Turner v. Kelley

Candler Justice. .'Unless the-,plaintiff -is- a person- authorizied-to institute this proceeding under the land-registration.act-'of 1937, it,is,:settled'foy..,'the.d'ediáions‘-of'.this,-.coui’t that this entire proceeding is a nullity. To all civil actions brought in the courts of this State there must be a proper party plaintiff and a proper party defendant. Mutual Life Ins. Co. of New York v. Inman Park Presbyterian Church, 111 Ga. 677 (36 S. E. 880); Western & Atlantic R. Co. v. Dalton Marble Works, 122 Ga. 774. (50 S. E. 978). .e^tipjg;ppl^iptjff,tp piro.q&qdjpgs,brought under,this:.act, -■.Code .§¡’60-203-.declares: (iSuit Tor-registration of-Title shall be 'hégúh by "a petition to the:'court by 'the ‘person’ br'persqn's or corporation claiming,' .singly)piy'cpÍÍ^cíiy.ely,; t9¡pyn,ór;,tp,Iíiaye the power of appointing or disposingof >a-n. estate ini-fee simples in-any land, whether SubjectTo- liens; encumbiances; Or-lesser estate, or ■notTiTAnd ©ode §■'60-205-'-provides:■■‘•‘The petition Shall: include as defendants all persons who1 by the''petition- aré «'disclosed To ■have any.-interest,'-equity)*or'claim.-adverse'To the-petitioner or otherwise/ vested or -contingent; «upon' said'-land--or any interest -■tliéfein) and shall-also'! incliidé as. dfe-fendhntS'alb'other-persons -whomut'-rhay cpneem.''-’5Tn- his work’ on-Land-Registration,- Judge ■■Powell-sáid-.(pk32,A§-27).:'-“Not only ¡the owner of a'-fee-simple '¡estate sis ¡ a1-proper ¡applicant for th© registration of land] «but such .'■aixiapplication'may¡bemade by anytpersori. or¡pérsons or¡c6rpora■tidns'claiming.singly or Collectively I-'-.'-To have'-the power ' of'appointing! or disposing;of ato-estatein fee.simple.-1!-Hence any ' ond .'who,'has 'been-.grantedThe power! of! appointment/ by deed= or will, as-to-such an-estate-may-cause;the land to-be--registered, at 1 any Time, prior-To -the-.app'dintm'ent ¡taking; effect: Likewise, any ' trustee:1 (ihcludihg.au executor! who-'is the donee- of«ai power of sale '•und.er'Thé will) upon whom the-power; of-sélling The ¿feeds con-:f erred maiy.cause'the land to'be registered;, .’.- .When a trustee 'holds The title buthasn’ocpower-t© sell j ¡.the «cestui 'qué trust -.should *177 ■join in the application:'' However;■ a p'owef to sell1 is-’sufficient to authorize' the application! though it is riot "a. power!to'‘sell at a ¡private sale.” , In this-ease.the record, affirmatively .shpws.that the ápplicant for registration’'does’not-own-'-the la!nds-‘involved,-and unless he, as 'ádiriiriistfator; had tile power 'of 'disposing! of them -in fee simple, he. was ¡wholly withput authority to institute, this proceeding and'it-is'a'nullityU “Upon the death of the!owner of ah' bstáté'in reklty/which estkte’sufvivee.hini', ’the.title 'shall vest • ijnmediately in,his hpirs at-,law, subject.tq.be..administered ,by, the legal representative,-if there-is< one,--for ¡the-payment.-of debts-and 'the purposes of distribution.” - Code §’113-901. Before an adfninistrator can sell the lands of his intestate for either of both of - the •mentioned purposes,-.he must by written petition- apply, to "the court of- ordinary for leave tó do so, sbttiri'g-foith'in 'the'petition the reason for such application; and notice,of his application must ■be: published once.a week for four weeks ¡before the,hearing, in the ’ri'ewépáper in which’the' ebürity’&dvertiséments’ are!'püb'lishéd.-: If no objection to. such sale is filed and .the' ordinary !js' satisfied of the truth of. the allegation.of the.petition,, an, order shall .be passed granting leave orpowerto sell. ■' Oode!§T13-1706T In this1 case the record does.not show that the plainti'ffib’s^süch'a'dMiníkfktór, has applied for or. obtained leave or power.,.to .sell .the.iands ,of .his intestate for any purpose-from- the court .of ordinary. Hence, it must be heldthat/he did,,hdt 'haYé'the’piówerbf disposing bf his intestate.’s lands,-jp.. fee simple when, this ,prpcee4ing was inqtikited; ■and, since the-proceeding is-.a-nullity; it should 'have been dismissed on the'déferidarit’s mbtiori'. '■''■ '' ' ' - ■■■ • tydgment reversed. All the Justices concur.