Case Name: In re HORN ESTATES. ANDERSON v. LINCK
Court: Michigan Supreme Court
Jurisdiction: Michigan
Decision Date: 1940-10-07
Citations: 295 Mich. 193
Docket Number: Docket No. 46, Calendar No. 41,174
Parties: In re HORN ESTATES. ANDERSON v. LINCK.
Judges: Btishnell, C. J., and Sharpe, Chandler, North, McAllister, and Butzel, JJ., concurred. The late Justice Potter took no part in this decision.
Reporter: Michigan Reports
Volume: 295
Pages: 193–195

Head Matter:
In re HORN ESTATES. ANDERSON v. LINCK.
1. Guardian and Ward — Annual Allowance to Guardian — Extraordinary Services.
Where upwards of 10 annual accounts by guardian contain no claim for special or extraordinary services, the annual allowance of $75 a year to him, after his first two accounts, does not bar consideration of special services covering the subsequent period.
2. Same — Accounting—Compensation.
A guardian’s compensation is left to the consideration of the court passing on the accounts and is not an item of the account upon which a jury may pass.
3. Same — Guardian Entitled to Reasonable Compensation por Services.
A guardian is entitled to reasonable compensation for his services.
4. Same — Special Services.
An opinion of the Supreme Court on appeal from allowance of a former account does not bar an award for special services not there involved.
5. Same — Compensation to Guardian and His Attorney.
The character of the estate, care for and education of three wards, supervision exercised over funds received from Veterans’ Administration, litigation attended to and travel and consultations relative thereto held, to justify allowance of award by circuit court of $500 to guardian and $481.20 to Ms attorney on appeal to it from probate court from allowances of $800 and $601.20 respectively.
Appeal from Muskegon; Sanford (Joseph F.), J.
Submitted June 6, 1940.
(Docket No. 46, Calendar No. 41,174.)
Decided October 7, 1940.
In the matter of the estates of Catherine Horn, Enth Horn, and Patricia Horn, minors. On objections of Catherine Horn Anderson, Enth .Horn, and Patricia Horn to guardian’s supplemental annual and final accounts. Accounts allowed. Wards appeal to circuit court. Judgment modifying and affirming accounts. Wards appeal.
Affirmed.
George G. Brown, for plaintiffs.
Leo G. Lillie, for guardian.

Opinion:
Wiest, J.
In October, 1924, Sylvester J. Linck was appointed guardian of the estate of three minor wards. In Re Horn's Estate, 285 Mich. 145, we passed upon his annual accounts up to October, 1936, and required him to assume a loan of $1,500, made by him and secured by mortgage. The issues presented in the instant appeal relate to subsequent allowances to the guardian for services rendered during the entire period of the guardianship and an award to his attorney. The circuit court reduced the compensation allowed the guardian in the probate court from $800 to $500, and the amount to the attorney from $601.20 to $481.20.
The wards, by appeal, claim allowance to the guardian for special services was barred by allowance of former annual accounts and the decision of this court upon the former appeal.
The annual accounts contain no claim for special or extraordinary services and the annual allowance-of $75 a year to the guardian, after his first and second accounts, cannot be said to bar consideration of special services covering the subsequent period.
As said in Gott v. Culp, 45 Mich. 265, 274:
"The matter is one left to the consideration of the court passing the accounts, and the amount has noth-, ing to do with the account as an item of it at all, and cannot in any case be considered by the jury.
"By the old law a guardian could get no compensation whatever, but was merely protected in his legitimate expenditures. The modern doctrine, which is recognized by our statutes, regards him as entitled to such reasonable compensation as the circumstances warrant."
The opinion on the former appeal does not bar the award for special services because not there involved.
The character of the estate, care for and education of the wards, supervision exercised over funds received from the Veterans' Administration, litigation attended to and travel and consultations relative thereto, justify the award made in the circuit court.
The guardian, by cross-appeal, contends that the award in the probate court, being largely a matter within the discretion of the probate judge, could not be diminished in the circuit court.
We need but say the issues were tried upon evidence submitted in the circuit court and that court was called upon to fix compensation, and we find no ground for disturbing the awards there made, both for compensation to the guardian and to his attorney.
The judgment is affirmed, with costs to the guardian.
Btishnell, C. J., and Sharpe, Chandler, North, McAllister, and Butzel, JJ., concurred. The late Justice Potter took no part in this decision.