Court Opinion

ID: 7191620
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2022-07-24 16:57:46.326836+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T16:16:12.076906
License: Public Domain

The opinion of the court was delivered by
DeBlanc, J.
Michael Dietrich died in 1878, leaving a widow and minor children. His widow applied to be confirmed as natural tutrix of the children, and to be appointed administratrix of the deceased’s estate, composed of property and effects situated in the parishes of Orleans, Natchitoches and DeSoto.
She was confirmed and she qualified as natural tutrix, but did not press her application to be appointed administratrix.
In February 1879, Samuel Friedlander, an alleged creditor of Dietrich, took a rule on the widow, commanding her to show cause “why she should not be ordered to qualify regularly as administratrix, etc., or signify her unwillingness to accept the trust.”
On the 13th of February, the rule taken by Friedlander was made absolute, and — in the words of the decree then rendered, Mrs. Dietrich “was allowed ten days to decide whether or not she would qualify, according to law, as administratrix of the estate,” etc.
That decree conforms to the prayer of the creditor’s rule, and can be construed but as a mere invitation, which could not be judicially enforced, and which — as it neither conferred nor impaired any right— could be, as it was, disregarded with impunity.
*129Relying on what he considers as a disobedience of the indefinite-judgment, based on the unusual prayer of the rule already alluded to, the public administrator applied for the administration of the succession of Michael Dietrich. His application was opposed by the widow, on the grounds:
1st. That Friedlander is the only party who pretends to bo a creditor of the succession, and that inasmuch as — to be acknowledged as such — he has brought a suit which is still pending, the appointment ofi an administrator is not necessary, and
2d. That, if found to be necessary, she is entitled to and claim» that administration.
Friedlander intervened in this contest in favor of the pubiic administrator, and prays — in case the latter’s application be rejected — to be, as creditor, appointed to administer upon said succession.
They both contend that Mrs. Dietrich has forfeited and lost her right to the disputed administration. The court so held, dismissed the-widow’s opposition, Friedlander’s demand, and appointed the public administrator to take charge of, and administer upon a succession opened in the city of New Orleans, where the deceased resided and where his widow and heirs are still residing.
The widow alone, in her own right and as natural tutrix, has appealed from that decree, and she and the public administrator are the only parties now before us.
Had Mrs. Dietrich been appointed administratrix and suffered ten days to elapse after her appointment, without furnishing the required' security, she might have lost and forfeited her right; but it is clear that the judicial invitation to decide whether she would accept or renounce the-tendered trust, is — neither in form nor in substance — an appointment, and her failure to comply with that invitation, did not destroy the preference to which she was and continues to be entitled.
To sustain the appointment of the public administrator, his counsell contend that, by neglecting to qualify during the ten days she was allowed to decide whether she would, or would'not accept the trust, she has forfeited even the right to oppose their client’s application. She never was appointed, and — consequently—never could qualify as admin-istratrix.
As to the public administrator, the legislative act by which his office-was created, provides : “ that in all intestate successions, when there is, no surviving husband or wife, or heir present or represented in the State, he shall be appointed to administer the same.”
Act of 1877, Ex. S., p. Ill, No. 74.
The widow of Dietrich and their minor children are every one of them present in the State, residents of this city, wherein his succession. *130is opened, and that widow, in her own right and as the tutrix of those children, is a party to this suit.
These facts and the law preclude the appointment of the public administrator; but, as Dietrich is represented by beneficiary heirs, and as— according to the evidence — his succession appears to be indebted, the necessity to administer upon the same is too evident to be discussed.
It is, therefore, ordered, adjudged and decreed that, in so far as it affects Emilie Lacour, the widow of Michael Dietrich, the judgment appealed from is annulled, avoided and reversed — the application of the public administrator dismissed, that of the widow allowed, and she appointed as administratrix of the succession of her husband.
It is further ordered that, in that capacity, she furnish bond and security, within ten days from that on which this decree shall become-final, and otherwise qualify, under the penalty prescribed by law; the costs of the appeal and of the lower court to be paid by the public administrator.
The widow applies for a rehearing and it is granted.