ÿWPCh 6# UN %] 0ccU<Æw@4BVe 0§m 0J 0T^ 0^² 0h 0rx 0|ê 0†f 0ì 1u| 0dñ 0@U D3• BÈ 0Då U>) B)g DC AMÓ U* AQJ Æ› 0Da 0D¥ D/é B_5 ”¦4ÚU6áv~vÓ•˜HP LaserJet 4SiHPPCL5MS,ü,,,,,ü0nLHÎ(ÈhH  Z 6Times New Roman RegularX(;1˜$¡¡Ò°ÒÒ„°ÒÔ€XcXXXÔ-šBu Z‹$Arrus BT Roman GEH[IKLUMîNÓ€OÓ€[^§aö"3|x^(W(32$¤¤Ý ƒ1˜!ÝÒ°ÒÒ„°ÒÔ€X¤yXXXÔÝ  Ýà ` àòòÚ  Ú0Ú  Úóó2 ÿÿ0Indent1Ô2ÔÔ3  Ô2" ÿÿ0Indent2à0 àÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô2, ÿÿ0Indent3à0 àà0 àÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô26 ÿÿ0Indent4à0 àà0 àà0 àÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô2@ ÿÿ0Indent5à0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô2J ÿÿ0Indent6à0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô2T ÿÿ0Indent7à0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô2^ ÿÿ0Indent8à0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô ÿÿ?AGMSYaioIndent0I.A.1.a.(1)(a)i)a)P ÿÿ8Mac DefaultMac DefaultÓ ` °šXÓ("ÿÿ$££Ò  ÒÒ  Ò""""'ÿÿdxd d(#Ã$òòÚ  Ú0Ú  Úóó< Œ 9p`(&Times New Roman% Line 7 d%%%%7Border 1dd* &Cþÿ << Gÿÿ< Œ 9p`(Arial*+ ,-Cþÿ<< CÿÿƒLevel 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5(3¯$¢¢Ý ƒ!ÝÝ  Ý($$””ò òÚ  Ú1Ú  Úó ó..'÷ÿ dxdüÿP Pd UÝ ƒ!ÝÑ  ÑÑ#€d#ÑÔ€$ÔÒ  ÒÒ „ ÒÔ€ÔÝ  ÝÝ ƒ+"ÝÝ  ÝÔ€(ÔÔ€(ÔÓ  ÓÔ YYY ÔFILEDÔ€(XÔÌÌò òAugustÏ1,Ï1997ÌÌCecilÏCrowson,ÏJr.ÌÔ€(ôÔAppellateÏCourtÏClerkó ó –Ý ƒ!ÝÑ#€d#ÑÔ€$ÔÒ  ÒÒ „ ÒÔ€ÔÝ  ÝÝ ƒ $Ýà àòòÚ  ÚÚ  ÚóóÝ  Ý€€The€parties€agree€that€the€chancery€court€admitted€the€copy€of€the€willÏto€probate€and€appointed€Hughes€and€Lyons€as€co„administratrices€C.T.A.€onÏthis€day.€€The€courtððs€order,€however,€was€dated€June€17,€1996.Ì œÝ ƒ!ÝÑ#€d#ÑÔ€$ÔÒ  ÒÒ „ ÒÔ€ÔÝ  ÝÝ ƒ $Ýà àòòÚ  ÚÚ  ÚóóÝ  Ý€€€€These€documents€have€not€been€considered€or€approved€by€the€trialÏcourt€and,€although€made€an€appendix€to€Hughes€and€Lyonsððs€brief,€will€not€beÏconsidered€by€this€Court€on€appeal.€€ò òòòSee€óóó óT.R.A.P.€13(c).€€Ì ýÝ ƒ!ÝÑ#€d#ÑÔ€$ÔÒ  ÒÒ „ ÒÔ€ÔÝ  ÝÝ ƒ $Ýà àòòÚ  ÚÚ  ÚóóÝ  Ý€€Obion€County€is€not€a€county€in€which€the€legislature€specificallyÏtransferred€jurisdiction€over€probate€matters€to€a€probate€court.€€Thus,€underÏT.C.A.€ðð€16„16„201(a),€jurisdiction€over€the€probate€of€wills€and€otherÏadministration€matters€in€Obion€County€lies€exclusively€in€the€chancery€courtÏof€that€county.€€Ì< Œ 9p`(Courier NewPtPtHHÚ(ÿáÿâùFG(üHHÚ(d'hStyl{WP}01•ÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃà Ãà Ãà Ãà Ãà ÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÐ ÐÐHHÐÐ  ÐÐ2ÐÐÿÿ¸æ$ÿÐÐHHÐÐÐÐÐÐÐÐ  ÐÐ ÐÐ ÐÑÑÑGenevaÑÑ ÑÑ € ÑÑ<Px–ÈÑÒÒÒ443!#4ÒÒ$ *$ÒÒ$*$ÒÒ ÿKK ÒÒ  Geneva ÒÒ  Geneva ÒÓ.,ÓÓÓÓ6ÓÓ ÓßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßÑGenevaÑÑ ÑÒ  h HD: Geneva ÒÒ  h HD: Geneva ÒÝ ƒ!