Case Name: Rodney LEFLORE and Dacia Primer, Minors, By and Through Vera Leflore PRIMER, Their Guardian v. Stanley COLEMAN; In the Matter of the ESTATE OF Willie J. PRIMER, Deceased: Rodney Leflore and Dacia Primer, Minors, By and Through Vera Leflore Primer, Their Guardian and Next Friend v. Willie Charles PRIMER and the Heirs At Law of Willie Primer, Deceased
Court: Mississippi Supreme Court
Jurisdiction: Mississippi
Decision Date: 1988-02-24
Citations: 521 So. 2d 863
Docket Number: Nos. 56631, 56677
Parties: Rodney LEFLORE and Dacia Primer, Minors, By and Through Vera Leflore PRIMER, Their Guardian v. Stanley COLEMAN. In the Matter of the ESTATE OF Willie J. PRIMER, Deceased: Rodney Leflore and Dacia Primer, Minors, By and Through Vera Leflore Primer, Their Guardian and Next Friend v. Willie Charles PRIMER and the Heirs At Law of Willie Primer, Deceased.
Judges: ROY NOBLE LEE, C.J., DAN M. LEE, P.J., and PRATHER, ROBERTSON, SULLIVAN, ANDERSON and ZUCCARO, JJ., concur.
Reporter: Southern Reporter, Second Series
Volume: 521
Pages: 863–875

Head Matter:
Rodney LEFLORE and Dacia Primer, Minors, By and Through Vera Leflore PRIMER, Their Guardian v. Stanley COLEMAN. In the Matter of the ESTATE OF Willie J. PRIMER, Deceased: Rodney Leflore and Dacia Primer, Minors, By and Through Vera Leflore Primer, Their Guardian and Next Friend v. Willie Charles PRIMER and the Heirs At Law of Willie Primer, Deceased.
Nos. 56631, 56677.
Supreme Court of Mississippi.
Feb. 24, 1988.
Robert M. Jones, Gilmer & Jones, Jackson, for appellant.
Mildred M. Morris, Steen, Reynolds, Dalehite & Currie, Jackson, James E. Smith, Smith & Smith, Carthage, for appel-lee.

Opinion:
HAWKINS, Presiding Justice,
for the Court:
Before us are the consolidated appeals of Rodney Leflore and Dacia Primer, purported illegitimate children of Willie Primer, deceased intestate, from a decree of the chancery court of Leake County dismissing their claim of heirship, and the circuit court of Madison county dismissing their wrongful death action against Stanley Coleman (based upon the chancery court dismissal of their heirship claim).
The issue we address upon this appeal is whether the failure of these minors to assert any claim in the estate of the decedent until after expiration of 90 days from date of first publication of notice to creditors as required by Miss.Code Ann. § 91-l-15(3)(c) bars their claim and action. Because the sworn petition for letters of administration of Primer's estate specifically alleged they were natural children of the decedent (bom out of wedlock), and because no effort was made by the administrator to secure process upon them as required by Miss.Code Ann. § 91-1-29, we find that failure to assert a claim in the 90-day period did not bar them, and reverse and remand for proceedings consistent with this opinion.
FACTS
Willie J. Primer, an adult resident of Leake County, was killed in Madison County on September 25, 1983, when the motorcycle he was operating and a GMC truck being driven by Stanley Coleman collided on Old Highway 16. During his lifetime Primer was married to Shirley Primer (later Shirley Primer Payne), and to this marriage one child was bom: Willie Charles Primer. At the time of Primer's death, Mrs. Payne, his divorced wife, resided in Detroit, Michigan, with Willie Charles Primer. On October 31, 1983, Sally Ann Primer, the natural mother of Primer, and Mrs. Payne filed a sworn petition for letters of administration upon Primer's estate in the chancery court of Leake County which contained the following allegation:
4. That said decedent was first married to Shirley Primer Payne, but which marriage ended in divorce. To that union one child, Willie Charles Primer, was bom. The said child is now 12 years of age and resides with his said mother in Michigan. That petitioner Sally Ann Primer is the mother of decedent. It is further shown that two other children were bom to the union of decedent and one Vera Primer, whose address is also Route 7, Box 317, Carthage, Mississippi, said children being Rodney T. Wilder, age 8, Daysha S. Primer, age 7. It is shown, however, that decedent never consumated or contracted a legal marriage with Vera Primer and that although decedent acknowledged said issue as being his children, yet they were never adjudicated his legal children through adoption, paternity action or any other legal means as recognized by Mississippi law.
