Borghi v. Gilroy

167 Wash. 2d 480

• Court: Washington Supreme Court
• Decided: November 5, 2009
• Docket: No. 80925-9
• Status: Published

Opinions

Stephens, J.

¶1 This case concerns a dispute between the estate of Jeanette L. Borghi (Estate) and her son, Arthur Gilroy, over the characterization of real property acquired by Jeanette Borghi prior to her marriage to Robert¹ Borghi and subsequently titled in both Robert and Jeanette Borghi’s names. At the center of this dispute are apparently conflicting presumptions — on the one hand, the well-established presumption that property acquired by a person before marriage is her separate property and, on the other hand, what has been described as a “joint title gift presumption” arising from a change in title to include both spouses’ names. See In re Marriage of Hurd, 69 Wn. App. 38, 848 P.2d 185 (1993); Laura W. Morgan & Edward S. Snyder, When Title Matters: Transmutation and the Joint Title Gift Presumption, 18 J. Am. Acad. Matrimonial Law 335 (2003). The Court of Appeals concluded it could not reconcile these presumptions. Though persuaded by the reasoning of Hurd to find that the property in question should be characterized as the Borghis’ community property, it held to the contrary, based on our decision in In re Estate of Deschamps, 77 Wash. 514, 137 P. 1009 (1914). We affirm the Court of Appeals and take this opportunity to expressly reject the erroneous joint title gift presumption suggested by language in Hurd as well as In re Marriage of Olivares, 69 Wn. App. 324, 848 P.2d 1281 (1993).

FACTS

¶2 Jeanette L. Borghi purchased a parcel of real property in 1966, subject to a real estate contract. The record contains no evidence concerning the terms of or payments under the contract. On March 29,1975, Jeanette and Robert Borghi married. On July 12 of that year, Cedarview Development Company executed a special warranty deed to “Robert G. & Jeanette L. Borghi, husband and wife.” Clerk’s Papers at 80. The deed states that it is in fulfillment of the real estate contract.

¶3 The Borghis resided on the property from 1975 until 1990. In August 1979, they used the property to secure a mortgage to purchase a mobile home to locate on the property. The 1975 deed was recorded on August 13, 1979.

¶4 Jeanette Borghi died intestate on June 25, 2005. Her surviving heirs were Robert Borghi and Arthur Gilroy, her son from a previous marriage. Robert Borghi was appointed personal representative of Jeanette Borghi’s estate and filed a petition for declaratory judgment on behalf of the Estate to determine rights in the real property.² The superior court commissioner determined that the property was the community property of Robert and Jeanette Borghi, and passed to Robert Borghi under the laws of intestate succession. Arthur Gilroy moved for revision of this decision, which the superior court denied. He then appealed, arguing that the property was Jeanette Borghi’s separate property at the time of her death, entitling him to a one-half interest.

¶5 The Court of Appeals reversed the superior court and “reluctantly conclude [d] that the property was Mrs. Borghi’s separate property.” In re Estate of Borghi, 141 Wn. App. 294, 304, 169 P.3d 847 (2007). We granted the Estate’s petition for review at 163 Wn.2d 1052, 187 P.3d 751 (2008).

ANALYSIS

¶6 The question in this case is whether the real property acquired by Jeanette Borghi prior to her marriage to Robert Borghi changed in character from her separate property to community property by the time of her death. More specifically, we must decide whether the inclusion of Robert Borghi’s name on the June 12, 1975 deed created a presumption that the property had transmuted from separate to community property or, if not, whether there is sufficient evidence to overcome the underlying separate property presumption and establish an intent to change the character of the property from separate to community property.

¶7 We begin with basic principles of Washington community property law. First, presumptions play a significant role in determining the character of property as separate or community property. 19 Kenneth W. Weber, Washington Practice: Family and Community Property Law § 10.1, at 133 (1997) (“Possibly more than in any other area of law, presumptions play an important role in determining ownership of assets and responsibility for debt in community property law”). The presumptions are true presumptions, and in the absence of evidence sufficient to rebut an applicable presumption, the court must determine the character of property according to the weight of the presumption. Id.