ÝÔ . ÔÔ€$ÔÒ  ÒÒ „ ÒÔ€ÔÝ  ÝÑ\R AØ'\ÑÑ\R AØ'\ÑÑ7€ÜøXXdðdÈ7ÑÑ  ÑÓ  ÓÞ ÞÌà@ àIN€THE€COURT€OF€APPEALS€OF€TENNESSEEÌà@ àWESTERN€SECTION€AT€JACKSONÌÙ€*ÙßR€'/&A1-j|‚üS` à. `€€@ÿRßà àà à€€€€______________________________________________ÌÌò òIN€RE:€ESTATE€OF€MAPLE€IONEÌSTOCKSÌÌGWYNETH€J.€HUGHES€and€LINDAÌLYONS,€CO„ADMINISTRATRICES€C.T.A,€ó óÌÌà àAppellants,€à àà àà àà àà àObion€Chancery€No.€19,535ÌÌVs.à àà àà àà àà àà àà àC.€A.€No.€02A01„9612„CH„00310ÌÌò òANNA€GAYLE€IRONSIDE€and€ÌWILLIAM€A.€GRISHAM,€ó óÌÌà àAppellees.Ì____________________________________________________________________________ÌÌà@ àFROM€THE€OBION€COUNTY€CHANCERY€COURTÌà@ àTHE€HONORABLE€W.€MICHAEL€MALOAN,€CHANCELLORÌÌÌÌÌà@ àH.€A.€Nohsey€of€Union€CityÌà@ àFor€AppellantsÌÌà@ àPhilip€J.€Cooper€of€MemphisÌà@ àFor€AppelleesÌÌÌÌÌÌà@ àò òòòAFFIRMED€AND€REMANDEDó óÌÌà@ àóóOpinion€filed:€€ÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌà àà àà àà àà àà àà àà àò òW.€FRANK€CRAWFORD,Ìà àà àà àà àà àà àà àà àPRESIDING€JUDGE,€W.S.ÌÌÌCONCUR:ÌÌALAN€E.€HIGHERS,€JUDGEÌÌDAVID€R.€FARMER,€JUDGEó óÌ›Ñ7€ÜøXXdðXXdð7ÑÑ  ÑÓÓà àThis€appeal€arises€from€the€probate€of€the€Last€Will€and€Testament€ofÏMaple€Ione€Stocks€(Stocks)€in€the€Chancery€Court€of€Obion€County.€€The€co„administratrices€C.T.A.,€Gwyneth€J.€Hughes€(Hughes)€and€Linda€Lyons€(Lyons),Ïappeal€the€order€of€the€chancery€court€vacating€the€order€admitting€StocksððsÏwill€to€probate€because€of€a€lack€of€jurisdiction€and/or€venue,€which€was€madeÏfinal€pursuant€to€Tenn.€R.€Civ.€P.€54.02.€Ìà àStocks€died€on€May€26,€1996€in€Obion€County€as€a€result€of€a€stroke€sheÏsuffered€a€few€days€earlier€while€attending€the€funeral€of€one€of€her€friends€inÏObion,€Tennessee.€€Stocks,€who€was€eighty„years„old€and€a€widow,€was€aÏresident€of€Shelby€County,€Tennessee€at€the€time€of€her€death.€€She€left€a€willÏbequeathing€$50,000.00€to€the€Trinity€Baptist€Church€in€Memphis,€TennesseeÍwith€the€rest,€residue,€and€remainder€of€her€estate€passing€to€a€cousin,€JamesÏNeely,€and,€in€the€event€of€his€death,€to€his€wife,€Jewell€Neely.€€James€Neely€diedÏon€June€4,€1991,€and€his€wife€died€on€May€21,€1996.€€In€fact,€it€was€at€JewellÏNeelyððs€funeral€that€Stocks€suffered€the€stroke€that€led€to€her€death.Ìà àHughes€was€a€friend€of€Stocks€and€owns€Cryer€Funeral€Home€in€ObionÏCounty,€which€handled€Stocksððs€funeral€and€burial€arrangements.€€Shortly€afterÏStocksððs€death,€Lyons,€who€was€also€a€friend€of€Stocks,€and€Hughes€contactedÏStocksððs€first€cousin€and€only€known€next€of€kin,€Joanne€N.€Warren€of€SouthÏFulton,€Tennessee,€regarding€Stocksððs€estate.