Janes v. Brunswick

¶1The rejection of this claim was not based on the theory that a judgment of the probate court could be collaterally attacked by showing that the claim was barred by the statute of limitations; nor do we question that an allowance by the probate court is equivalent to a judgment of that court. But the objection is that the claim appeared to have been barred by limitation, and we did not find sufficient in the record to show that it had been allowed by the probate court. Proceedings in the probate courts are not conducted with a very strict regard to forms but it would be too unsafe to hold that a mere indorsement upon an account of its approval by some one styling himself probate judge was sufficient evidence of its allowance by the probate judge. It was not shown when or where this indorsement was made, nor that it was ever recognized, as the official act of one having authority, by the probate clerk. It may be that the proofs can be supplied; and therefore as to this claim the cause will be remanded for a further hearing before the master upon this subject.