Opinion ID: 2103115
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Order Determining Heirship

Text: Appellants argue first that Judge Benson's court gained personal jurisdiction over all Hoffas' heirs by notice mailed to all heirs known at the time of the heirship hearing, and by published notice of the hearing for the benefit of heirs whose names or addresses were unknown, and that because no appeal was taken from the order determining heirs, the order of heirship is res judicata. However, the order of January 22, 1986 did not determine Hoffas' heirs. It stated only that: All aunts and uncles on the maternal and paternal sides who left issue, shall receive equal shares and the share of each deceased aunt or uncle, who left issue, shall be left to the issue of that deceased person in equal shares by right of representation. The order merely recites the statutory direction for inheritance by representation contained in NDCC § 30.1-04-06 (UPC 2-106). The order does not determine the heirs. Heirs are defined as those persons entitled under the statutes of intestate succession to the property of a decedent. NDCC § 30.1-01-06(18). A person, as defined in § 30.1-01-06(30) is an individual, a corporation, an organization, or other legal entity. Instead of determining the individuals who are heirs, the order provides a generic scheme for distribution, but leaves unanswered which individuals shall inherit. See 2 UPC Practice Manual, Form 33 (2d ed. 1977). We agree with Judge Metelmann's conclusion that there was no prior order determining heirs. We conclude that Judge Metelmann was authorized to determine heirs. [3]