€€Hughes€and€Lyons€visited€StocksððsÏresidence€in€Memphis€and€also€visited€the€banks€where€she€did€business€inÏMemphis€and€Obion,€but€they€were€unable€to€gain€access€to€Stocksððs€two€safetyÏdeposit€boxes.€€€Ìà àHughes€and€Lyons€then€contacted€H.€A.€Nohsey,€the€€attorney€in€UnionÏCity,€Tennessee€who€prepared€Stocksððs€will€on€July€3,€1989.€€On€June€6,€1996,ÏNohsey€filed€a€petition€for€administration€in€the€Chancery€Court€of€ObionÏCounty€on€behalf€of€Hughes€and€Lyons€seeking€to€probate€the€copy€of€the€willÏand€to€have€Hughes€and€Lyons€appointed€co„administratrices€C.T.A.€€StocksððsÏonly€known€next€of€kin,€Joanne€Warren,€and€her€attorney,€Hunter€B.€Whitesell,Ïjoined€in€this€petition.€€Ìà àThe€petition€avers€that€Hughes€is€the€only€known€creditor€of€the€estateÏand€that€Hughes€and€Lyons€seek€to€administer€the€estate€in€Obion€CountyÏrather€than€Shelby€County€because€of€convenience.€€Warren,€Stocksððs€onlyÏknown€next€of€kin,€joins€in€the€petition€for€the€purpose€of€consenting€to€theÏappointment€of€Hughes€and€Lyons€as€co„administratrices€C.T.A.€and€to€theÏadministration€of€the€estate€in€Obion€County.€€€The€trial€court€admitted€theÏcopy€of€the€will€to€probate€and€appointed€Hughes€and€Lyons€as€co„administratrices€C.T.A.€on€June€6,€1996.× ƒ0 ××  ×€€On€June€7,€1996,€Hughes€and€LyonÏwent€to€Memphis€and,€after€obtaining€access€to€Stocksððs€safe€deposit€box,€foundÏStocksððs€original€will.€€Hughes€and€Lyons€filed€the€original€will€in€the€ChanceryÏCourt€of€Obion€County€along€with€an€amended€petition€on€June€11,€1996.€€TheÏchancery€court€entered€an€order€admitting€the€original€will,€rather€than€theÏcopy€of€the€will,€to€probate€on€June€17,€1996.€€Hughes€and€Lyons€began€theÏadministration€of€the€estate€after€giving€notice€to€creditors€in€both€ObionÏCounty€and€Shelby€County.Ìà àOn€July€30,€1996,€Anna€Gayle€Ironside€(Ironside)€and€William€A.ÏGrisham€(Grisham)€filed€a€petition€in€the€Chancery€Court€of€Obion€County€toÍvacate€the€order€admitting€Stocksððs€will€to€probate€based€on€a€lack€of€venue.€€InÏthe€petition,€Ironside€and€Grisham€allege€that€they€are€the€half„sister€and€half„brother€of€Stocks€and€are€her€next€of€kin€under€the€Tennessee€laws€of€descentÏand€distribution.€€Hughes€and€Lyons€filed€a€response€to€the€petition€onÏSeptember€6,€1996,€and€they€filed€an€amended€response€to€the€petition€onÏSeptember€9,€1996.€€In€their€responses,€they€assert€certain€procedural€andÏsubstantive€defenses€including,€òòinter€aliaóó,€that€the€petition€to€vacate€wasÏuntimely€and€that€Ironside€and€Grishamððs€only€remedy€was€to€appeal€to€thisÏCourt.€€Ìà àAt€a€hearing€on€September€19,€1996,€Ironside€and€Grisham€presentedÏcertified€copies€of€their€birth€certificates€indicating€that€Ace€Grisham,€StocksððsÏbiological€father,€was€also€their€biological€father.