¶8 Second, the character of property as separate or community property is determined at the date of acquisition. Harry M. Cross, The Community Property Law in Washington, 61 Wash. L. Rev. 13, 39 (1986). Under the “inception of title” theory, property acquired subject to a real estate contract or mortgage is acquired when the obligation is undertaken. Id.; see also In re Estate of Binge, 5 Wn.2d 446, 105 P.2d 689 (1940); Beam v. Beam, 18 Wn. App. 444, 453, 569 P.2d 719 (1977). Here, the parties agree that the real property in question was Jeanette Borghi’s separate property at the time she married Robert Borghi.³ Once the separate character of property is established, a presumption arises that it remained separate property in the absence of sufficient evidence to show an intent to transmute the property from separate to community property. 19 Weber, supra, at 134. As we stated in Guye v. Guye, 63 Wash. 340, 115 P. 731 (1911):

Moreover, the right of the spouses in their separate property is as sacred as is the right in their community property, and when it is once made to appear that property was once of a separate character, it will be presumed that it maintains that character until some direct and positive evidence to the contrary is made to appear.

Id. at 352.⁴ Significantly, the evidence must show the intent of the spouse owning the separate property to change its character from separate to community property. Id. at 349 (noting separate property remains separate “unless, by the voluntary act of the spouse owning it, its nature is changed”). Where, as here, real property is at issue, an acknowledged writing is generally required. Cross, supra, at 102 & n.485; see also Volz v. Zang, 113 Wash. 378, 383, 194 P. 409 (1920). While this could be accomplished through a quitclaim deed or other real property transfer, a properly executed community property agreement may also effectuate a transfer of real property. See In re Estate of Verbeek, 2 Wn. App. 144, 467 P.2d 178 (1970).

¶9 The Estate argues that clear and convincing evidence of a transfer of Jeanette Borghi’s separate property to community property exists based on the inclusion of Robert Borghi’s name on the deed to the property subsequent to the marriage. The Estate relies on Hurd to argue that placing Robert Borghi’s name on the title gives rise to a rebuttable presumption of a gift of Jeanette Borghi’s separate property to the community. The Court of Appeals found this logic compelling but inconsistent with our precedent in Deschamps, a case not cited by either party below. Relying on Deschamps, the Court of Appeals rejected the Estate’s argument and held the property in question was Jeanette Borghi’s separate property.

¶10 The Court of Appeals’ conclusion was correct, but its discussion of Deschamps and Hurd highlights a misunderstanding of the applicable presumption and underscores the confusion created by the Hurd opinion.⁵ The authors of Washington Practice have described Hurd as “most unfortunate” and encouraged us to disapprove its reasoning. 19 Weber, supra, § 10.7, at 142 n.4; 19 Scott J. Horenstein et al., Washington Practice: Family and Community Property Law § 10.7 n.4, at 46 (Supp. 2009-10) (citing Borghi and Deschamps). National commentators have also criticized the sort of joint title gift presumption that the Court of Appeals in Hurd and Olivares adopted. Morgan & Snyder, supra, at 348 (citing Hurd). We take this opportunity to clarify the applicable community property principles and disapprove any reading oí Hurd and Olivares that suggests a gift presumption arising when title to property is changed from the name of a single spouse to both spouses.

¶11 Preliminarily, some of the confusion in this area may be due to an unnecessarily broad reading of Hurd. The court in Hurd never held that the name on the deed itself supported the community property presumption or even provided any evidence of the character of the property. Instead, the focus was on Mr. Hurd’s intent, i.e., did he intend a gift to the community when he added Mrs. Hurd to the title “ ‘for love and consideration’.” Id. at 42. Had the change in title alone given rise to an evidentiary presumption, then it would not have been necessary for the court to resolve the case as it did, by remanding to the trial court for a factual determination of whether Mr. Hurd intended a gift of his separate property. Carefully considered, then, Hurd may not in fact have created a gift presumption arising from the inclusion of a spouse’s name on the deed to real estate during marriage, and the conflict the Court of Appeals posited between Hurd and Deschamps may not in fact exist.