6. Petitioner would show that it would be in the best interest of decedent's estate that the Court appoint Sally Ann Primer as administratrix thereof. In support of such contention it is shown that decedent expired not being survived by spouse and that his son, Willie Charles Primer, is disqualified due to his minority, and there are no other persons who stand in equal right except decedent's co-lateral heirs consisting of his parents and brothers and sisters. That because Sally Ann Primer was the mother of decedent and because she resides in Leake County and is not disqualified according to law, that she is in the best position to manage decedent's estate.
Cause No. 56,677, Vol. I, pp. 1-2.
The chancery court entered an order authorizing letters of administration to issue Sally Ann Primer on October 31, 1983.
In the November 3, 10 and 17, 1983, issues of THE CARTHAGINIAN, a weekly newspaper published in Leake County, the following notice to creditors was published:
NOTICE TO CREDITORS
In the Matter of the Estate of Willie J. Primer, deceased.
Sally Ann Primer, Administratrix
Civil Action File No. 11,087.
All persons holding claims against the Estate of Willie J. Primer, deceased, will appear before the Clerk of the Chancery Court of Leake County, Mississippi and have same probated and registered by the Clerk of said Court within ninety (90) days after the date of the first publication of this notice.
Letters of Administration were granted to Sally Ann Primer by the Clerk of said Court on the 31st day of October, 1988.
All persons failing to probate and register their claims against said estate within ninety (90) days from the date of first publication of this Notice will be forever barred, and a suit shall not be maintained thereon in any court even though the existence of the claim may have been known to the administratrix.
This the 31 day of October, 1983.
(s) Sally Ann Primer
Cause No. 56,677, Vol. I, p. 13.
Also, on the 31st day of October, 1983, Sally Ann Primer filed a petition for authority to bring a suit for the wrongful death of Primer, pursuant to § 11-7-13 of the Mississippi Code (1972) in behalf of Willie Charles Primer. The chancery judge entered an order authorizing the filing of suit on November 14, 1983. The order recites that "the sole statutory heir of decedent is his son, Willie Charles Primer, a minor, who is 11 years of age."
On the 29th day of February 1984, Vera Leflore Primer filed a complaint in behalf of Rodney Leflore and Dacia Leflore in the chancery court of Leake County to determine their right to inherit. The complaint alleged that Rodney and Dacia were minor residents of Leake County and that Vera was an adult resident of Leake County. It named Willie Charles Primer and his mother Shirley Payne as defendants, and further alleged that the plaintiffs were unable to ascertain the name or post office address of any additional heirs to Willie Primer. The complaint also contained the following allegations:
II.
The Plaintiffs, Rodney Leflore and Da-cia Primer, along with Defendant, Willie Charles Primer, are all children of Willie Primer and are also the sole heirs at law of Willie Primer, who died on or about September 25, 1983; and, said plaintiffs file this Complaint To Determine Right To Inherit pursuant to Miss.Code Ann. § 91-1-27, et seq. (1972).
III.
Plaintiffs have not instituted proceedings under the paternity laws of the State of Mississippi, or any other state, for the purpose of establishing the paternity of said Rodney Leflore and Dacia Primer, and enforcing the rights of Rodney Leflore and Dacia Primer to inherit under said law.
IV.
During the lifetime of Willie Primer, Willie Primer acknowledged Rodney Le-flore and Dacia Primer, by his spoken words and actions, to be his son and his daughter, respectively.
V.
Upon his death, Willie Primer died intestate and had his principal residence in Leake County, Mississippi. That at the time of his death, Willie Primer died possessed of real and personal property in the State of Mississippi. Plaintiffs allege that they, along with Willie Charles Primer, are the sole heirs at law of Willie Primer and, by virtue of such heirship, Plaintiffs are entitled to share in the estate of Willie Primer, including but not limited to, the aforementioned property and any claims arising out of or relating to the death of Willie Primer.
