Court Opinion

ID: 9687378
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-24 16:26:42.132656+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:18:26.775646
License: Public Domain

VANDE WALLE, Chief Justice,
concurring specially.
[¶ 11] I agree that a copy of the publication commencing probate proceedings and list of legatees, surviving joint tenants, and heirs-at-law sent to the Department under N.D.C.C. §§ 50-06.3-07 and 50-24.1-07 is not a “notice to creditors” under the plain language of N.D.C.C. § 30.1-19-01. I also agree that no notice to creditors was given and that the three-year period for presentation of claims under N.D.C.C. § 30.1-19-06(5) applies. But, I do not understand why, when a personal representative decides no notice will be given, a creditor is not entitled to interest until three years and 60 days after the decedent’s death but is entitled to interest within three months and 60 days of the notice when notice is given. While that is the plain language of the statute, which we are obliged to follow under N.D.C.C. § 1-02-02, it means a creditor may be denied interest by the inaction of the personal representative for over three years.
*542[¶ 12] We do not decide whether and” means “or” in N.D.C.C. § 30.1-19-03(l)(a). Although I agree with the Department that “or” appears to be the logical meaning, logic does not always prevail in view of N.D.C.C. § 1-02-02. The Legislature is better able to determine what it meant than are we.
[¶ 13] Gerald W. Vande Walle, C.J.