IN GENERAL 75. Definitions-Descent is the devolution of the realty of an intestate to his heirs. Distribution is the devolution of the personalty of an intestate to his heirs." 51 76. When right to inheritance accrues-The right to inherit property does not accrue until the death of the owner intestate and is governed by the law then in force. There are no heirs until the death of the owner.52 Until the ancestor dies there is no vested right in the heir and rules of descent may be changed by the legislature. Presumptive heirs have no vested rights of inheritance of which they may not be deprived by the acts of their ancestor.54 53 77. When title passes-The title to the real property of a decedent passes immediately upon his death to the heirs or devisees, subject to the claims of administration. The heirs or devisees have the right to the immediate possession, subject to the right of the representative to take possession under the statute for purposes of administration. No act or decree of court is necessary to vest them with title. It vests by operation of law.55 If a representative is appointed the title to the personalty does not pass to the heir or legatee until it is duly assigned to him by a decree of distribution by the probate court.56 The title to the personalty of a decedent, whether he dies testate or intestate, passes to his personal representative when appointed and relates back to the death of the decedent. It constitutes the primary fund for the payment of the claims of administration.57 The rule that the title to personalty of 51 State v. Willrich, 72 Minn. 165, 75 N. W. 123. See, as to meaning of word "inherit," Ann. Cas. 1917C, 386. 52 State v. Probate Court, 102 Minn. 268, 287, 113 N. W. 888; Sorenson v. Rasmussen, 114 Minn. 324, 131 N. W. 325; Moen v. Moen, 16 S. D. 210, 92 N. W. 13. 53 Jefferson v. Fink, 247 U. S. 288. 54 In re Reichel, 148 Minn. 433, 182 N. W. 517. 55 Paine v. First Div., etc., Ry. Co., 14 Minn. 65 (49); State v. Probate Court, 25 Minn. 22, 25; Greenwood v. Murray, 26 Minn. 259, 261, 2 N. W. 945; Noon v. Finnegan, 29 Minn. 418, 420, 13 N. W. 197; Farnham v. Thompson, 34 Minn. 330, 336, 26 N. W. 9: Sloggy v. Dilworth, 38 Minn. 179, 183, 36 N. W. 451; Hill v. Townley, 45 Minn. 167, 47 N. W. 653; Sparrow v. Pond, 49 Minn. 412, 418, 52 N. W. 36; Scott v. Wells, 55 Minn. 274, 277, 56 N. W. 828; Byrnes v. Sexton, 62 Minn. 135, 138, 64 N. W. 155; Fleming v. McCutcheon, 85 Minn. 152, 156, 88 N. W. 433; Kern v. Cooper, 91 Minn. 121, 123, 97 N. W. 648; Jenkins v. Jenkins, 92 Minn. 310, 100 N. W. 7; Lightbody v. Lammers, 98 Minn. 203, 204, 108 N. W. 846; Hanson v. Nygaard, 105 Minn. 30, 38, 117 N. W. 235: Wellner v. Eckstein, 105 Minn. 444, 470, 117 N. W. 830; Kolars v. Brown. 108 Minn. 60, 121 N. W. 229; Eyre v. Faribault, 121 Minn. 233, 237, 141 N. W. 170; Winters v. Ellefson, 128 Minn. 3, 150 N. W. 171; Glencoe Ditching Co. v. Martin, 148 Minn. 176, 181 N. W. 108; 14 Cyc. 102; 18 C. J. 876. See §§ 1060, 1073, 1209. 50 See §§ 1060, 1073. 57 State v. Probate Court, 25 Minn. 22, 25; Greenwood v. Murray, 26 Minn. 259, a decedent passes to his personal representative applies only to such property as constitutes assets for purposes of administration.58 If no administrator is appointed the title to the personalty of an intestate passes directly to his heirs.59 It is sometimes said that on the death of an intestate the title to his personalty remains in abeyance until the appointment of an administrator. The distinction between real and personal property as to the mode of its succession is not founded in considerations of justice, practical convenience, or expediency, but is due wholly to the way in which the law of succession developed in England. It is an historical accident and is preserved by us merely as a matter of habit and mental inertia. In some states it has been wisely abolished."1 78. Right of inheritance statutory-Aliens-The descent and distribution of the property of a decedent is a matter within the exclusive control of the legislature, which may give or withhold the right as it sees fit.62 Inheritance is not an absolute or natural right, but the creature of statute." 63 At common law aliens are not entitled to inherit, but they are generally accorded the right by statute or treaty."* 79. Governed by state law-The right to succeed to property of a decedent depends upon and is regulated by state rather than federal law.65 66 80. Conflict of laws-The lex rei sitæ governs the descent of real property in case of intestacy. The law of the domicil of the decedent at the time of his death governs the distribution of personal property in case of intestacy.67 261, 2 N. W. 945; Wellner v. Eckstein, 105 Minn. 444, 470, 117 N. W. 830; 14 Cyc. 105; 18 C. J. 878. See §§ 735, 1060, 1073. 