Court Opinion

ID: 9527213
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-07 03:28:29.717031+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T13:25:38.688057
License: Public Domain

On Rehearing
STAKELY, Justice.
On application for rehearing it is insisted that so far no homestead claim has been asserted and further there has been no proof that the widow has a claim against the estate by subrogation growing out of the payment by her of the mortgage on the real estate and furthermore that even if such claim by way of subrogation was made, the Probate Court being a court of limited jurisdiction, cannot establish such claim.
In the original opinion we remanded the case to the lower court for such further proceedings as may be appropriate when an estate is insolvent. We, of course, do not know at this time what steps may be taken by the widow or in behalf of the minor children to claim a homestead and we do not know what the widow may assert for her claim by way of subrogation growing out of her payment of the mortgage on the real estate of the decedent in order to protect the homestead rights of herself and the minor children.
If the jurisdiction of the Probate Court is so limited that a claim by way of subrogation cannot be determined therein, the estate can be transferred to the Circuit Court of Marshall County, in Equity, which undoubtedly will have jurisdiction to entertain such a claim by way of subrogation. This can be done by virtue of § 139, Title 13, Code of 1940.
Furthermore we noted in our original opinion that § 383, Title 61, Code of 1940, provides that in making this report, “the administrator shall file with his report a full statement of the claims against the estate which have come to his knowledge, the character and amount of each claim * * The claims referred to by the administrator accordingly are not necessarily claims which should be presented under § 214, Title 61, Code of 1940.
*420As we pointed out in the original opinion, the claim of the widow growing out of her payment of the balance due on the mortgage requires no presentation. It seems to us, however, that the widow should now proceed to establish her claim by way of subrogation as well as her claim for reimbursement for funeral expenses. Steps should also now be taken by her o-r in behalf of the minor children to assert and to establish their rights, if any, to the homestead exemption or to any exemption they may have in the personalty of the estate. If such proceedings are not instituted within a reasonable time to be fixed by the lower court after this extended opinion is there received, such claim or claims should not be considered in settling the estate.
Opinion extended and application for rehearing overruled.
LIVINGSTON, C. J., and LAWSON and MERRILL, JJ., concur.