In re Worthington's Estate

PRATT, J. This is an appeal from an order of the surrogate of Westchester county refusing to open and amend a decree settling the accounts of the executors and trustees, filed November 4, 1891. It is perhaps unnecessary to add anything .to the opinion filed by the surrogate, that an issue might be raised by the representatives of the deceased executor, who made the assignment, whether the assignment was a valid instrument, and upon this issue the parties would be entitled to a trial by jury, which could not be had in the surrogate’s court. It seems clear that when the assignment was made there were no fees or commissions on which the assignment could act. The mode of ascertaining and fixing the commissions of executors are entirely statutory, and, until they are so ascertained and fixed, none are due; and in this case, by reason of the lunacy and death of Harry T. Worthington, none ever became due and payable. The petitioner, at most, was a mere creditor of Harry T. Worthington; and his claim, if any, should be made against the estate of the said Harry. In re Harris, 4 Dem. Sur. 463; Wheelwright v. Rhoades, 28 Hun, 57; Freeman v. Freeman, 4 Redf. Sur. 211; Carroll v. Hughes, 5 Redf. Sur. 337. It did not appear in this proceeding that said deceased executor had earned, or become entitled to, any fees before his death. There is neither authority nor reason for any such claim as is made by the petitioner. >■ Order affirmed, with costs and disbursements.