Court Opinion

ID: 7182238
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2022-07-24 16:49:13.537633+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T16:15:57.213460
License: Public Domain

The judgment of the court was pronounced by
King, J.
Mayer applied, on the-29th of February, 184-8,-for the administration of the succession of James McKinney, deceased, averring that he was a creditor, and notice of his application was published in a newspaper, on the 4th of March following. Erwin and Rlclgely also claimed the administration, on the ground that they were creditors of the succession. On the 18th of March, more than ten days after the advertizement of Mayer's application, Mrs-. McKinney, the widow of the deceased, and tutrix of his children, filed an- opposition, and claimed the administration for herself, asserting her superior right as widow and tutrix. Her claim-was sustained,'and Mayer has appealed.
The district judge did not, in our opinion, err. Mayer has not shown that he was a creditor, and rests his claim exclusively upon the priority of his application, and upon the neglect of Mrs. McKinney to present her opposition within the delay of ten days-.
The Code designates the persons who are to be preferred in- the appointment of administrators of beneficiary successions. Preference is to be given* to the beneficiary heir, if he be present and of age, over any other person. If the beneficiary heirs be minors, the preference is to be given to their tutors. Civil Code, arts. 1035, 1037. This preference may be claimed-as long as the appointment has not been confirmed on an earlier applicant. Articles 1111 of the Civil- Code, and 970 of the Code of Practice, relied on by the appellant, and which require oppositions to applications for letters of administration-to be-filed within ten days after the publication of notice, are- found in-the chapters of those Codes which relate more particularly to the appointment of curators of vacant successions. 1-6 is true that those articles have been held to apply to the appointment of administrators, so far as to require the publication of notice. But they cannot be considered as controling the order of preference established in appointing administrators, nor as limiting absolutely the time within-which the preference may be claimed. In the case of Hook v. Richardson, 4 La. 570, it was held, that “ the heirs present have a preference in the administration of the estate over any other person; and if a curator be unadvisedly appointed, his powers cease when- they present themselves and demand it.” It is contended by the appellee, and we think with reason, that if the legal preference could be enforced after the appointment of an administrator, a fortiori must it be recognized before such an appointment has been made.

Judgment affirmed.