WHEREFORE, PREMISES CONSIDERED, Plaintiffs pray that this Complaint be received, that process issue for the Defendant, Willie Charles Primer, and further, that summons by publication be made to the Clerk of this Court addressed "to the unknown heirs at law of Willie Primer, Deceased", commanding the Defendants, both known and unknown, to answer or plead otherwise according to law, and that upon a final hearing hereof, an order be entered recognizing Rodney Leflore and Dacia Primer as the children and heirs at law of Willie Primer, Deceased, and further adjudicating Willie Primer to be the natural father of both Rodney Leflore and Dacia Primer.
Cause 56,677, Yol. I, pp. 15-16.
Process by publication was had upon Willie Charles Primer and his mother Shirley Payne on the 8th, 15th and 22nd days of March, 1984, in THE CARTHAGINIAN.
Among other things, the right to inherit by Rodney and Dacia was contested because no claim had been filed within 90 days from date of publication of the first notice to creditors. The special chancellor in his opinion stated the following:
The second defense contained in the guardian's answer is that Plaintiffs did not file their complaint to inherit within 90 days after the first publication of notice to creditors in this estate as provided by Miss.Code Ann., Sec. 91-1-5 (Supp. 1984) and thus plaintiffs are barred from proceeding. In this regard the court has been asked to take judicial notice of the court file. Further, independent facts stipulated at the hearing establish that the first notice to creditors was published on November 3, 1983, and the complaint to determine right to inherit was not filed until February 29, 1984. The fact that the plaintiffs are illegitimate is not in dispute. There is no doubt that more than 90 days elapsed between the first publication to creditors and the filing of the complaint. Thus by the terms of the statute, plaintiffs are barred from proceeding. Plaintiffs argued that the administrator's notice to creditors was ineffective to start the running of the statute of limitations because the order of the chancery clerk appointing the administrator was never approved by the Chancery Court as required by Miss.Code Ann., Sec. 95-147 (1972). Plaintiffs argue that each order of the clerk in this regard must be approved by a separate corresponding order signed by the judge and filed in the cause. A reading of the pertinent statutes do not bear this out. Applicable is not only Sec. 9-5-147 but also 9-5-141, 9-5-149, 9-5-151 and 9-5-153. A reading of all these statutes makes it clear that the vacation orders of the clerk when approved at the first term thereafter shall be as valid and effectual "as if done by court, when they were done by the clerk." See Miss.Code Ann., Sec. 9-5-151 (Supp.1984). The statutes were here complied with. The clerk's order appointing the administrator was signed by the clerk on October 31, 1983. The next term of court held thereafter was the regular February 1984 term. At this term the court entered an order approving all of the orders of the clerk (which would include the one here in question) entered in vacation.
Plaintiffs in their brief ask this court to strike down the 90 day limitation of Section 91-1-15 as unconstitutional and particularly when applied to the Mississippi Wrongful Death Statute. The court is of the opinion that the statute is constitutional with reference to inheritance by illegitimates. See Lalli v. Lalli 439 U.S. 259 [99 S.Ct. 518, 58 L.Ed.2d 503] (1978). This court does not have before it the question of the constitutionality of the 90 day limitation of the statute as applied to an illegitimate's entitlement under the Wrongful Death Statute. The complaint seeks only a determination as to intestate succession. It does not seek determination of the statutory beneficiaries under the Wrongful Death Statute. It is the court's understanding that this latter issue is now before the Circuit Court of Madison County, Mississippi, where there is a pending suit to recover for the wrongful death of the father of the parties herein involved.
The complaint as amended should be dismissed.
Cause No. 56,677, Vol. I, pp. 101-102.
