Case Name: S. B. Gist and Children v. The Executors of Stales Gist
Court: South Carolina Court of Appeals
Jurisdiction: South Carolina
Decision Date: 1827-04-17
Citations: 2 McCord Eq. 474
Docket Number: 
Parties: S. B. Gist and Children v The Executors of Stales Gist.
Judges: 
Reporter: South Carolina Equity Reports
Volume: 7
Pages: 608–609

Head Matter:
S. B. Gist and Children v The Executors of Stales Gist.
Where an estate is properly sold on a credit and bonds taken by the executor, he is entitled to charge commissions on the bonds, as on so much money received. An executor is entitled to commissions on all sums received and paid, whether in bonds, notes, or cash.
There were several points in this case. The Reporter thinks it unnecessary to publish any but one. The property of the estate of Stales Gist was sold, and bonds to the amount of 811,923 34 cents taken by the executors, on the receipt of which commissions are charged by them as on so much money received. The complainants excepted to the charge before the master, who sustained the objection, exceptas to a part of the bonds which were passed away by the executors in payment of the debts of the estate amounting to §4,738 84 cents.
Jan. 1827. DeSaussure, Chancellor. I concur with the master in theview he has taken of this question. As far as the executors passed away bonds in the payment of debts, the executors are entitled to commissions, as if they had received the money and paid it away. But for bonds remaining in their hands to be delivered up to the heirs, they are not entitled to commissions.
The executors appealed.
April 17, 1827.
Grimke, for the appellants,
cited 1 Desaus. Rep. 160. 1 Harper’s Eq. Rep. 176, 223. Taveau v. Ball, 1 M’Cord’s Cha. Rep. 456.
Finley, contra,
cited Toller’s Law of Exec. 427.

Opinion:
Curia, per
Colcock, J.
I thought it a point settled, that executors and administrators were entitled to commissions in cases like this.
The commissions are certainly not given for the mere act of receiving'and paying away money, hut as a compensation for ail the trouble and risk which are imposed by the duty of the office on executors and administrators; and when it is recollected how great they are, I think the act should receive a liberal construction as to all who discharge this laborious and unthankful office with fidelity. The executor has no right himself to convert the lands and negroes into money; but when this is done by a competent court, and for the benefit of those concerned, I can see no reason why they should not be entitled to commissions on all sums received and paid away, whether the amount be in bonds and notes, or in bank notes. The executor or administrator might sue for and recover such debts. The distributees may refuse to take the bonds; but if both parties consent to this arrangement for their mutual accommodation or convenience, the commissions are still a claim of strict right.
*In the case of Rutledge v. Williamson's Ex., 1 Des. Rep. 160, it is not stated what bonds they were which the court ordered to be delivered up, and it is presumed they must have been bonds found among the testator's papers. This case (under circumstances) cannot be considered as an authority in point. But the subsequent case of Deas v. Spann, Harper's Eq. Rep. 176, seems to determine the point expressly; and it is stated in the report of that case, that it was decided by the unanimous opinion of the court; and it is further stated, that the opinion of the court was delivered by the learned chancellor from whose decree this appeal is made. Whether the report be correct or not, however, in these particulars, the case as presented to us does decide that commissions are allowable in such cases as the one now before us, and it meets the unanimous opinion of the court.
It is therefore ordered that the decree be reformed in this particular, and in all other respects be affirmed.
Decree modified.