Kerr, executrix, et al. v. McAnally, administrator

Supreme Court of Georgia1936-11-13No. No. 11488

183 Ga. 365

Summary · law.co

Holding. The court affirmed the dismissal of the equity suit, holding that the court of ordinary had jurisdiction to determine whether the widow qualified for a year's support, and therefore the executors were not entitled to an injunction from the equity court.

Executors of an estate sought an injunction in equity court to prevent a widow from pursuing a claim for a year's support in the court of ordinary. The executors contended that the widow had already accepted a legacy under the will in place of the year's support, that the estate was fully administered, and that equity intervention was necessary to avoid complications that the ordinary court could not handle. The trial court dismissed the case by sustaining a general demurrer.

The court held that the ordinary court possessed proper jurisdiction to evaluate whether the widow should be denied a year's support based on her alleged acceptance of the legacy. Because the ordinary court could address the primary objection, an injunction from equity court was unnecessary. Additionally, the court found that the right to a year's support is a purely statutory matter that only the ordinary court can grant, making any other equitable relief sought by the executors premature and inappropriate for the equity court to decide.

Summary generated by law.co from the public-domain opinion. The opinion text itself is public domain.

Key issues

Jurisdiction of the court of ordinary versus equity court over year's support claims
Whether acceptance of a testamentary legacy bars a widow from claiming statutory year's support
Availability of injunctive relief to prevent proceedings in the court of ordinary
Proper characterization of year's support as a statutory rather than equitable right

Procedural posture

Executors filed an equity suit seeking injunction against a widow's application for year's support filed in the court of ordinary; the trial court sustained a general demurrer and dismissed the suit, and the executors appealed.

Authorities cited

No cited authorities resolved to law.co cases yet.

Opinion · public domain

majority opinion

Bell, Justice.

Executors instituted a suit in equity to enjoin the prosecution of an application for a year’s support, as filed in the court of ordinary, in alleged right of the testator’s widow. The plaintiffs alleged, that the widow had accepted a legacy provided for her in the will in lieu of a year’s support; that the estate had been fully administered; that in the event a year’s support should be granted, certain equities would arise which could not be adjusted in the court of ordinary; and that entertainment of the suit by a court of equity would prevent a multiplicity of actions. The court sustained a general demurrer and dismissed the suit, and the plaintiffs excepted. Held:

1. The court of ordinary had jurisdiction to determine whether the widow should be denied a year’s support on the alleged ground that she had accepted the legacy provided in the will in lieu of a year’s support; and the plaintiffs did not need an injunction to defeat the application on such ground. Ehrlich v. Silverstein, 121 Ga. 54 (48 S. E. 703); Bass v. Douglas, 150 Ga. 678 (104 S. E. 625); McNair v. Rabun, 159 Ga. 401 (4) (126 3. E. 9).

(а) If court of ordinary would not have jurisdiction to determine an objection that the estate has been administered, it necessarily follows that the grant of the application would not bind the plaintiffs as to the existence of assets, and an injunction should not be granted on this ground. King v. Johnson, 94 Ga. 665 (21 S. E. 895); Wood v. Brown, 121 Ga. 471 (49 S. E. 295).

(б) Moreover, an attempted adjudication of any matter not within the jurisdiction of that court would be void, and could not bind the plaintiffs. Code, § 110-709.

(e) Under the foregoing rulings the plaintiffs were not entitled to injunction. See Goss v. Greenaway, 70 Ga. 130; Burks v. Beall, 77 Ga. 271 (3) (3 S. E. 155); Reynolds v. Norvell, 129 Ga. 512 (59 S. E. 299); Beddingfield v. Old National Bank & Trust Co., 175 Ga. 172 (165 S. E. 61).

(d) The present case is distinguished by its facts from Mitchell v. Word, 60 Ga. 525 (3); Sears v. Odell, 66 Ga. 234; Churchill v. Bee, 66 Ga. 621 (7); Holton v. Bene, 134 Ga. 601 (68 S. E. 322); Henson v. Federal Land Bank of Columbia, 162 Ga. 839 (2) (134 S. E. 923); Federal Land Bank of Columbia v. Henson, 166 Ga. 857 (144 S. E. 728), relating to equitable jurisdiction of matters pertaining to a year’s support.

2. The right to a year’s support is purely statutory, and can be exercised only in the court of ordinary. Since, on a proper construction of the petition, all equitable relief for which plaintiffs prayed except injunction is made dependent upon the grant of a year’s support, which could not be granted by the court, of equity, the prayers for such relief were premature, if not otherwise without-basis in equity. McNair v. Rabun, supra; Dougherty-Little-Redwine Co. v. Hatcher, 169 Ga. 858 (2), 863 (151 S. E. 796); Waldrop v. Chandler, 155 Ga. 829 (3), 833 (118 S. E. 745); Goss v. Harris, 117 Ga. 345, 349 (43 S. E. 734); 24 C. J. 230, 264, §§ 758, 850. Contrast Bishop v. Woodward, 103 Ga. 281 (29 S. E. 968), in relation to dower.

No. 11488.

November 13, 1936.

W. K. Miller and Gurry & Gurry, for plaintiffs.

Henry T. Chance Jr., Clement H. Dunbar, and Boy V. Harris, for defendant.

3. The court did not err in sustaining a general demurrer and in dismissing the petition. See also Martin v. Gaissert, 134 Ga. 34 (2) (67 S. E. 536); Bishop v. Brown, 138 Ga. 771 (3) (76 S. E. 89); Cross v. Johnson, 82 Ga. 67 (2) (8 S. E. 56); Fulghum v. Fulghum, 111 Ga. 635 (36 S. E. 602).

Judgment affirmed.

All the Justices concur.