Cox v. Martin's Heirs
Cox v. Martin's Heirs
Opinion of the Court
delivered the opinion of the court.
In the case already adjudged, an action was instituted in the district court, against Mrs. Wilson, as tutrix of her minor children, to cause a judgment against their ancestor, confessed in a certain mortgage, as set forth by the plaintiff in the petition, to be revived and made executory against his heirs, in pur
In that suit judgment was rendered, from which no appeal was taken, but a subsequent suit instituted, in the same tribunal, to cause it to be executed, which proceeded to final judgment, was appealed from, and has been adjudged in the appellate court as seen in their decision.
In the case now under consideration, the appellant seeks to have a judgment, obtained against J. M. Martin during his life-time, made executory against his heirs, who are of full age, and have accepted his succession with the benefit of an inventory. In their answer they declare the estate, which they have thus accepted, to be insolvent, and pray that execution of the judgment, against their ancestor, should be stayed, until a classification of all the debts due by his estate should be made by the judge of probates of the parish of Rapides. The judgment, which is revived by the present suit, contains a decree, ordering the
In cases of vacant estates we have had occasion, during the last term of the court in Opelousas, to express our opinion on the course of conduct to be pursued by curators, and the right of creditors to enforce payment of their debts; and should it appear, that beneficiary heirs are in a situation similar to curators of vacant estates, or that their legal functions are strongly analagous, we may safely refer to the reasoning in that case, as forming a just basis for a decision in the present.
A curator cannot pay the debts of the vacant succession, without the authorization of the judge of probates; and in case of insolvency, classification must be made.
On referring to the Civil Code, where it treats of heirs with the benefit of an inventory, it seems that they are placed nearly on the same footing with curators of vacant estates, in relation to the administration of their ancestors’ successions.
It is clear, from the evidence in this case, that opposition has been made to the payment of the plaintiff's debt by the heirs themselves, who claim to be privileged creditors to a large amount. There is, perhaps, no proof of insolvency, as alleged in the answer ; but the opposition, as it appears, in the record of the heirs of Martin vs. Thomas C. Scott, is
It is therefore ordered, adjudged and decreed, that the judgment of the district court be affirmed with costs.
Porter, J. did not join in the opinion, having been of counsel in the cause.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- COX v. MARTIN'S HEIRS
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- Published