Opinion ID: 879394
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Application of the half blood statute

Text: Ana Prpic is a full first cousin of the decedent Rose M. McEwan, since Ana's mother Rose Vinski was a full sister of Kata Vinski Stokan, the mother of Rose M. McEwan. Ana Prpic contends, therefore, that as a full first cousin, she is a half-blood relative of the decedent Rose M. McEwan, and that Karlo Vinski, Joza Vinzki, and Mary Cepuran, as half uncles and half aunt to the decedent can only be quarter blood relatives. Thus Ana contends that although the relationship of the half uncles and half aunt is that of third degree, and that of a first cousin is fourth degree, nonetheless the half blood statute should not apply to the half uncles and half aunt since they are not of the half blood. Ana Prpic makes this contention to avoid the application of § 72-2-211, MCA, which provides: Kindred of half blood. Relatives of the half blood inherit the same share they would inherit if they were of the whole blood. Ana Prpic is joined in this contention by Angela Laslovich Holleran, Mary Ann Laslovich Puccinelli and Joseph Matthew Laslovich, who state they too are full first cousins of the deceased Rose M. McEwan. Their father, Mike Laslovich was a full brother of Frank Laslovich, the father of Rose M. McEwan. Ana Prpic contends that the term half blood describes the relationship between children who have one common parent. Genschorck v. Blumer (1932), 136 Kan. 228, 14 P.2d 722, 725. She argues that to be half-blood kindred requires establishing a blood line relationship to the decedent produced by either one of the decedent's parents or through the decedent's grandparents. This results in her statement that the 26 claimants who are not full first cousins are only quarter blood relatives because they trace a bloodline to Rose M. McEwan through one set of her great grandparents. It is thus that Ana Prpic asks us to interpret § 72-2-211, MCA, in its reference to the half blood. Ana Prpic's argument is founded principally on the Official Comments to the Uniform Probate Code. In the Official Comments to Part 2, Intestate Succession, it is stated: (2) Inheritance by collateral relatives is limited to grandparents and those descended from grandparents. This simplifies proof of heirship and eliminates will contests by remote relatives. Official Comments to Part 2, Montana Code Annotated, Volume 6, Title 72, page 18 (1986). Again, in the Official Comments to § 72-2-203, MCA, it is stated that in line with modern policy, [it] eliminates more remote relatives tracing through great grandparents. Montana Code Annotated, Part 2, § 72-2-203, Volume 6, Title 72, page 20 (1986). The elemental contention of Ana Prpic therefore is that the term half blood is to be interpreted as she contends, and that this Court should follow in such an interpretation of the Official Comments to the Uniform Probate Code. Regardless of the Official Comments, however, it is clear that the Montana Legislature, in adopting the Uniform Probate Code, did not incorporate the limitations to intestate distribution contended for by the full first cousins. Section 72-2-203, MCA, provides: Share of heirs other than surviving spouse. The part of the intestate estate not passing to the surviving spouse under 72-2-202, or the entire intestate estate if there is no surviving spouse, passes as follows: (1) to the issue of the decedent; if they are all of the same degree of kinship to the decedent, they take equally, but if of unequal degree, then those of more remote degree take by representation; (2) if there is no surviving issue, to his parent or parents equally; (3) if there is no surviving issue or parent, to the brothers and sisters and the children or grandchildren of any deceased brother or sister, by representation; (4) if there is no surviving issue, parent, brother, sister, or children or grandchildren of a deceased brother or sister, to the next of kin in equal degree, except that where there are two or more collateral kindred in equal degree but claiming through different ancestors, those who claim through the nearer ancestors must be preferred to those claiming through an ancestor more remote. Section 72-2-203 springs from § 2-103 of the Uniform Probate Code; however, subdivision (4) of § 72-2-203, above, is different from subdivision (4) of § 2-103 of the Uniform Probate Code. Montana did not adopt subdivision (4) of § 2-103, Uniform Probate Code. If it had, in the situation of the decedent Rose M. McEwan, her residuary estate would be divided half to the descendants of her paternal grandparents, and half to the descendants of her maternal grandparents. Under § 72-2-203(4), MCA, above, the residuary estate of Rose M. McEwan, decedent, must go to the next of kin in equal degree. The term next of kin is not defined in our probate code but we have earlier determined that the term means blood relatives, and not relatives by affinity. Estate of Brewington (1977), 173 Mont. 458, 568 P.2d 133. Decrees of kindred are computed in accordance with § 72-11-101, -105, inclusive, MCA. Under § 72-11-105, MCA, uncles and aunts are related to the decedent in the third degree, and full first cousins in the fourth degree. Here, the uncles and aunt, though related in the third degree, are of the half blood. It is at this point that § 72-2-211, MCA, takes over which provides that relatives of the half blood inherit the same share they would inherit if they were of the whole blood. The adoption by the legislature of § 72-2-211, MCA, represents a change from the statute preceding the Montana Uniform Probate Code as to relatives of the half blood. Former § 91-411, R.C.M. (1947) provided: Kindred of the half blood inherit equally with those of the whole blood in the same degree, unless the inheritance comes to the intestate by descent, devise, or gift of someone of his ancestors, in which case all those who are not of the blood of such ancestors must be excluded from such inheritance. It is significant that former § 91-411, R.C.M. (1947), recognized that the term half blood could be applied to heirs without limitation as to a third or fourth degree. Finally, however, the provisions of § 72-2-203(4), MCA, must be read in conjunction with § 72-11-105, MCA. In computing the degrees of kindred, the count is made by generations from the claimant to the common ancestor and then to the decedent. Section 72-11-105, MCA, does not require a set of common ancestors in determining the degree of kindred. The argument in this case therefore of the full first cousins that the term half blood in § 72-2-211, MCA, includes only whole blood uncles and aunts of the decedent and whole blood first cousins of the decedent must fail. First cousins, whether of the whole or the half blood, are not of the same degree of kindred as uncles and aunts of a decedent.