Case Name: Succession of E. Crocker
Court: Louisiana Supreme Court
Jurisdiction: Louisiana
Decision Date: 1859-02
Citations: 14 La. Ann. 94
Docket Number: 
Parties: Succession of E. Crocker.
Judges: 
Reporter: Louisiana Annual Reports
Volume: 14
Pages: 94–94

Head Matter:
Succession of E. Crocker.
Tlio appointment oí' a dative testamentary executor should not bo made when there ave no debts of the estate to be paid, nor legacies to be discharged.
PPEAL from the Second District Court of New Orleans, Morgan, J.
XJL R. Hunt and H. Dugué, for appellants. R. Nt Ogden, Bonford and Leovy, for appellee.

Opinion:
Buchanan, J.
The testamentary executor, JET. H. Croclcer, having been removed from office, a petition was presented by Albín Rochereau, in February, 1857, to be appointed dative executor.
This application was opposed by several of the instituted heirs on the ground, that there was no necessity for the appointment, there being no debts due by the estate, no legacies except those to the opponents; and, on the further groun d, that the testamentary heirs were in possession of the estate.
The District Court, by judgment rendered in April, 1857, overruled the opposition, and appointed Rocliereau dative testamentary executor. The opponents appealed.
We have been referred, in argument, by the counsel of appellant, to our decision in the case of Reed v. Crocker, rendered in June, 1857, and reported in 12th An. 436, which settled the portions of the heirs of this estate, and referred them to the District Court to make a partition of the same.
The case of Reed v. Crocker was an action instituted by certain of the heirs-at-law of Elisha Croclcer against his testamentary heirs, to annul the last will, so far as it disposed of more than one-fourth of the estate; and for a partition. This action was pending when the application of the appellee for the dative exe-cutorship was filed. The demand in that action recognizes Elisha Crocker's testamentary heirs as being in possession of his estate ; and the decree of this court has maintained that possession to the extent of one-fourth, and has sent the heirs-at-law into possession of the other three-fourths.
No proof has been made that there are any debts due by the estate; nor that there are any other legacies than those to the opponents. It is difficult to perceive what would be the functions of the dative executor, were we to confirm his appointment. Without seizin of the estate, without debts to pay, or legacies to discharge, the appointment would result in nothing but useless costs.
It is, therefore, adjudged and decreed, that the judgment of the District Court be reversed, and that the application of the appellee for dative executorship of this estate, be dismissed at his costs in both courts.