CAUSE NO. 56,631 — THE CIRCUIT COURT SUIT
On February 1,1984, Rodney Leflore and Dacia Primer, through Vera Leflore Primer, their guardian, filed suit in the circuit court of Madison County for the wrongful death of their father, Willie Primer. The complaint alleged suit was filed on behalf of all the heirs of Primer; and also alleged that Rodney and Dacia were the natural children of Primer's. In his answer Cole man alleged as one of his defenses that plaintiffs were barred from bringing the action.
On May 1, 1984, Willie Charles, by and through Shirley Primer Payne, filed a motion to intervene as a plaintiff under Rule 24, Mississippi Rules of Civil Procedure. The motion alleged that Willie Charles was the only legitimate natural child bom to the deceased, and that the plaintiffs were illegitimate children and had no standing to file suit.
On December 8,1983, the chancery court of Leake County entered an order authorizing Vera Leflore Primer as guardian of Rodney and Dacia, to pursue a wrongful death action against Coleman. This order was entered in Cause No. 11,096, which was a guardianship proceeding, however, and not the original estate proceeding in the estate of Willie J. Primer, which was Cause No. 11,087 of the Leake County Chancery Court.
Coleman filed a motion for summary judgment against Rodney and Dacia on the grounds that their cause of action was barred. He supported said motion with the decree of the chancery court dismissing Rodney's and Dacia's claim to be heirs-at-law of Primer. On July 2, 1985, the circuit court of Madison County sustained the motion for summary judgment against these plaintiffs, and dismissed their suit.
Rodney and Dacia, by and through Vera Leflore Primer, have appealed both the final decree of the chancery court dismissing their claim to be heirs-at-law and the final judgment of the circuit court sustaining the motion for a summary judgment and dismissing their suit.
LAW WERE RODNEY AND DACIA BARRED FROM CLAIMING AS HEIRS AND BRINGING A WRONGFUL DEATH ACTION?
To answer this question four different statutes must be read and examined together.
Miss.Code Ann. § 91-1-15 (1985 Supp.) reads in pertinent part as follows:
(3) An illegitimate shall inherit from and through the illegitimate's natural father and his kindred, and the natural father of an illegitimate and his kindred shall inherit from and through the illegitimate according to the statutes of descent and distribution if:
(c) There has been an adjudication of paternity after the death of the intestate, based upon clear and convincing evidence, in an heirship proceeding under Sections 91-1-27 and 91-1-29. However, no such claim of inheritance shall be recognized unless the action seeking an adjudication of paternity is filed within one (1) year after the death of the intestate or within ninety (90) days after the first publication of notice to creditors to present their claims, whichever is less; and such time period shall run notwithstanding the minority of a child....
By Section 6, Chapter 529, Laws of 1981, the Legislature amended Miss.Code Ann. § 11-7-13 in pertinent part as follows:
[T]he provisions of this section shall apply to illegitimate children on account of the death of the natural father and to the natural father on account of the death of the illegitimate child or children, and they shall have all the benefits, rights and remedies conferred by this section on legitimates, if the survivor has or establishes the right to inherit from the deceased under Section 91-1-15.
Miss.Code Ann. § 91-1-27 in its entirety reads as follows:
§ 91-1-27. How title to property acquired by descent may be made.
In all cases in which persons have died, or may hereafter die, wholly or partially intestate having property, real or personal, any heir at law of such deceased person, or any one interested in any of the property as to which he shall have died intestate, may petition the chancery court of the county in which said deceased had his mansion house or principal place or residence, or in which any part of his real estate may be situated, in case he was a nonresident, setting forth the fact that said person died wholly or partially intestate possessed of real or personal property in the State of Mississippi, the names of the heirs at law or next of kin, and praying that the person named in said petition be recognized and decreed to be the heir at law of said deceased.
Miss.Code Ann. § 91-1-29 in its entirety reads as follows:
§ 91-1-29. Heir to be cited to appear. All the heirs at law and next of kin of said deceased who are not made parties complainant to the suit or petition, shall be cited to appear and answer the same. And in addition thereto a summons by publication shall be addressed to "the heirs at law of_ deceased," and shall be published as other publications to absent or unknown defendants, and the cause shall be proceeded with as other causes in chancery, and upon satisfactory evidence as to death of said person and as to the fact that the parties to said suit are his sole heirs at law, the court shall enter a decree that the persons so described be recognized as the heirs at law of such a decedent, and as such be placed in possession of his estate. And said decree shall be evidence in all the courts of law and equity in this state that the persons therein named are the sole heirs of the person therein described as their ancestor.