€€Shortly€thereafter,€onÏSeptember€25,€1996,€the€chancery€court€entered€an€order€titled€ð ðOrderÏVacating€Order€Admitting€To€Probate€The€Last€Will€And€Testament€Of€MapleÏIone€Stocks€For€Lack€Of€Jurisdiction€And/Or€Venue.ðð€In€addition€to€vacatingÏthe€admission€of€the€will€to€probate,€the€court€also€discharged€Hughes€andÏLyons€as€co„administratrices€C.T.A.€upon€their€filing€of€a€final€accountingÏwithin€thirty€days€of€the€date€of€the€order.€€In€its€order,€the€court€recognizedÏthat€Hughes,€Lyons,€their€attorney,€Nohsey,€and€Whitesell,€the€attorney€ofÍStocksððs€first€cousin,€Joanne€Warren,€all€performed€valuable€services€for€theÏestate€and€that€they€should€be€compensated€by€the€estate.€€The€court€thenÏdirected€that€these€parties€file€requests€for€fees€within€the€thirty„day€period€forÏthe€final€accounting.€€Hughes€and€Lyons€filed€their€notice€of€appeal€on€OctoberÏ24,€1996€and,€on€October€25,€1996,€filed€an€accounting€of€the€assets€of€theÏestate€with€the€chancery€court.€€Hughes,€Lyons,€Nohsey,€and€Whitesell€also€filedÏtheir€requests€for€fees€with€the€chancery€court€on€October€25,€1996.× ƒ1 ××  ×Ìà àHughes€and€Lyons€present€two€issues€for€our€review:€1)€whether€theÏsimultaneous€probate€of€the€Last€Will€and€Testament€of€Maple€Ione€Stocks€inÏthe€Chancery€Court€of€Obion€County,€Tennessee€and€the€appointment,Ïqualification,€and€grant€of€letters€of€administration€to€Hughes€and€Lyons€as€co„administratrices€C.T.A.€were€proper€under€the€circumstances,€and€2)€whetherÏthe€original€order€admitting€the€will€to€probate€and€granting€letters€ofÏadministration€was€properly€vacated€by€a€subsequent€order€in€view€of€theÏprocedural€and€substantive€defenses€raised€by€Hughes€and€Lyons.€€We€willÏconsider€these€issues€together.Ìà àThe€proper€venue€in€which€to€probate€a€will€is€set€forth€in€T.C.A.€ðð€32„2„101,€which€provides€as€follows:Ìò òÓÓà8 àà8 à32„2„101.€€Place€of€proving€and€recording€will€andÏgranting€letters€testamentary.€ð"ðó ó€Wills€shall€beÏproved€and€recorded€and€letters€testamentary€grantedÏin€the€probate€court€of€the€county€where€the€testatorÏhad€his€usual€residence€at€the€time€of€his€death,€or,€inÏcase€he€had€fixed€places€of€residence€in€more€than€oneÏcounty,€in€either€or€any€of€those€counties.€€ÌÌÓÓT.C.A.€ðð€32„2„101€(1984).€€The€same€venue€is€established€for€intestate€estates.€ÏT.C.A.€ðð€30„1„102€(1984).€€In€the€case€before€us,€the€testatrixððs€named€executorsÏare€deceased,€and€the€court€appointed€Hughes€and€Lyons€co„administratricesÏwith€the€will€annexed.€€T.C.A.€ðð€30„1„115€(1984).