Chamberlain v. Stecher
Chamberlain v. Stecher
Opinion of the Court
It is shown by the record that Flora E. Chamberlain is the sole legatee and devisee under the will of George Van Pool, deceased, and the sole executrix named therein. Said will was duly admitted to probate and record by the probate court of Wyandot county on May 8, 1904, and Flora E. Chamberlain was then appointed by said court sole executrix. She was in no way related to the testator. George Van Pool was at the time of his decease a resident of Wyandot county. He died leaving no next of kin or heirs at law. On or about May 22, 1905, the executrix tendered her resignation to said court which was accepted. At
In support of the contention that the circuit court erred in sustaining the judgment of the probate court in refusing to remove the administrator de bonis non it is insisted by counsel that the tax not being a tax upon property but merely upon the right to receive property, is not a debt against the estate, but is a claim against the beneficiary; that there is no power given the probate court, either by the collateral inheritance statute or otherwise, to appoint an administrator for the purpose of collecting the tax, and that no administrator is necessary in the collection of the tax because the
This proposition appears to us to ignore the scope and effect of the constitution and the statute. It does not at all follow that because there is no direct statutory warrant for the appointment of an administrator de bonis non for the special purpose indicated, there is no power in the court to make such appointment. The general power of appointment of administrators given by section 8, article IY of the constitution, inheres in the probate court until the business of the settlement of the estate is concluded, until the executor or administrator has fully performed all the duties enjoined upon him by law in the discharge of the trust. Hence it is not essential that it be made to appear that debts as such remain unpaid; it is enough if it be shown that the legal duties of the trusteeship to the state have not all been performed. The statute (section 273i-i, Revised Statutes, and following), imposes specific obligations and enjoins specific duties on executors and administrators. As there provided, and as held in Executors v. The State, 72 Ohio St., 448: “The right to inherit shall be taxed. The tax shall become due and payable immediately upon the death of the decedent, and shall at once become a lien upon said property, * * * and all administrators, executors and trustees shall be liable for all such, taxes” until the same shall have been paid. The administrator having in charge or .trust any property subject to such tax shall deduct the tax therefrom, or collect it from the legatee, and shall not deliver any spe
Nor does the fact that the -executrix, upon resigning, gave a small bond as residuary legatee in any way change the situation. By the resignation
We are fully satisfied that the probate court properly overruled the motion to remove the administrator de bonis non; that the common pleas erred in sustaining the motion, and that the circuit court properly reversed the latter judgment. Its judgment 'will therefore be
Affirmed.
Case-law data current through December 31, 2025. Source: CourtListener bulk data.