Opinion ID: 1874880
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Probate Jurisdiction

Text: The Gabels challenge the jurisdiction of the probate division of the circuit court to hear this action; they claim that the discovery of assets mechanism in this case disguises what is actually a breach of contract or fraud claim that does not belong in the probate division. The probate division of the circuit court has original and exclusive jurisdiction over a proceeding to discover assets pursuant to section 473.340. Estate of Williams v. Williams, 12 S.W.3d 302, 305 (Mo. banc 2000). In a discovery of assets proceeding, the court's role is to determine whether specific property has been adversely withheld or claimed. Sec. 473.340.1. The statute is not intended as a device to test general fiduciary conduct, improper administration of the estate, or general disputes [among] heirs. In re Goldenberg's Estate, 601 S.W.2d 637, 639 (Mo.App.1980). A discovery of assets action, as its name implies, is a search for assets. State ex rel. Knight v. Harman, 961 S.W.2d 951, 954 (Mo.App.1998). A proceeding under section 473.340 is similar to common law actions of trover or conversion. Harman, 961 S.W.2d at 954; Estate of Goslee, 807 S.W.2d 552, 554 (Mo.App.1991). Modern amendments to the probate code, however, have expanded the jurisdiction of the probate division so that today a discovery of assets proceeding extends to all species of property, including real estate. Estate of Goslee, 807 S.W.2d at 554. Moreover, the probate division in such a proceeding is now afforded inherent power of the circuit court to adjust equities between the parties without rigid adherence to any form and may shape the remedy to meet the demands of justice. Id.; Estate of Cantonia v. Sindel, 684 S.W.2d 592, 595 (Mo. App.1985); sec. 472.030. By virtue of its equitable jurisdiction, the probate division is not limited to questions of legal title, but it may determine both legal and equitable claims of an estate to title in an asset. In this case, the estate's claim is based on Mrs. Spiegelhalter's equitable ownership interest in the condominium. Here there is clearly an asset at issue that the conservator claims is or should be part of the estatethe condominium. The condominium is claimed to be an asset of [the] estate or ... should be an asset of [the] estate .... Sec. 473.340.1. Normally, the court would, upon finding an asset was properly a part of the estate, direct the delivery or transfer of the title or possession of the property to the person entitled thereto. Sec. 473.340.3. In this case, however, the Gabels have sold the property at issue. If the party found to have adversely withheld the title .... of said property has transferred or otherwise disposed of the same, the court shall render a money judgment for the value thereof with interest from the date the property... was adversely withheld. Id. Courts of this state have sometimes reached the conclusion that certain claims ostensibly brought under section 473.340 do not in actuality fall under the probate division's jurisdiction. Generally, this is found to be the case when conservators have failed to allege that any specific assets were wrongfully withheld or transferred. For example, in the companion cases of State ex rel. Abele v. Harman, 962 S.W.2d 945 (Mo.App.1998) and State ex rel. Knight v. Harman, 961 S.W.2d 951 (Mo. App.1998), the conservator claimed that the disabled child's father and a law firm mishandled the child's personal injury action by agreeing to settle claims for less than their value. The claims were breach of fiduciary duty and legal malpractice. The court of appeals held that the claims were not for the discovery of any specific piece of property, as is required by the statute, but were instead clearly tort claims. State ex rel. Knight, at 954. See also Ryan ex rel. Estate of Reece v. Reece, 31 S.W.3d 82 (Mo.App.2000). Similarly, in Matter of Estate of Woodrum, 859 S.W.2d 259 (Mo.App.1993), the conservator sought an adjudication that a surety company was liable on a bond due to the misfeasance of a prior conservator. Again, it was held that an action to recover on a surety bond is not an action for the recovery of any specific asset; that it is purely a contract action. Id. at 262. In the present case, of course, a specific assetthe condominiumis claimed to rightly be part of the estate. The probate division had jurisdiction.