Court Opinion

ID: 9629545
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-22 09:44:39.838452+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T09:17:50.157136
License: Public Domain

CARTER, J., Dissenting
I dissent.
The sole issue presented in this ease is whether a person entitled to a preference under the Probate Code, may be denied the right to be appointed special administrator of an estate because he is charged with fraud and undue influence in a pending will contest, the will in which he is named executor having been offered for probate. The same rules should be applied in solving that problem as are pertinent to a general administrator. That is especially true when it is remembered that the powers and duties of a special administrator are not as great or important as those of a general administrator. The object of special administration is not to bring about a general administration of the estate. He is an emergency officer whose duties are merely to take possession of and preserve the estate until general administration can be had. (11B Cal. Jur. 864.) Therefore, in determining who shall have preference in the matter of appointment, there should in fact be required more of a showing to constitute disqualification in the case of special administration than in *499general administration. Turning to the rules pertaining to the appointment of general administrators we find that the preferences set forth in section 422 of the Probate Code, are to be applied unless the applicant is disqualified to act. Section 401 describes those persons who are disqualified to act as executors or administrators as follows:
“No person is competent to serve as an executor or executrix who is under the age of majority, convicted of an infamous crime, or adjudged by the court incompetent to execute the duties of the trust by reason of drunkenness, improvidence, or want of understanding or integrity. Marriage does not disqualify a woman from serving as executrix. ’ ’ No authorities hold that merely because a person is engaged in a will contest he is disqualified to act as an administrator. It is obvious that being charged in a will contest with fraud and undue influence is not specified in the Probate Code as a ground of disqualification. While it may be true that contrary to the formerly existing rule and since the decision of this court in Estate of St. John, 8 Cal. (2d) 175 [64 Pac. (2d) 725], an interest adverse to the estate is grounds for denial of the preference, a respondent in a will contest does not have an interest adverse to the estate. His interest may be adverse to other heirs or claimants to the estate, but he makes no claim that any of the property is his rather than the estate’s.
Merely because allegations of fraud and undue influence are alleged against a person is no proof whatsoever of the guilt of that person. If it were, then the petition on the contest would be admissible to prove the matters charged. On the contrary the presumption is that petitioner here is honest, fair and impartial. It is said in 11A Cal. Jur. 266, with respect to matters bearing upon the qualifications of administrators :
“Incompeteney or disqualification is not presumed, even from the fact that a prior application of the person for letters was denied. While there is no presumption that a person is a resident of the state or of any particular age, the presumptions are against the existence of any of the other disqualifications. The burden is on the objector to establish them.
“Every person is presumed to be sane and in the full possession of ordinary mental faculties, and to he innocent of *500crime. Likewise, one is presumed to possess a fair character for truth, honesty and integrity, and to take ordinary care of his own concerns.” Further, it is pertinent to observe that the rule is firmly established that great weight is to be given to the testator’s choice of the executor and his desire is not to be thwarted except in the strongest ease. It is stated in 11A Cal. Jur. 270:
“It has been said that nomination of a person as executor is evidence of the confidence reposed in him by the testator, and the deliberate purpose and desire thus solemnly expressed should not be thwarted unless the plain provisions of the law or the interests of justice demand it. ’ ’
In the instant ease petitioner was named in the will as executrix, and although the issue is the appointment of a special administrator rather than an executor, we still have the choice and desires of the testator before us. Summing up then, we have the bare unsupported allegations charging petitioner with fraud and undue influence in a will contest which is utterly no evidence of the truth of those charges. Opposed to that is the presumption of honesty and integrity and the declared wish of the testator. Only one conclusion can follow therefore, i. e., that there is an absolute failure to show any disqualification on petitioner’s part; the only evidence is to the contrary. Such a situation shows an abuse of discretion on the part of the trial court in denying petitioner the preference to which she is entitled. Indeed, it has been squarely held in California that preference in appointment of a special administrator must be given to an executor named in the will, although he was the proponent of the will and it was being contested, and further that he claimed adversely to the estate. (Estate of Held, 1 Cof. Prob. Dec. 206.)
The wording of section 461 of the Probate Code' that in making the appointment of a special administrator “preference must ordinarily be given to persons entitled to letters . . . of administration,” cannot alter the situation. I have hereinabove pointed out the cogent reasons why the same rules should be followed with reference to qualifications and preference whether the administrator be general or special. Obviously, the word “ordinarily” was used to prevent the appointment of those persons who, although having a preference, would be disqualified to act, the grounds for disqualification being the same as for general administrators. ‘ ‘ Ordi*501narily” in its customary usage means normally. If normally the preference must be observed, then under abnormal conditions it must not be. The abnormal conditions which immediately spring in the mind are those in which the applicant for special letters is disqualified. The test of disqualification must be found in the rules applicable to general administrators. (Probate Code, sec. 401.)
The effect of the majority opinion is to confer upon the trial court the power to deny special letters of administration to any person named as an executor or executrix in a will where a will contest is instituted before probate and charges of fraud or undue influence are made against the person áo named, whether such person be a husband, wife, child, father or mother of the testator and possess an exemplary character and an unblemished reputation. I cannot agree that the legislature intended such an interpretation to be placed upon section 461 of the Probate Code.
It is a matter of common knowledge that charges of fraud and undue influence are easy to make and difficult to prove, and a review of the cases involving such charges which are reported in the decisions of this and the appellate courts of this state discloses that substantial evidence must be produced by a contestant in order to invalidate a will on either of these grounds.
In my opinion petitioner is entitled to the writ prayed for.
Edmonds, J., concurred.
Petitioner’s application for a rehearing was denied September 22, 1941. Edmonds, J., and Houser, J., voted for a rehearing.