   Spofford, J.

Simeon Valery Martin, a grandson of the deceased Valery Martin, being one of his heirs by representation, and Balthazar Marlin, son and heir in his own right of the said deceased, filed their applications, on the same day, for the appointment of administrator of the succession. They afterwards filed mutual oppositions to each others claims. The surviving widow intervened in support of Balthazar’s claim, and in opposition to that of Simeon Valery Martin. The District Judge decided in favor of Balthazar, appointing him sole administrator, and Simeon Valery Martin has appealed.

The appellant contends that he should be appointed sole administrator, or, at least, co-administrator with his uncle Balthazar.

He bases his first claim upon the priority of his application, and upon certain allegations of fraud against Balthazar. The priority of application seems to have weight principally in the case of the appointment of curators to vacant estates, or to applications by creditors to be appointed administrators, and then only among persons otherwise having equal rights. C. 0. 1118. As to the alleged frauds, we cannot speak from the evidence in this record; they should be not tried collaterally in this controversy, as they form the subject of an independent litigation.

And as to the claim for a joint administration, we have to remark, that the Judge is not compelled to appoint two beneficiary heirs, even with equal claims, administrators of the succession.

“ If there be two or more beneficiary heirs of age and present in this State, the Judge shall select one or two, whom he shall consider most solid, for the administration of the succession.” C. C. 1036.

This leaves it discretionary with the Judge to appoint one or two. The nature of the controversies between these applicants suggests a reason why the succession should not be embarrassed by the appointment of two hostile administrators. Formerly, in case,of a vacant succession worth over $3,000, the administration of which was claimed by several persons, the Judge was hound, to give the curatorship to two of them, and no more. 0. 0.1116. But this was found to lead to such unseemly disputes in regard to the management of property under the joint administration of parties who disagreed, that, in 1854, the Legislature interfered and amended the Article 1116, by declaring that the Judge should appoint one of the several applicants to act as curator. Session Acts, 1854, p. 51.

In beneficiary successions the Judge may appoint one or two of the beneficiary heirs administrators, as he sees fit; regard being had to the solidity of the appointee.

The District Judge in this case thought the appellee, Balthazar Martin, the most solid ; his interest in the succession as heir in Ms own right, is larger than that of the appellant, who is one of several heirs by representation of his deceased father Placide Martin. We cannot say that the Judge erred.

Judgment affirmed.