Ìà àUnder€the€above€statutes,€a€court€in€a€county€other€than€that€in€whichÏthe€deceased€had€his€or€her€usual€residence€does€not€have€jurisdiction€to€admitÏthe€will€the€probate€or€to€grant€letters€of€administration.€€Nonetheless,€it€isÏwell„settled€that€the€admission€of€a€will€to€probate€in€the€wrong€county€cannotÏbe€collaterally€attacked.€òòò òTownsend€v.€Townsendó óóó,€44€Tenn.€(4€Cold.)€70,€80Ï(1867);€òòò òJohnson€v.€Gainesó óóó,€41€Tenn.€(1€Cold.)€288,€289„90€(1860).€€The€probateÏof€a€will€in€the€wrong€county€must€stand€until€the€probate€is€revoked€or€vacatedÏby€the€court€granting€the€probate€or€until€reversed€by€the€proper€appellateÏtribunal.€€òòò òTownsendó óóó,€44€Tenn.€at€80;€òòò òJohnsonó óóó,€41€Tenn.€at€289„90.€€The€same€isÏtrue€with€respect€to€the€granting€of€letters€of€administration€in€the€wrongÍcounty.ò ò€òò€See€Bellenfant€v.€American€Natððl€Bankó óóó,€184€Tenn.€50,€195€S.W.2d€30,Ï31„32€(1946);€ò òòòFranklin€v.€Franklinó óóó,€91€Tenn.€119,€131,€18€S.W.€61,€64€(1892);Ïòòò òEast€Tennessee,€V.€&€G.€Ry.€Coóóó ó.€ò òòòv.€Mahoneyó óóó,€89€Tenn.€311,€318„19.€15€S.W.Ï652€(1890).Ìà àJurisdiction€over€probate€matters€formerly€resided€exclusively€in€theÏcounty€courts.€€ò òòòSee€Townsend€v.€Townsendó óóó,€44€Tenn.€at€79.€€Probate€jurisdictionÏwas€transferred€to€the€chancery€court€in€certain€counties€by€legislation€codifiedÏas€€T.C.A.€ðð€16„16„201(a):€ÌÓÓà8 àà8 àIn€all€counties€where€not€otherwise€specificallyÏprovided€by€public,€private,€special€or€local€acts,€allÏjurisdiction€relating€to€the€probate€of€wills€and€theÏadministration€of€estates€of€every€nature€.€.€.€is€herebyÏvested€in€the€chancery€court€of€the€respectiveÏcounties.€€The€chancery€court€in€such€counties€shallÏhave€exclusive€jurisdiction€over€the€probate€of€willsÏand€the€administration€of€estates€of€every€nature,Ïincluding€the€estates€of€decedents€.€.€.€and€all€mattersÏrelating€thereto,€heretofore€vested€in€the€countyÏcourt.€€€€ÌÌÓÓT.C.A.€ðð€16„16„201(a)€(1994).€€Ìà àThe€statutes€previously€relating€to€jurisdiction€of€county€courts€nowÏapply€to€chancery€courts€or,€where€otherwise€provided€by€public€or€private€act,Íto€probate€courts.× ƒ2 ××  ×€€T.C.A.€ðð€16„16„202€(1994).Ìà àThe€record€in€this€case€indicates€that€Stocks€was€a€resident€of€ShelbyÏCounty€at€the€time€of€her€death,€and€none€of€the€parties€suggests€that€she€was€aÏresident€of€both€Shelby€and€Obion€Counties.€€Therefore,€under€T.C.A.€ðð€32„2„101,€Shelby€County,€and€not€Obion€County,€was€the€proper€county€in€which€toÏadmit€the€will€to€probate€and€to€grant€letters€of€administration.€€By€the€sameÏtoken,€Obion€County€was€the€proper€county€in€which€to€directly€attack€theÏprobate€of€the€will,€as€in€this€case.