In re Estate of Farkas

• Decision Date: 13 December 2013
• Docket Number: No. A13A1939.,A13A1939.
• Parties: In re ESTATE OF FARKAS.
• Court: Georgia Court of Appeals

325 Ga.App. 477

753 S.E.2d 137

In re ESTATE OF FARKAS.

No. A13A1939.

Court of Appeals of Georgia.

Dec. 13, 2013.

Leonard Farkas, Albany, pro se.

Watson Spence, Gregory L. Fullerton, Albany, for Appellee.

MILLER, Judge.

In his will, Sam Farkas named his brother Leonard Farkas as the executor of his estate and his daughter Lorie Farkas Van Linden as successor executor. Farkas also made a codicil stating that the executor was not to receive any fees for work done as executor of the estate. Following Sam's death, Lorie filed a petition to probate the will and codicil in solemn form. In the petition, Lorie asked to be appointed as executor, rather than Leonard, because his involvement in several suits against the estate and money he owed to the estate created conflicts of interest. Following a hearing, the probate court entered an order admitting the will to probate and appointing Lorie as the executor, finding that there were grounds upon which to question Leonard's fitness to serve in that capacity. Leonard appeals from that ruling.

1. Before turning to the merits of Leonard's appeal, we must first examine this Court's jurisdiction over this appeal. “It is the duty of this Court on its own motion to inquire into its jurisdiction.” (Citation and punctuation omitted.) Cooper v. Spotts, 309 Ga.App. 361(1), 710 S.E.2d 159 (2011).

The Constitution of the State of Georgia of 1983, Article VI, Section VI, Paragraph III(3), confers upon the Georgia Supreme Court jurisdiction in “[a]ll cases involving wills.” The Georgia Supreme Court has interpreted this language to mean only those cases where the validity or construction of a will is the main issue on appeal. See In re Estate of Lott, 251 Ga. 461, 306 S.E.2d 920 (1983). Here, the issue on appeal concerns the appointment of the executor, and does not concern the validity or construction of the will. Therefore, we have jurisdiction over the appeal. See Darnell v. Tate, 208 Ga. 23, 26–27, 64 S.E.2d 582 (1951) (transferring appeal to this Court because the issue on appeal concerned appointment of executor).

2. In several enumerations of error, Leonard, representing himself,¹ generally contends that the trial court erred in appointing Lorie as the executor and finding that he was unfit to serve in that capacity.

“Unless adjudged unfit, nominated executors shall have the right to qualify in the order set out in the will.” OCGA § 53–6–10(b); see also In re Estate of Bagley, 239 Ga.App. 877, 879(1), 522 S.E.2d 281 (1999) (probate court is not required to appoint a named executor). Generally, a probate court has broad discretion in the disqualifying a named executor. See In re Estate of Moriarty, 262 Ga.App. 241, 242(2), 585 S.E.2d 182 (2003). We review a probate court's determination regarding whether one is fit to serve as an executor for an abuse of discretion. See id. On appeal, the relevant question is whether the probate court had grounds to conclude that there was good cause for its determination to disqualify an executor. Cf. id. (good cause must be shown to remove executor). “Where the personal interests of the representative of an estate conflict, or might conflict, with the interest of the estate or the beneficiaries, such fact may be sufficient grounds for removal. We will not set aside the probate court's findings of fact unless the findings are clearly erroneous.” (Punctuation and footnotes omitted.) Ray v. Nat. Health Investors, Inc., 280 Ga.App. 44, 50–51(5), 633 S.E.2d 388 (2006).

Here, although the probate court conducted an evidentiary hearing on Lorie's petition, including her request to disqualify Leonard as executor, the hearing was not transcribed. In his enumerations of error, Leonard generally argues that the evidence introduced at the hearing did not support the trial court's...