Court Opinion

ID: 9627047
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-22 08:31:47.305115+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T15:27:04.741209
License: Public Domain

*159Mallery, J.
(dissenting)—I think none of the probate cases relied upon in the majority opinion are in point in an escheat case. The residence of domicile of a deceased is a decisive jurisdictional fact in probate and, under the rule of mobilia sequuntur personam, confers probate jurisdiction over shares of corporation stock. The rule is different in escheat cases because the statute makes the situs of the property controlling. RCW 11.08.021 provides:
“Whenever any person possessed of any property within this state shall die intestate leaving no heirs, such property shall escheat to, and the title thereto immediately vest in the state of Washington, subject, however, to existing liens thereon, the payments of decedent’s debts, and the expenses of administration.” (Italics mine.)
Under this statute, it is immaterial where an owner of property died or had his domicile. It is only necessary that he die intestate and without heirs in order to establish the fact that he does not own it any more. The failure of ownership is the sole personal factor involved in escheats. Other than that, the question is limited to the situs of the unowned property. Obviously where there is no owner, the rule of mobilia sequuntur personam cannot apply.
This court fixed the situs of the corporation stock in Gamble v. Dawson, 67 Wash. 72, 120 Pac. 1060, wherein we quoted with approval In re Bronson’s Estate, 150 N. Y. 1, 44 N. E. 707, as follows:
“ ‘. . . While the bondholders are simply creditors, whose concern with the corporation is limited to the fulfillment of its particular obligation, the shareholders are persons who are interested in the operation of the corporate property and franchises, and their shares actually represent undivided interests in the corporate enterprises. . . . Each share represents a distinct interest in the whole of the corporate property; . . . ’ ”
This is a conclusive answer to the majority contention that the location of the ownerless stock certificates is controlling. The corporation has its situs in Washington, and the stock certificates merely represent ownership of an undivided share in the Washington corporation, under the Gamble case, supra.
*160Property and the evidences of title to it need not be confused. Real estate can be in Washington while the deed thereto can be mailed anywhere in the world. The property itself, however, is here all the while. Thus, the situs of the corporation remains unchanged, regardless of where the stock certificates may travel.
The res must be within this state for this court to have jurisdiction of this action. If the property is not here, we should dismiss the action, not decide it. The respondent brought it here because it knew the property is here.
I dissent.
Rosellini and Foster, JJ., concur with Mallery, J.