Court Opinion

ID: 7188450
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2022-07-24 16:54:37.13432+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T16:16:07.823113
License: Public Domain

Ludeling, C. J.
The plaintiff, alleging herself to be the lawful wife of E. C. Hart, deceased, whose estate is represented by defendants,, sues, as natural tutrix of her minor children, issue of her marriage-with him, to have the said children recognized as the legal and forced, heirs of the deceased.
One of the defendants excepted to the jurisdiction of the district court, raiione materice. There was judgment sustaining the exception,, and the plaintiff has appealed.
The sole object of this writ is the recognition of heirs. The proceeding is purely probate iu its nature. C. P. art. 1000, 1001, 1002 and 1003. 21 An. 364, Succession of Ruffingnac.
The constitution provides that “inprobate matters, when the amount in dispute shall exceed five hundred dollars, exclusive of interest, the appeal shall he directly from the parish to the Supreme Court.” Article 88, Constitution. It follows, therefore, that, in probate matters, the parish courts may entertain suits where amounts exceed five hundred dollars. It is when there exists a contest between a succession on one side, either as plaintiff or defendant, and another party, that *518the amount determines the jurisdiction. Litigation arising inside of a succession — that is, proceedings properly probate in their nature, and which must be determined in order to finally settle the succession, are properly cognizable in the parish courts. “ All successions shall he opened and settled in the parish courts.” Article 87, Constitution.
Here the plaintiff claims to be recognized as the forced heirs; they do not claim anything against the succession, but they claim by virtue of the succession. “Succession is the transmission of the rights and obligations of the deceased to the heirs.” C. C. 867.
We think the exception was properly sustained. 22 An., Paul 0. Hebert, tutor, v. Winn et. al.
It is therefore ordered that the judgment of the district court be affirmed, with costs of appeal.