Opinion ID: 1927069
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Adequacy of the Receipt.

Text: The receipt given by Sam Syvock is in evidence. Although the signature of Sam Syvock does not identify his capacity, the balance of the instrument unequivocally shows that he gave the receipt as guardian of Richard Syvock. It is argued further that the receipt should have stated the address of the minor. The petitioner's contention is that if his address had been disclosed on the receipt, the county court of Dodge county, upon receiving such receipt, would have known that the minor lived in Milwaukee county and, pursuant to sec. 318.07, Stats., would have transmitted a certified copy to the county court of Milwaukee. Petitioner maintains that this would have provoked the latter court to augment the guardian's bond, which would, in turn, have shielded the ward against the loss which occurred. This matter was discussed in Estate of Hewitt (1927), 194 Wis. 15, 19, 215 N. W. 573, where this court said: Clearly, the executor is not required to ascertain at his peril that the guardian is solvent. This is a matter for the county court that appoints the guardian. It must in the first instance require a bond, which it may increase from time to time. It is the duty of the court to require annual reports of the guardian's trust. The statute requires the executor to take receipts from the guardian and file duplicates with the county court having charge of the estate. The statutes also require that the county court wherein such  receipts are filed shall transmit a copy thereof to the county court appointing the guardian. The reason is apparent. It is to advise the county court appointing the guardian of any sums paid to him in trust in a proceeding in another jurisdiction, so that the court appointing the guardian may increase the bond of the guardian or take such other steps as may be necessary to protect the ward. It will be noted that neither sec. 318.07, Stats., nor the language of the court in the Hewitt Case imposes the onus of transmission upon the administratrix. Indeed, the statute specifically puts this burden upon the county court; the discussion in the Hewitt Case also contemplates that the copy of the receipt shall be sent by the court. It would be an unwarranted extension of the statute beyond its plain meaning for this court to adopt the petitioner's view that the administratrix had a legal duty to send a copy of the receipt to the Milwaukee county court. The absence of the minor's address upon the receipt cannot be denominated maladministration; there simply is no requirement that such address be given. In addition, the petition for letters of administration lists the address of the minor, and thus the information was readily available to the county court of Dodge county. We appreciate that the minor's loss stems from the failure to notify the Milwaukee county court (which had appointed the guardian) and the latter court's failure to increase the bond. Notwithstanding the language of the statute, the filing of a receipt with one county court does not automatically trigger the transmission of a copy of the receipt to the other county court. The statute is not self-executing, and the mechanics for execution are not spelled out. It would seem that the statute could be improved so as to provide that a specific individual be directed to take affirmative steps to notify the court which had appointed the guardian. This is a matter which we shall invite to the attention  of the judicial council. However, we are persuaded that there was no duty on the part of the administratrix to perform the function of notifying the Milwaukee county court and that her failure to do so and to assert the minor's address were not acts of maladministration.