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14 Haw. 144

Grace v. Smith

Hawaii Supreme Court

Decided April 3, 1902

Hawaii Supreme Court · decided 1902-04-03

<p>Expenses of tlie last illness of a decedent, are not entitled to priority of payment over ordinary debts.</p>

Cited by 2 later decisions — most recently September 1940

2 state decisions

Good law ✅— No negative treatment on recordhow we know

Decided 1902-04-03

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¶1OPINION OF THE COURT BY

FREAR, C.J.

¶2The only question for determination on this submission on agreed facts is whether the plaintiffs, physicians and surgeons* are entitled to priority of payment for professional services rendered the decedent during his last illness, that is, priority over ordinary creditors.

¶3We have no statute on the subject. In the absence of statute, the expenses of the last illness have no priority. 2 Woemer, Administration, Secs. 361, 364, 365; 8 Am. & Eng. Ehc. of Law, 2nd Ed. 1031. In most of the states such expenses by statute rank next after the expenses of administration, funeral expenses, and debts: to the Hnited States, and before ordinary-debts. This seems to be just, but it is for the legislature, not the courts, to so provide. Hnder the law we must hold that the plaintiffs’ claim should be paid pro rata with other ordinary claims, the estate of the decedent being insufficient to pay them all in full.

¶4Judgment accordingly.

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