Case Name: Budd H. Atkinson v. Benjamin Atkinson et al.
Court: New Jersey Court of Chancery
Jurisdiction: New Jersey
Decision Date: 1914-12-09
Citations: 84 N.J. Eq. 104
Docket Number: 
Parties: Budd H. Atkinson v. Benjamin Atkinson et al.
Judges: 
Reporter: New Jersey Equity Reports
Volume: 84
Pages: 104–105

Head Matter:
Budd H. Atkinson v. Benjamin Atkinson et al.
[Argued December 8th, 1914.
Decided December 9th, 1914.]
The common-law rule that the personal estate is the primary fund for the payment of debts, including mortgages on real property, descending to the heir, has been changed by Comp. Stat. p. 34&1, providing that where a mortgage has been given for the debt, all proceedings to collect the debt shall be first by foreclosure, thereby making the mortgaged property the primary fund, so that the heir is not entitled to have the mortgage paid by the administrator out of the personal assets.
On demurrer to bill.
Messrs. Davis & Davis, for the demurrants.
Mr. William A. Slaughter, for the complainant.

Opinion:
Backes, V. C.
This bill is filed by an heir-at-law to compel the administrator of bis- ancestor to exonerate descended lands from the lien of a mortgage made by the ancestor to secure her bond. The next of kin demur.
Under the common law, the. personal estate was the primary fund for the payment of debts, including those secured by mortgage, and the right of the heir-at-law to have his land discharged of a mortgage lien out of the personal assets was well settled. But the legislature, in 1881' enacted:
"That in all cases where a bond and mortgage has or may hereafter be given for the same debt, all proceedings to collect said debt shall be first to foreclose the mortgage;"
and further provided that any deficiency may be recovered by an action on the bond. Comp. Stat. p. 3421,
This court, in the case of Smith v. Wilson, 79 N. J. Eq. 310, held that this legislation malíes the mortgaged property the primary fund out pf which the debt secured is to be paid, and abolishes the right of heirs to be exonerated from a mortgaged debt created and owed by the ancestor out of the personal estate of such ancestor.
The demurrer will be sustained, and the bill dismissed, with costs.