Opinion ID: 2051139
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 13

Heading: order to county court

Text: Peterson-More asserts that the trial court erred in issuing its judgment to the county court, arguing that this was improper because there is no authority granting jurisdiction to a district court to issue an order to a county court except on direct appeal. This is a question of law, on which we reach a conclusion independent of the lower court's ruling. See Divis v. Clarklift of Nebraska, 256 Neb. 384, 590 N.W.2d 696 (1999). It is well established that in common-law and equity actions relating to decedents' estates, the county courts have concurrent original jurisdiction with the district courts. Marten v. Staab, 249 Neb. 299, 543 N.W.2d 436 (1996); Iodence v. Potmesil, 239 Neb. 387, 476 N.W.2d 554 (1991); In re Estate of Steppuhn, 221 Neb. 329, 377 N.W.2d 83 (1985). Where jurisdiction is concurrent, basic principles of judicial administration require that the court which first acquires jurisdiction should retain it to the exclusion of the other court. In re Estate of Kentopp. Kentopp v. Kentopp, 206 Neb. 776, 295 N.W.2d 275 (1980). Additionally, where a court of equity has properly acquired jurisdiction in a suit for equitable relief, it may make complete adjudication of all matters properly presented and involved in the case and grant relief, legal or equitable, as may be required and thus avoid unnecessary litigation. Dillon Tire, Inc. v. Fifer, 256 Neb. 147, 589 N.W.2d 137 (1999). In this case, the settlement agreement provided that money was to be paid into the county court, but that the district court where the case had been filed would retain jurisdiction over the fees generated by the case. There is little practical distinction between the county court in this case and any other court-appointed receiver available to the district court. Under those circumstances, the district court did not err in retaining jurisdiction over the attorneys' dispute and in issuing orders to the county court regarding dispensation of the funds.