Codding v. Newman

Gilbert, J. The only question in the case is whether one of two executors, who has renounced, may, upon the removal of his co-executor for cause pursuant to the statute authorizing such removal, and before any letters of administration, with the. will annexed, have been granted, retract his renunciation, and thereupon .have letters testamentary issued to him. Upon principle we perceive no objection to such a proceeding. A renunciation is simply [365] the giving up of a right, but if the person who renounces, chooses to withdraw his renunciation and to assume the exercise of his right before any rights inconsistent with his retraction have been acquired, certainly there is no rule of law or equity which would require him to persevere in his renunciation, and the authorities, both in England and in this State, are to this effect. Mr. Williams, in his treatise on the Law of Executors and Administrators, says: “ An executor who has renounced may, at any time before the grant of administration cum testamento annexo has passed the seal of the court, retract his renunciation. Part 1, book 3, chap. 6, § 2. Mr. Dayton adopts and sanctions-that doctrine. Dayton on Surrogates, 222. In Robertson v. McGeoch, 11 Paige, 643, Chancellor Walworth held it to be well settled that when there are several executors and one of them renounces, and letters testamentary are thereupon issued to the others, he may retract, as a matter of course, after the death of the others, and may have letters testamentary granted to him, but that when all the executors renounce, and administration, with the will annexed, has been actually granted, it is too late to retract the renunciation. There can be no difference in the principle governing this right to retract, whether the co-executors have died or been removed. The statute on this subject provides that when an executor has been superseded, if there be no acting executor of the will, the surrogate shall grant letters of administration with the will annexed (2 R. S. 72, § 21), and the residuary legatee, or legatees if there be more than one, shall have the prior' right to such letters. Id. 71, § 14. It appears that the respondent formally retracted his renunciation not only before any letters of administration with the will annexed were granted (for none have ever been granted), but before the appellant applied for such letters. If, therefore, the respondent’s”retraction was effectual, he became an acting executor, eo instanti it was made. Indeed, at common law an executor who had renounced, did by the probate granted to any other of the executors, himself become executor to all intents and purposes. Actions were required to be brought in the name of all, though one only proved the will. Hensloe’s Case, 9 Co. 36 ; Watkins v. Brent, 7 My. & Cr. 97; Bodle v. Hulse, 5 Wend. 313. The reason was that an executor derives title, not from the probate but from the will, and a probate granted to one executor inured to the benefit of all. Bayley, J., Webster v. Spencer, 3 B. & Aid. 360. It required a statute to dispense with the [366] necessity for all executors named in the will to join in an action brought by those who had qualified. Laws of 1838, chap. 149. The case of Thornton v. Winston, 4 Leigh, 152, is not an authority in this State if it be elsewhere, because the judgment was put upon the ground that the appointment of an executor gave him a right to the residuum, and that the renunciation of the executor was of the nature of a transfer of a right or title in personal property which could not be retracted, quia transit in contractum. No such rule has ever prevailed in this State. The decree of the surrogate must be affirmed, with costs. Decree affirmed.