Ìà àHughes€and€Lyons€also€assert€that€Ironside€and€Grishamððs€recourse€isÏlimited€to€appeal€from€the€chancery€courtððs€order€admitting€the€will€to€probate.€ÏThey€further€assert€that€since€the€petition€to€vacate€was€filed€more€than€thirtyÏdays€after€entry€of€the€trial€courtððs€order€admitting€the€will€to€probate,€theÏpetition€to€vacate€came€too€late.€€We€disagree€with€both€assertions.€€Ìà àT.C.A.€ðð€16„16„107€provides€in€pertinent€part:ÌÓÓà8 àà8 àò ò16„16„107.€€Original€jurisdiction.ó 󀄀The€countyÏcourt€has€original€jurisdiction€in€the€following€cases:ÌÌà àà àà àà à*à àà à*à àà à*ÌÌÓ  Óà8 àà8 à(2)€The€granting€of€letters€testamentary€and€of€admin„Ïistration,€and€the€repeal€and€revocation€thereof€.€.€.€.ÌÌÓÓÓ  ÓT.C.A.€ðð€16„16„107€(1994).€€ð ð[Letters€of€administration€may],€upon€properÏapplication€and€showing,€be€revoked€by€that€county€court€which€ordered€theirÏissuance,€this€power€of€revocation€being€vested€in€that€court€by€ðð€10225€(2)Ï[now€T.C.A.€ðð€16„16„107€(2)]€of€the€Code.ðð€€ò òòòBellenfant,€ó óóó184€Tenn.€at€52,€195ÏS.W.2d€at€31.€€These€principles€now€apply€to€the€chancery€court€in€the€instantÏcase.€€T.C.A.€ðð€16„16„202€(1994).Ìà àHughes€and€Lyonsððs€assertions€that€the€petition€to€vacate€comes€too€lateÏis€equally€without€merit.€€T.C.A.€ðð€32„4„108€(Supp.€1996)€provides:ÌÓÓà8 àà8 àò òStatute€of€limitations.ó 󀄀All€actions€or€proceedings€toÏset€aside€the€probate€of€any€will,€or€petitions€toÏcertify€such€will€for€an€issue€of€devisavit€vel€non,€mustÏbe€brought€within€two€(2)€years€from€entry€of€theÏorder€admitting€the€will€to€probate,€or€be€foreverÏbarred,€saving,€however,€to€persons€under€the€age€ofÏeighteen€(18)€years€or€of€unsound€mind,€at€the€timeÏthe€cause€of€action€accrues,€the€rights€conferred€by€ððÏ28„1„106.ÌÌÓÓà àAs€stated€previously,€Stocks€was€a€resident€of€Shelby€County€at€the€timeÏof€her€death.€€Thus,€the€Probate€Court€of€Shelby€County€is€the€court€withÏproper€jurisdiction€over€the€probate€of€the€will€and€the€administration€of€theÏestate€in€this€case.€€Appellants€may€file€their€claim€for€fees€and€expenses€in€thatÍcourt.Ìà àAccordingly,€the€trial€courtððs€order€vacating€the€admission€of€the€will€toÏprobate€is€affirmed,€and€this€case€is€remanded€for€such€further€proceedings€asÏmay€be€necessary.€€Costs€are€assessed€against€the€appellants.ÌÓÓà àà àà àà àà àà àà à_________________________________Ìà àà àà àà àà àà àà àò òW.€FRANK€CRAWFORD,€Ìà àà àà àà àà àà àà àPRESIDING€JUDGE,€W.S.ó óÌò òCONCUR:ÌÌ____________________________________ÌALAN€E.€HIGHERS,€JUDGEó óÌÌ____________________________________Ìò òDAVID€R.€FARMER,€JUDGEó óœÔ€3ÔÔ€3Ô