Schneider v. Estate of Breier

KeewiN, J. The question involved upon this appeal is whether the estate of a married woman who dies leaving separate property is liable for funeral expenses. It seems to be well settled that estates of deceased persons are liable for funeral expenses such as are usually adopted for persons of like rank and condition in society (2 Woerner, Adm’n, §§ 357, 359; Schouler, Ex’rs, 3d ed. § 421); and this rule applies to married women leaving separate estates to be administered. Morrissey v. Mulhern, 168 Mass. 412, 47 N. E. 407; McCue v. Garvey, 14 Hun, 562; McClellan v. Filson, 44 Ohio St. 184, 5 N. E. 861; Constantinides v. Walsh, 146 Mass. 281, 15 N. E. 631. The liability of the estates in such cases does not rest upon contract relation, but upon a charge which the law imposes upon the estate. [448] Schouler, Ex’rs (3d ed.) § 421; McClellan v. Filson, supra. Sec. 3822, Stats. 1898, provides that “the personal estate of the deceased which shall come into the hands of the executor or administrator shall be first chargeable with the payment of the debts and expenses; ...” Sec. 3852, Stats. 1898, provides: “If, after the amount of the claims against any estate shall have been ascertained by the court, it shall appear that the executor or administrator has in his possession sufficient to-pay all the debts he shall the pay the same in full within the time limited for that purpose. If the assets received by the executor or administrator, and which can be appropriated to the payment of debts, shall not be sufficient he shall, after paying necessary expenses of administration, pay the debts-against the estate in the following order: (1) The necessary funeral expenses; . . .” It will be observed that the statutes respecting the payment of funeral expenses apply to all estates without exception. There can be no doubt, therefore, that the intention of' the legislature was to include estates of married women leaving separate property which passed into the hands of their-personal representatives for administration and distribution. It is also very clear from these statutes that funeral expenses, are treated as a debt of the estate, and apply alike to all es-tates being administered. This is the construction given to statutes similar to our own in other states. McClellan v. Filson, supra; Constantinides v. Walsh, supra. The .main contention, however, on the part of counsel for appellant is that the husband is liable for the funeral expenses of his deceased wife, and that in the case before us. he ordered them and became primarily liable therefor; and hence the action cannot be maintained against the estate of the wife. It appears that the husband ordered the- material and labor to be furnished and performed, but the court found that'the work,, material, and labor furnished and services rendered were not given upon the credit of the husband, but, [449] solely upon the credit of the estate. The question of whether the husband would be liable in a proper case is not before us and is unnecessary to consider here. The case turns upon the proposition of law as to whether or not the estate is primarily liable, and we think it clear under the statutes of this state and the decisions in others under substantially similar statutes that the estate is primarily liable, and that the claim for funeral expenses may be enforced against it without regard to the liability of the husband. Schouler, Husb. & W. § 413; McClellan v. Filson, supra; Constantinides v. Walsh, supra; McCue v. Garvey, 14 Hun, 562. It is argued by counsel for appellant that it was the undoubted intention of the legislature in the passage of the laws respecting married women to wholly exempt their property and estates from the operation of sec. 3852, Stats. 1898. We do not so understand it, but, on the contrary, think sec. 3852 was clearly intended to apply to all estates, and that there is nothing in the statutes relating to married women inconsistent therewith. Morever, the general current of authority is to the‘effect that estates of all persons are made primarily liable for funeral expenses. The statutes cited by counsel, secs. 2341 and 2342, manifestly refer to' debts which are exclusively those of the husband, and not such as are primarily a charge against the separate estate of the wife. The charge for funeral expenses against the estate of a married woman where she leaves separate property is primarily a charge against her estate. It follows that the judgment of the court below is right, and should be affirmed. By the Gourt. — Judgment affirmed.