Bronaugh v. Bronaugh
Bronaugh v. Bronaugh
Opinion of the Court
Robertson delivered the Opinion of the Court.
George Bronaugh, deceased, nominated his surviving widow executrix of his last will, and therein requested that, she should be permitted to
The county court had not an arbitrary and unlimited power to require security contrary to the testator’s will. Unless the court had suspected, from their own knowledge, or from the suggestions of others who were interested, that the executrix was disposed to act fraudulently, or that the assets would he insufficient to pay all the testator’s debts, it had no legal right to require her to give security-. See 21st section of an act of 1797, 1 Dig. 526. The record does not intimate that the court had any cause for any such suspicion, or that the motion of the executrix was overruled for any other reason than merely because William Bronaugh opposed it.
The record does not shew that the executrix was “ required” to give security and either “ refused” or (within reasonable time allowed her) “failed;” nor that William Bronaugh was appointed administrator cum testamento, because she didfail or refuse, after having been so required, to give security. This court cannot, therefore, decide that the grant of administration was proper and according to law.— Wherefore, the order of the county court must be reversed.
If the county court shall suspect the executrix of fraud, or apprehend that the assets will be insufficient for payment of the testator’s debts, she should be “ required” to give security ; and if she shall refuse, or shall, within a reasonable ti me, fail to do so, the court, upon making those facts appear on its record, may grant administration with the will annex-
■ Unless the countv court shall apprehend fraud or a deficit of assets, the plaintiff in error should be permitted to qualify, as executrix, without giving security.
The plaiptiff in error must have a judgment for costs against the defendant.
Case-law data current through December 31, 2025. Source: CourtListener bulk data.