Summary
In Sulzberger v. Sulzberger, 50 Cal. 385, the court say: "The acceptance by the petitioner of letters testamentary, and the fact that she was, by the will, constituted one of the residuary legatees, does not tend to show that she waived her right to a homestead as prescribed by the statute."
Summary of this case from Estate of FirthOpinion
Appeal from the Probate Court, County of Sutter.
Frederick Sulzberger married Christina Sulzberger on the 1st day of September, 1870. He died on the 3d day of November, 1872, leaving one child, Elizabeth. At the time of his death the wife was pregnant. By his will, he devised ten thousand dollars to his daughter Elizabeth, and the same amount to his posthumous child. The child was born in January, 1873, and died in April, 1873. The widow and Thomas Dobbins were named executors. Both qualified, but the widow did not act. The will was admitted to probate in December, 1872. At the time the will was admitted to probate, the widow filed the following:
" Now comes Christina Sulzberger, surviving wife of said deceased, and saving and reserving all her legal rights as such surviving wife in and to said estate, to be hereafter claimed and presented to this court, as to the legacies and bequests contained in the will of said deceased, now on file in this court, and as to any decree, sale or distribution that may be made in said estate, waives all other objections to the form and execution of said will.
" Christina Sulzberger.
" Dated December 16th, 1872."
On the 28th day of August, 1873, the widow filed a petition to have one hundred and sixty acres set apart to her as a homestead, out of land which had been the separate estate of the husband. The daughter Elizabeth resisted the application, and the Probate Court denied it. The widow appealed.
COUNSEL
The court erred in its decision in denying the application of the petitioner for a homestead out of the property of the estate. She was entitled to a homestead under the express provisions of sections 1481, 1482, 1483, 1485 and 1486 of the Code of Civil Procedure.
C. E. Filkens, for the Appellant.
J. H. Ray and H. L. Pierson, for the Respondents.
Not only may the testator dispose of his estate as he wills, but he may withdraw it from the operation of the Probate Act. " Where the will contains specific directions as to the disposition of the testator's estate and empowers the executor to proceed in a particular mode without any reference to the mode dictated by the Probate Act, the will so far takes the place of that act, and becomes the executor's source of power and guide inthe premises." (Larco v. Casaneuava , 30 Cal. 567.)
An examination of section one of the act concerning wills (Hittell, Sec. 7326), proves conclusively that the Legislature intended to give, and did give to the testator, the most absolute power to dispose of his estate; so much so that it was deemed necessary for the protection of creditors that the estate should be made chargeable with the payment of the testator's debts. This section is re-enacted in the code. ( Civil Code, Sec. 1270.)
JUDGES: Mr. Chief Justice Wallace did not express an opinion.
OPINION By the Court:
The court refused to set apart a homestead to the petitioner as the widow of the deceased, on the ground that the property was the separate property of the deceased, and having been disposed of by his will, was not subject to the homestead-claim of his widow, and on the further ground that the widow, having qualified as the executrix, and being entitled, as one of the residuary devisees to a portion of the estate, cannot question the validity of the disposition made by the will. The estate was valued at more than $ 28,472. The will directed the sum of $ 10,000 to be paid to each of his two children, and devised the remainder of his property, after the payment of his debts, to his wife and their two children, share and share alike.
The power of testamentary disposition of property, as conferred and defined by the statute, is not paramount, but is subordinate to the authority conferred upon the Probate Court to appropriate the property for the support of the family of the testator, and for a homestead for the widow and minor child or children, as well as for the payment of the debts of the estate. A devise which clearly appeared to have been intended as in lieu of a homestead, would present a different question from the one at bar. The acceptance by the petitioner of letters testamentary, and the fact that she was, by the will, constituted one of the residuary legatees, does not tend to show that she waived her right to a homestead as prescribed by the statute.
The homestead is to be set apart in pursuance of the statute in force at the time when the order is made, and the interest therein which the widow and the surviving child will take, is to be determined by the same statute. (Estate of Boland , 43 Cal. 640.)
Order reversed and cause remanded for further proceedings.