Case Name: McKinney v. McCullar
Court: Arkansas Supreme Court
Jurisdiction: Arkansas
Decision Date: 1910-04-18
Citations: 95 Ark. 164
Docket Number: 
Parties: McKinney v. McCullar.
Judges: 
Reporter: Arkansas Reports
Volume: 95
Pages: 164–168

Head Matter:
McKinney v. McCullar.
Opinion delivered April 18, 1910.
1. Guardian and ward — exchange of ward's land. — The probate court has no power to order the lands of a minor to be exchanged for other lands. (Page-166.)
2. Same — estoppel OF ward. — A. ward is not estopped to deny the authority of the guardian to exchange his land for other land' where he was never placed in possession of the exchanged land nor received any benefits therefrom. (Page 166.)
3. Infancy — liability for improvements on homestead. — While minors are not liable for permanent and valuable improvements placed on ' their homestead by one to whom it had been exchanged for other-land, the latter will be entitled to setoff against his liability for rent a reasonable compensation for necessary repairs thereon made by him. (Page 168.)
4. Same — exchange of minor's land — return of consideration.— Where a minor never received a sum paid to his guardian as consideration for an exchange of his homestead for other land, he will not be bound to restore such consideration before recovering his homestead. (Page 168.)
Appeal from Cleveland Chancery Court; John M. Elliott, Chancellor;
affirmed.-
Pitt Holmes and Woodson Mosley, for appellant.
The sale being for the maintenance of the minors, the probate court had exclusive jurisdiction, and its judgment in approving the sale is final and cannot be set aside except for fraud. 11 Ark. 519; 13 Ark. 177; 31 Ark. 74; 33 Ark. 575; 44 Ark. 267; 57 Ark. 190; 66 Ark. 416; 73 Ark. 612. The probate court may order the sale of the homestead of minors for their benefit. 65 Ark. 355. Appellees should have returned the money before commencing this suit, or at least offered to do so. 39 Ark. 293; 47 Ark. 427; 65 Ark. 298; 74 Ark. 241; 71 Ark. 605.
Irving Reinberger, for appellee.
The probate court has no authority to order a minor’s lands exchanged for other lands. 47 Ark. 460. Even if the transaction be held to be a sale for reinvestment, the sale is void because the guardian' failed to give a special bond 38 Me. 47; 28 Mich. 251; 90 Pa. 350; 71 Ind. 398; 81 Ky. 127; 59 la. 533; 52 Miss. 533. The sale is void also because there was no appraisement of the ward’s property. 86 Ark. 368. The failure to give notice to those interested renders the sale void. 43 la. 11; 52 Misá. 625; 85 111. 374. Appellees having received no part of the proceeds of the sale, they are not required to return it. 47 Ark. 460.

Opinion:
Hart, J.
In the year 1898 Mrs. M. C. McCaskill, wife of J. M. McCaskill, died seized and possessed of lots seven and eight in block thirty in the town of Rison, Cleveland County, Arkansas, which was her homestead. She left surviving her, Elva E. McCaskill, now Elva E. McCullar, Hugh G. McCaskill and Mary B. McCaskill, minors, as her sole heirs at law. J. M. McCaskill, the father of said minors, was duly appointed as their guardian. On the 17th day of December, 1904, said J. M. McCaskill as such guardian, applied to the-Cleveland Probate Court for an order to exchange said lots for certain other lots in said town of Rison, belonging to N. A. McKinney. On the same day the order was made, and said J. M. McCaskill as said guardian executed a deed to said lots to said McKinney as such guardian, and the exchange was made. The proceedings were approved by said probate court, and N. A. McKinney entered into possession of the lots so conveyed to him.
The present suit was brought by Elva E. McGullar, Hugh G. McCaskill and Mary B. McCaskill by her next friend, Hugh G. McCaskill, against said J. M. McCaskill and N. A. McKinney to cancel and set aside said deed.
The defendant J. M. McCaskill failed to answer, but made default. The defendant N. A. McKinney answered and admitted that the exchange was made .pursuant to the order of the probate court upon the application of the guardian of the plaintiffs herein; but averred that the exchange was made in good faith, and that said guardian received the full value of said lots, and used the same for the benefit of said minors.
The chancellor, after hearing the evidence introduced, found in favor of the plaintiffs, and a decree was accordingly entered, cancelling the deed of said guardian to said McKinney, and that the possession of said premises be restored to said plaintiffs. The defendant McKinney has duly prosecuted an appeal to this court.
In the case of Meyer v. Rousseau, 47 Ark. 460, the court held that the probate court has no power to order the lands of a minor to be exchanged for other lands. The decision has never been overruled, and settles the present case. That case decided that an exchange of a minor's lands by a guardian under an order of the probate court was not a sale of them and said: "Under no state of facts is the probate court authorized by the statute, so far as we have been able to discover, to order the lands of a minor to be exchanged for other lands. The order of the Lincoln Probate Court directing an exchange of appellee's lands for other lands is void."
There is no evidence that the plaintiffs were ever in possession of the exchanged lands, or that they received any benefits therefrom; consequently, as was said in the case of Meyer v. Rousseau, supra, they are not estopped from disputing the validity of the exchange.
It is true that $150 was paid to the guardian of the plaintiff in the exchange, but this was paid to him before the order of court authorizing the exchange was made, and personal security therefor was required and given. Besides, the' guardian says that only a small part of it was used for the benefit of the minors, and the amount so used is not shown.
•Therefore the decree will be affirmed.