It is now clear that the Legislature has declared as the public policy of this state that an illegitimate child can inherit from his natural father's estate, and share in the proceeds of a wrongful death action the same as a natural legitimate child. Miss. Code Ann. § 11-7-13, 91-1-15. In the same sections, however, there is a requirement that proper and timely steps be taken by the illegitimate as a condition precedent to inheriting from or sharing in a wrongful death action of the natural father. Miss. Code Ann. § 11-7-13 (1985 Supp.); § 91-!-15(3)(c) (1985 Supp.). There must be an adjudication of paternity in an heir-ship proceeding under Miss.Code Ann. § 91-1-27 and 91-1-29. Also, the illegitimate child must file an action within one year from date of death of the father, or within 90 days from date of first publication of notice to creditors. In this case Rodney and Dacia did not file their complaint until more than 90 days after date of first publication of notice to creditors (October 31, 1983 — February 29, 1984). The question therefore, is whether failure to file within the 90-day period bars their claim.
In this case it did not. As we recently pointed out in Matter of Estate of Flowers, 493 So.2d 950 (Miss.1986), and Estate of King, 501 So.2d 1120 (Miss.1987), the mandatory compliance by an illegitimate with the provisions of Miss.Code Ann. § 91 — 1—15(3)(c) presupposes a good faith compliance by the administrator with the obligation imposed upon him by law to advise the court and secure process upon all heirs known to him. Miss.Code Ann. § 91-7-293; § 91-1-29. The law will not permit a totally unknown person to assert a claim without strictly adhering to this time requirement of asserting his claim in court, and in the manner as required by statute. Rita Ivy v. Illinois Central Gulf Railroad Co., et al., 510 So.2d 520 (Miss.1987). Neither will the law permit a deliberate concealment by an administrator of a potential lawful heir. Thus, as we held in Estate of Flowers and Estate of King, supra, the time requirements of Miss.Code Ann. § 91-l-16(3)(c) are not applicable in a case of a deliberate failure to notify the potential heirs as required by Miss.Code Ann. § 91-1-27 or in a case of a deliberate concealment from the chancery court of the names of potential heirs, who are required to be named by Miss.Code Ann. § 91-7-293. Therefore, in Estate of Flowers and Estate of King, we held Miss.Code Ann. § 91 — 1—15(3)(c) did not bar a claim not filed within the 90-day period when an administrator deliberately failed to make an effort to see that all potential heirs were brought into court.
In this case there was no fraud or misrepresentation on the part of Sally Ann Primer, and Shirley Primer Payne when they petitioned the court for Mrs. Primer to be appointed administratrix, because the petition specifically named Rodney and Da- cia and stated they were in fact the natural children of Willie Primer. Mrs. Primer, as administratrix, however, should have complied with Miss.Code Ann. § 91-1-29 and had process issued upon Rodney and Dacia. Apparently counsel for the estate did not comply with this statute because he thought these illegitimate children had no legal interest in the estate.
In our view, the learned chancellor erred when he ruled that timely compliance with Miss.Code Ann. § 91-l-15(3)(c) was required in this case, as did the circuit judge. Since the administratrix knew of these illegitimate children, she should have given them notice of the issuance of letters of administration.
Rodney Leflore and Dacia Primer are entitled to share in the estate of their father and in any wrongful death settlement the same as legitimate children if there is no dispute that they are indeed his natural children. On the other hand, if there is any dispute as to this matter, the chancery court upon remand has authority to decide the issue and determine the question.
Reversed and remanded to the chancery court of Leake County and to the circuit court of Madison County for proceedings consistent with this opinion.
REVERSED AND REMANDED.
ROY NOBLE LEE, C.J., DAN M. LEE, P.J., and PRATHER, ROBERTSON, SULLIVAN, ANDERSON and ZUCCARO, JJ., concur.
GRIFFIN, J., dissents.