SUPERIOR Court Judge Joseph N. Camacho has approved the Estate of Rita Rogolifoi’s request to transfer its assets to a Northern Marianas Descent family corporation, Rita Corporation Inc.
Judge Camacho finds that the assets of the estate are ready for distribution, and that “good cause exists to grant Rita Estate’s motion.”
In a 10-page decree of final distribution order dated Feb. 6, the judge said the request for distribution relates to Carolinian customs regarding land ownership and rights.
“Rita was a Carolinian woman who died intestate [without leaving a valid will] in 1952. None of Rita’s children are still living and there is no appointed customary trustee,” Judge Camacho said.
The heirs of Rita Estate consist of four branches, namely: (1) the Estate of Pedro Saralu Seman; (2) the Estate of Ana Rogolifoi; (3) the Estate of Carmen Rogolifoi; (4) and the Estate of Dolores Rogolifoi Saralu.
The descendants of Rita have “agreed and consented” to the creation of a lawful NMD family corporation incorporated as Rita Corporation, said Judge Camacho.
“The Articles of Incorporation, the Corporate Bylaws, and the Certificate of Incorporation were all submitted to establish its valid corporate existence. Certain descendants are requesting the transfer of all the assets contained within the Rita Estate to the Rita Corporation,” he added.
According to the order, during the Oct. 3, 2024, hearing, no descendants orally opposed the transfer of Rita Estate’s assets to Rita Corporation.
“The Co-Administrators provided original copies of forms distributed to the descendants, confirming their consent and approval for transferring all assets and liabilities associated with the Rita Estate to Rita Corporation,” Judge Camacho said. “The forms reflected that there are sixty-nine total living descendants of Rita within the four branches. Forty-seven descendants signed and consented to the transfer. The twenty-two remaining descendants did not sign.”
He ordered the co-administrators to prepare and execute an administrator’s deed on behalf of the Estate of Rita Rogolifoi to transfer all the real properties identified to Rita Corporation Inc., a Northern Marianas Descent family corporation, as the lawful grantee and title holder.
“Thereafter, the Board of Directors of Rita Corporation Inc. may sell, transfer, lease, and convey, those properties as it deems in the best interest of the Rita Corporation Inc. and its shareholders,” the judge said.
“All of the liquid assets contained within the Estate of Rita Rogolifoi and presently held in trust with the Law Offices of Stephen J. Nutting are hereby declared to be assets of Rita Corporation Inc., and shall be transferred to the Rita Corporation Inc. to be saved, invested, distributed as dividends to the shareholder, or otherwise utilized as the Board of Directors directs and deems fit and in the best interests of the Rita Corporation Inc. and its shareholders,” the judge added.
The total amount of the estate’s liquid assets is $2,288,787.85.
According to the judge, “The Estate of Rita Rogolifoi has possible land compensation claims against the CNMI Government and the Department of Public Lands for the taking of certain property of the Estate of Rita Rogolifoi for a public roadway across Lot 629 in Puerto Rico. The right to bring and file any and all such claims shall be transferred to Rita Corporation Inc.”
With the decree of final distribution issued, and no further business or property to be addressed, Judge Camacho closed the estate’s probate.
He ordered the co-administrators to close all accounts held in the name of Rita Rogolifoi or the name of the Estate of Rita Rogolifoi, and transfer the funds or assets to Rita Corporation Inc.
He also discharged the co-administrators for further obligations and duties related to the Estate of Rita Rogolifoi.
Background
Rita Rogolifoi, a Carolinian woman born in 1875, died intestate on or about November 8, 1952. At the time of her death, Rita was a resident and domiciliary of Saipan, Northern Mariana Islands.
Rita had four children: Pedro Saralu Seman, Ana Rogolifoi, Carmen Rogolifoi, and Dolores Rogolifoi Saralu.
On February 20, 2003, the Rita Estate probate was opened.
The Office of the Attorney General initiated an action to quiet title in the Board of the Marianas Public Lands Authority v. Heirs of Rita Rogolifoi, Civil Action No. 05-0197. The court ruled in favor of the Rita Estate, and the Rita Estate received a judgment of $2,344,566.64 for the unlawful taking of lands and other damages by the CNMI government.
The Rita Estate also continued to receive rental payments from three commercial leases located on Lot 630NEW.
