Court Opinion

ID: 9854614
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-09-24 06:10:01.092053+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T09:23:10.620030
License: Public Domain

Chief Judge Hedrick
dissenting.
G.S. 1-271 states that “[a]ny party aggrieved may appeal in the cases prescribed in this Chapter.” A “party aggrieved” is one whose rights have been directly and injuriously affected by a judgment entered by a court. Freeman v. Thompson, 216 N.C. 484, 5 S.E. 2d 434 (1939). Where a party is not aggrieved, his appeal must be dismissed. Boone v. Boone, 27 N.C. App. 153, 218 S.E. 2d 221 (1975).
Our Supreme Court in Dickey v. Herbin, 250 N.C. 321, 326, 108 S.E. 2d 632, 635 (1959), states:
An executor or administrator may not secure review of a judgment, order or decree merely determining the rights as between the parties entitled to the estate or distributing the estate or a part thereof among heirs, next of kin, devisees, or legatees where the court had jurisdiction, unless there are exceptional circumstances taking the case out of the general rule. . . .
While I recognize an administrator’s right to bring an action for a declaration of rights or legal relations under G.S. 1-255 in order to ascertain a class of creditors, devisees, legatees, heirs, next of kin or others, I do not acknowledge a right to appellate review of a judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction which has declared the administrator’s rights and duties in such a way that the testator’s estate is not adversely affected. See Dickey v. Herbin, 250 N.C. 321, 108 S.E. 2d 632 (1959). I do not find the superior court’s judgment in any way adverse to the estate; therefore, the administrator is not a “party aggrieved” and the appeal should be dismissed.
*237It is the duty of the administrator or executor to preserve and protect the assets of the estate. The administrator or executor is not preserving and protecting the assets of an estate in appealing a decision of the superior court in this case. I am sure the legal expenses incurred in pursuing this appeal will be charged against the estate. All costs in this case, in my opinion, should not be charged against the estate. I vote to dismiss the appeal.