Court Opinion

ID: 3268356
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2016-07-05 16:36:48.233466+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T07:41:16.788738
License: Public Domain

STATEMENT BY THE COURT.
The same question or issue of law is presented for our decision in each of these cases, and that is, whether a claim for a distributive share in an estate may be allowed before an order of distribution is made. In case 9224, Steven Laws, Jr., filed his claim with the administrator of the estate of Daniel Nelson, deceased, for allowance. In case 9378, Genie West filed her claim with the administrator of the estate of Daniel Nelson, deceased, for allowance. The record shows that the claim in each case was disallowed in the probate court, and each claimant duly prosecuted an appeal to the circuit court. There were separate trials and judgments in the circuit court, but the facts are the same in each case.
It appears that Steven Laws Sr. died intestate in Conway County, Arkansas, and that Daniel Nelson was duly appointed and qualified as administrator of his estate. It does not appear that Daniel Nelson ever filed an *Page 515 
account current as administrator of said estate, or that any order of distribution was ever made in the probate court of Conway County. Subsequently Daniel Nelson moved to Jefferson County, Arkansas, and no administrator in succession was appointed by the probate court of Conway County, nor was there any settlement made by Daniel Nelson in that court as administrator of the estate of Steven Laws, Sr., deceased.
In 1923 Daniel Nelson died intestate in Jefferson County, Arkansas. An administrator of his estate was duly appointed by the probate court of Jefferson County. Steven Laws, Jr., and Genie West duly filed their claims with the administrator of the estate of Daniel Nelson, deceased, and in each instance the claim is based upon what the claimant alleges would be due him as his distributive share of the estate of Steven Laws Sr., deceased.
The circuit court was of the opinion that the claims or demands of Steven Laws, Jr., and Genie West should be dismissed and judgment rendered accordingly in each case. Separate appeals have been prosecuted to this court, and the cases have been consolidated for hearing.
(after stating the facts). The Constitution of 1836 contained a provision that courts of probate should have jurisdiction in matters relative to the estates of deceased persons, executors, administrators and guardians, as may be prescribed by law.
In construing the statutes passed in obedience to this provision of the Constitution, it was held that the probate court had exclusive jurisdiction in administration proceedings, and that the administrator paid out legacies or distributive shares, before an order of the probate court for that purpose, at his own peril. The court said that the assets are in the custody of the law, primarily for the benefit of creditors; and that it is presumed by the law that they remain in the hands of the executor, or administrator subject to the claims of creditors only, *Page 516 
until ordered by the court to be paid out, or distributed to legatees or distributees. McPaxton v. Dickson, 15 Ark. 41.
Our present Constitution contains an essentially similar provision, and in construing it this court has held that it is only where the probate court has ascertained the amount in the hands of an administrator and ordered payment to a distributee that he can sue for the amount ordered to be paid. Ferguson v. Carr, 85 Ark. 246,107 S.W. 1177; and Carpenter v. Hazel, 128 Ark. 416,194 S.W. 325.
It is true that Daniel Nelson, while administrator of the estate of Steven Laws, Sr., deceased, left Conway County without winding up the administration, but, under our statute, it would have been an easy matter to have made him file his account, and, after the payment of creditors, an order of distribution could have been easily obtained. The jurisdiction of the probate court of Conway County was exclusive in the administration of the estate of Steven Laws, Sr., deceased, and that court had complete authority to settle his accounts and make an order of distribution, notwithstanding the fact that Daniel Nelson left the county.
It follows that the probate court of Jefferson County had no authority to allow a claim for a distributive share in the estate of Steven Laws, Sr., deceased, before an order of distribution in said estate was made by the probate court of Conway County.
The judgment of the circuit court will therefore be affirmed in each case. *Page 517