58 See § 735. 59 Granger v. Harriman, 89 Minn. 303, 94 N. W. 869; Kern v. Cooper, 91 Minn. 121, 123, 97 N. W. 648. See Vail v. Anderson, 61 Minn. 552, 554, 64 N. W. 47; Cooper v. Hayward, 71 Minn. 374, 74 N. W. 152: 112 Am. St. Rep. 727. 60 Parks v. Norris, 101 Mich. 71, 59 N. W. 428. 61 See 27 A. & E. Ency. of Law (2 ed.) 295 14 Cyc. 107; 15 Am. L. Rev. 512; 22 Id. 30. 57; Woerner, Am. Law of Adm., §§ 16, 337. 62 Streeter v. Wilkinson, 24 Minn. 288, 291; Wellner v. Eckstein, 105 Minn. 444, 448, 117 N. W. 830. See 18 C. J. 804; Ann. Cas. 1918A, 939. 63 Jones v. Jones, 234 U. S. 615. 64 See G. S. 1913, § 6696; 2 A. & E. Ency. of Law (2 ed.) 76; 2 C. J. 1057, 1061, 1065; 4 A. L. R. 1391; 11 A. L. R. 162 (right of alien enemy). 65 Uterhart v. United States, 240 U. S. 598. 66 Prentiss v. Prentiss, 14 Minn. 18 (5); Washburn v. Van Steenwyk, 32 Minn. 336, 20 N. W. 324; Morin v. St. Paul, etc., Ry. Co., 33 Minn. 176, 179, 22 N. W. 251; Boeing v. Owsley, 122 Minn. 190, 142 N. W. 129; Mechling v. McAllister, 135 Minn. 357, 160 N. W. 1016; Jones v. Jones, 234 U. S. 615; 22 A. & E. Ency. of Law (2 ed.) 1359; 14 Cyc. 21; 18 C. J. 809. 67 Putnam v. Pitney, 45 Minn. 242, 47 N. W. 790; Harvey v. Great Northern Ry. Co., 50 Minn, 405, 407, 52 N. W. 905; Fox v. Hicks, 81 Minn. 197, 83 N. W. 538; Gregory v. Lansing, 115 Minn. 73, 131 N. W. 1010; State v. Probate Court. 128 Minn. 371, 150 N. W. 1094. See Stromberg v. Stromberg, 119 Minn. 325, 138 N. W. 428; Ennis v. Smith, 14 How. 81. Presumption of intestacy-In the absence of evidence to the contrary there is a presumption that a person died intestate and that land conveyed by his heirs descended to them.68 82. Presumption of heirs-There is a presumption that a decedent. left heirs and that his property descended to them." Where a married child of an intestate dies first the law raises a presumption that the child left issue surviving the intestate.70 83. Title of heir-An heir succeeds to the title of the decedent. He is not entitled to protection as a bona fide purchaser. If the decedent held the property subject to a trust his heir takes it subject to the trust."1 84. Heirs tenants in common-The heirs of an intestate take as tenants in common.72 85. Domicil-Minors-The law of the domicil of a minor at the time of his death governs inheritance by his heirs. Where the absolute custody of a minor child is given to its mother upon her divorce from the father the domicil of the child follows that of the mother." 73 86. Meaning of "issue"-The word "issue" as used in our statutes of descent and distribution includes all the lawful lineal descendants of the ancestor and is not restricted to children." It also probably includes adopted children and illegitimate children in certain cases. It does not include stepchildren." 75 87. Stepfather and stepmother-A stepfather or stepmother is not a "father" or "mother" within the meaning of the statutes of descent and distribution."7 88. Stepchildren-A stepchild is not entitled to inherit as a "child" or "issue" of its stepfather.78 89. Inheritance by representation-Taking per stirpes or per capitaNext of kin standing in unequal degree to the intestate take per stirpes, but if they are all in equal degree they take per capita. The doctrine of (U. S.) 400; 22 A. & E. Ency. of Law (2 ed.) 1355; 14 Cyc. 21; 18 C. J. 810. 68 Sherin v. Larson, 28 Minn. 523, 525, 11 N. W. 70; Barnes v. Gunter, 111 Minn. 383, 394, 127 N. W. 398; Richmond Cedar Words v. Stringfellow, 236 Fed. 264. See 14 Cyc. 20. 69 Barnes v. Gunter, 111 Minn. 383, 394, 127 N. W. 398; In re Friedman's Estate, 178 Cal. 27, 172 Pac. 140; 22 A. & E. Ency. of Law (2 ed.) 1291; 14 Cyc. 99; 18 C. J. 873; Ann. Cas. 1913E, 383; Ann. Cas. 1915C, 1062. 70 Stennett v. Stennett, 174 Iowa, 431, 156 N. W. 406. 71 Wellendorf v. Wellendorf, 120 Minn. 435, 139 N. W. 812; Irvine v. Campbell, 121 Minn. 192, 141 N. W. 108; Colby v. Street, 146 Minn. 290, 178 N. W. 599. See 14 Cyc. 104; 18 C. J. 876, 949. 72 Sherin v. Larson, 28 Minn. 523, 525, 11 N. W. 70; Ziebarth v. Donaldson (Minn.) 185 N. W. 377. 73 Fox v. Hicks, 81 Minn. 197, 83 N. W. 538. 74 G. S. 1913, § 9412 (8). See § 356. 75 See $$ 92, 94. 76 Barrett v. Thielen, 140 Minn. 266, 167 N. W. 1030. 77 See § 343; 18 C. J. 830. 78 Barrett v. Thielen, 140 Minn. 266, 167 N. W. 1030; 18 C. J. 830. ' |