Opinion ID: 1658393
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Whether a Sworn Claim is Mandatory.

Text: We next consider claimant's alternative argument that the language of Iowa Code section 633.418, requiring that a claim in probate be accompanied by the affidavit of the claimant, or someone for the claimant, is directory only. In support of this contention, he relies on decisions of this court interpreting an earlier version of our statutes relating to the form and verification of claims in probate. Prior to the enactment of section 633.418 in 1964, the applicable statute (then Iowa Code § 635.54 (1962)) provided that a claim in a decedent's estate must be sworn to and filed with the clerk of the district court. This statute appeared in substantially the same form in 1908 when the case of Wise v. Outtrim, 139 Iowa 192, 117 N.W. 264 (1908), was decided. In Wise, this court stated: The statutory provisions in this respect, upon which appellant relies, are directory only, and failure to observe them affects neither the jurisdiction of the court, nor the plaintiff's right of action. Id. at 199, 117 N.W. at 267. The Wise decision appears to comport with an earlier interpretation of this statute in Wile v. Wright, 32 Iowa 451, 457 (1871). In rejecting the line of decisions relied upon by the claimant, the district court was influenced by a discussion of present section 633.418 in D. McCarty, Iowa Probate § 1356 (1965). There, the author observes that [i]n construing the former statute it was said that while it required a claim to be sworn to, and contemplated that such verification be made before it is filed, it has been held that such requirement is directory only.... The new requirements are so specific as to the affidavit and it is made such an integral part of the claim and as a condition of its allowance, that the claim certainly could not be allowed without such an affidavit attached. The words no claim shall be allowed... unless were not included in the earlier statute. While this language certainly presents a stronger argument for concluding that the affidavit is mandatory than the language of the former statute, we do not believe it compels the interpretation utilized by the district court. We conclude that the provisions requiring an affidavit are mandatory only where the personal representative seeks to allow the claim solely on the strength of the papers filed with the clerk. Where, as in the present case, the claim has been denied and a request for hearing has been filed as provided in section 633.443, the claimant has been placed upon his proof in the trial of the claim as an ordinary action. See Iowa Code § 633.444 (1985). Once this occurs, the presence of an affidavit is no longer significant. We conclude the district court erred in failing to hear Howard Entler's claim on the merits under Iowa Code section 633.444. It further erred in overruling his objection to the executor's final report. Because of the disposition which we make on the appeal from the dismissal of the first claim, we need not consider the claimant's assignments of error concerning the second claim. The orders of the district court dismissing the first claim and overruling claimant's objections to the final report are reversed. The matter is remanded to that court for further proceedings not inconsistent with this opinion. REVERSED AND REMANDED.