Opinion ID: 1897353
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Authority of Circuit Judge to Grant Removal

Text: Petitioners argue that there is a conflict between the general removal statute, § 12-11-41, Code of Alabama (1975), and the local act, Act No. 1144 (1971) Alabama Acts. Act No. 1144 permits the probate court to exercise concurrent jurisdiction with the circuit court on equity issues by granting the parties the power to invoke equity jurisdiction in the probate court for those cases already within its jurisdiction. The stated purpose of the statute is to expedite and facilitate the administration of estates by permitting the probate court to apply equitable remedies to the cases already within its jurisdiction. Act No. 1144, § 6. Petitioners argue that this statute conflicts with the general removal provision of § 12-11-41, Code of Alabama (1975), which states: The administration of any estate may be removed from the probate court to the circuit court at any time before a final settlement thereof, by any heir, devisee, legatee, distributee, executor, administrator or administrator with the will annexed of any such estate, without assigning any special equity; and an order of removal must be made by the court, upon the filing of a sworn petition by any such heir, devisee, legatee, distributee, executor, administrator or administrator with the will annexed of any such estate, reciting that the petitioner is such heir, devisee, legatee, distributee, executor, administrator or administrator with the will annexed and that, in the opinion of the petitioner, such estate can be better administered in the circuit court than in the probate court. Though the local act confers equity jurisdiction on the probate court, § 6 of the local act makes it evident that powers granted to the court pursuant to the local act in no way affect the rights and conditions for removal under the general statute. Section 6 of Act No. 1144 states: The jurisdiction conferred by this act on the Probate Courts and the Probate Judges of such counties is intended to be cumulative only, and it is not intended hereby to in any manner limit or restrict the present jurisdiction of the Circuit Courts or the Probate Courts of such counties, including, without limitation, the right to appeal from orders, judgments and decrees of the Probate Judges of such counties in the manner as now provided by law. Nothing in this act shall be construed as prohibiting or as creating any conditions to the removal of any estates, or the administration of any estates, from the Probate Court to the Circuit Court, in equity, as is now provided by law. It is the primary intention of this act to expedite and facilitate the administration of estates and such other matters as are mentioned herein in counties of over 500,000 population, and should any part of this act be declared unconstitutional, such declaration shall not affect the remainder of this act. [Emphasis added.] There is no ambiguity in the language of the local act; thus, there is no need for this Court to go beyond the face of the statute. We find that the local act does not limit or change the administratrix's right to remove pursuant to the requirements of § 12-11-41, Code of Alabama (1975). Given our finding that there is no conflict between the local act and the general statute, the remaining question is whether the administratrix properly petitioned for removal pursuant to § 12-11-41, Code of Alabama (1975). It is undisputed that the petition for removal complied with the formal requirements of § 12-11-41. However, petitioners dispute the timeliness of the petition and the ex parte nature of the order.