Schrichte v. Stites' Estate

Berkshire, J. The appellee filed his final settlement report, and caused notice to be given thereof as required by law. Two days in advance of the day designated for the court to examine said report for approval the appellant filed a claim against said estate, and thereafter, but before the court had considered said report, he filed exceptions thereto as follows : (1). That there was a claim on file that the appellee had neither allowed nor disallowed. (2). That the appellant-held a claim against said estate of which the appellee had notice when he assumed the trust, and which claim he had failed and refused to pay; and (3), excessive charges made by the administrator for the services of himself and his counsel in the settlement of the estate. The appellee demurred separately to the exceptions, and [473] the court having sustained his demurrer the appellant excepted, and the court approved said report and final settlement, and discharged the appellee from his trust. Filed Jan. 7, 1891. The errors assigned call in question the ruling of the court in sustaining the demurrer of the appellee to the exceptions. We do not stop to inquire as to whether it was proper practice to test the sufficiency of the exceptions by demurrer, for the reason that the right result was attained, and hence the appellant can not complain, even if his mode of procedure was irregular. The appellant was required by the statute to file his claim within thirty days before final settlement of the estate, and having failed so to do, his claim was barred. Elliott’s Supp., section 385; Roberts v. Spencer, 112 Ind. 85; Roberts v. Spencer, 112 Ind. 81. The claim not being enforceable against the estate when filed, the fact that it was on file before the final settlement report was approved, did not operate to delay the settlement of the estate. If the claim was a just one it is probable the administrator might have paid it without requiring that it be filed in court, but he was not bound to do so. As the appellant had no interest in the estate as creditor, or otherwise, he could not object to the charges made by the administrator on account of services rendered by himself and his counsel. We find no error in the record. Judgment affirmed, with costs.