Estate of Aldrich , 147 Cal. 343 ( 1905 )

Letters of administration in the above estate were issued to W.S. Allen on the nomination of Lenora Aldrich, who claimed to be the surviving wife of the deceased. Several months afterward Sarah Olive Aldrich, also claiming to be the surviving wife of the deceased, filed a petition asking that the letters of administration to Allen be revoked, and that letters issue to her. The court below denied this petition, and from the order denying it and from an order denying her motion for a new trial the said Sarah Olive Aldrich appeals.

Many questions are raised in the case which we do not consider it necessary to discuss, because, in our opinion, the first order of the probate court appointing Allen administrator was final and conclusive as to the right to the administration of the estate. An order appointing an administrator is a proceeding in rem, and binds all persons, except where statutory requirements as to notices, etc., have not been complied with, and except as to persons who are expressly excepted by statute from the conclusiveness of the order. In the case at bar Allen based his petition for letters on the written request and nomination of Lenora Aldrich, whom he alleged to be the surviving wife of the deceased. The public administrator also filed a petition to be appointed administrator of said estate. Both petitions were heard at the same time, and notice of the hearing as provided by the statute was duly given, and all of the provisions of the statute touching the matter of the appointment of an administrator were complied with. The court found that said Lenora was the only surviving wife of the deceased, and that she had duly requested the appointment of Allen, and ordered and decreed that letters issue to said Allen. This order was made October 17, 1902. The petition of the appellant for the revocation of the letters to Allen was filed February 20, 1903.

Appellant asserts her right to revoke the letters to Allen under section 1383 of the Code of Civil Procedure, which provides that when letters have been granted "to any other person than the surviving husband or wife, child, father, mother, brother, or sister of the intestate," any one of such persons may obtain the revocation of the letters and be entitled to the administration. But this section evidently deals with classes of persons who are given, respectively, statutory priority in their rights to letters of administration. It does not allow the former decree to be reviewed or assailed, but merely permits it to be superseded by a person of another and superior class. It refers to a case where letters have been granted to one not claiming or having been adjudicated to be one of the persons mentioned in section 1383 — as, for instance, where the public administrator, or a creditor, or some other person legally competent, but not enumerated in said section, has been appointed. It does not embrace a case where the one appointed had applied as one of the persons enumerated in the said section, and had been adjudicated by the court to be the surviving husband, or wife, or one of the other persons enumerated therein. The decree appointing Allen is conclusive as to the things therein adjudicated, one of which was that Lenora was the surviving wife. The fact that appellant did not personally appear in the proceeding which resulted in the appointment of Allen, or had not actual notice of such proceeding, makes no difference. In proceedings in rem no notice is necessary, except such notice as the statute expressly prescribes. We hold, therefore, that the appointment of Allen conclusively determined that Lenora was the surviving wife — so far, at least, as the question of the right of administration as between her and the appellant is involved; and the right to letters of administration is the only one arising in this appeal.

The judgment and orders appealed from are affirmed.

Lorigan, J., and Henshaw, J., concurred.