Case Summary (G.R. No. 4027)

Jurisdiction Over Intestate Estates

• The administration and settlement of hereditary property fall under the jurisdiction of the Court of First Instance in the province where the deceased owner died and where the majority of the property is located.
• This jurisdiction is established by the provisions of the Code of Civil Procedure.

Administrator's Duty to Render Accounts

• An administrator of an intestate estate is required to render accounts of their administration to the Court of First Instance.
• The judge is responsible for examining these accounts and approving them, regardless of any objections from interested parties.

Background of the Case

• Luis Palomar Baldovi was appointed as the judicial administrator of Josefa Garcia Pascual's intestate estate on December 9, 1902.
• He submitted multiple accounts detailing the administration of the estate, including receipts and disbursements, but noted certain items were not included, such as his salary and attorney fees.

Objections to the Administrator's Accounts

• Various parties, including Angel Ortiz and Mendezona & Co., filed objections to Baldovi's accounts, claiming inaccuracies and requesting modifications.
• The objections led to a series of hearings and the eventual removal of Baldovi as administrator, with Arlington U. Betts appointed in his place.

Examination of the Accounts

• The court examined Baldovi's accounts and found discrepancies, leading to the approval of some items and the disallowance of others deemed unjustifiable.
• The court's decision was based on the evidence presented, independent of the objections raised by Ortiz.

Errors Alleged by Baldovi

• Baldovi claimed several errors in the court's decisions, including the refusal to allow him to add uncollected salaries to his accounts.
• The court found that Baldovi had ample time to present his accounts and that his claims regarding salaries and expenses had already been settled.

Sale of Property and Judicial Authority

• Baldovi was authorized to sell property but exceeded his authority by selling it outright, leading the court to declare the sale null and void.
• The court ordered the return of the purchase price to the buyer, which did not affect Baldovi's interests.

Disallowed Expenses for Repairs

• The court rejected Baldovi's claims for expenses related to the construction of a house on estate property, as he acted without proper authority.
• Baldovi was ordered to reimburse the estate for the funds used in the unauthorized construction.

Accountability for Interest and Salaries

• The court ruled that Baldovi was not liable for interest on certain a...continue reading