¶12 Nonetheless, there is language in Hurd that supports the Court of Appeals’ reading of the opinion and appears to create a joint title gift presumption:

We now hold that a spouse’s use of his or her separate funds to purchase property in the names of both spouses, absent any other explanation, permits a presumption that the purchase or transaction was intended as a gift to the community. We also hold that there must be clear and convincing proof to overcome such a presumption.

Id. at 51.⁶ These statements are at odds with well-established principles of community property law. The Court of Appeals traced these principles to Deschamps, in which we addressed a similar dispute over real property between a surviving spouse and the decedent’s daughter from a prior marriage. We rejected the surviving husband’s argument that the property was community property by virtue of the inclusion of both spouses’ names on the deed, recognizing that “courts will not be bound by the terms of the deed but will look beyond it and ascertain, if possible, the true intent and purpose of the parties.” Deschamps, 77 Wash. at 518. Though there was some evidence in Deschamps indicating the husband’s name was included on the deed at the wife’s direction, we held that the evidence was insufficient to overcome the presumption in favor of separate property and show that the wife intended a gift to the community. Id. The Court of Appeals criticized this holding as contrary to “the direct evidence from independent witnesses and the indirect evidence of the community name on the deed.” Borghi, 141 Wn. App. at 302. But, this reading of the facts in Deschamps fails to give proper weight to the separate property presumption. Indeed, favoring the approach in Hurd, the Court of Appeals believed it would be better to disregard this presumption. Id. (“A summary presumption that a gift was not intended does not serve to protect property holders but may thwart legitimate attempts to gift to the community as in Deschamps.”).

¶13 But the rule stated in Deschamps is well established. We have consistently refused to recognize any presumption arising from placing legal title in both spouses’ names and instead adhered to the principle that the name on a deed or title does not determine the separate or community character of the property, or even provide much evidence. Cross, supra, at 30. As we stated in Merritt v. Newkirk, 155 Wash. 517, 285 P. 442 (1930):

[T]he fact in itself [(legal title)] is not of controlling moment in determining which of the spouses is the actual owner of the property.

Under our somewhat perplexing statutes relating to the acquisition of property, title to real property taken in the name of one of the spouses may be the separate property of the spouse taking the title, the separate property of the other spouse, or the community property of both of the spouses, owing to the source from which the fund is derived which is used in paying the purchase price of the property.

Id. at 520-21 (relying on Deschamps and noting cases in support “are too numerous to admit of citation here”).

¶14 The Court of Appeals lamented that this rule is poor policy, suggesting that the contrary rule in Hurd “appropriately protects separate property from inadvertent changes in character but allows for gifts by deed.” Borghi, 141 Wn. App. at 303. This misapprehends the nature of the relevant presumptions. Disregarding title as relevant to the characterization of property does not hinder a party who intends to transmute her separate property into community property from doing so. With respect to real property, a spouse may execute a quitclaim deed transferring the property to the community, join in a valid community property agreement, or otherwise in writing evidence his or her intent. See Volz, 113 Wash. at 383; Verbeek, 2 Wn. App. at 158. See generally Cross, supra, at 100-03 (discussing transfers of property between spouses). But in the absence of such evidence, the name in which title is held, including a change in title, tells us nothing or is ambiguous at best. As the Court of Appeals acknowledged in this case, there is no evidence as to why Cedarview included Robert Borghi’s name on the deed. Borghi, 141 Wn. App. at 302-04. Though it may have done so at Jeanette Borghi’s direction, the form of the deed may also have been drafted at the direction of another person, or it may have been a scrivener’s error. Nothing in the record answers this question.

¶15 More importantly, even when a spouse’s name is included on a deed or title at the direction of the separate property owner spouse, this does not evidence an intent to transmute separate property into community property but merely an intent to put both spouses’ names on the deed or title. Morgan & Snyder, supra, at 354-56. There are many reasons it may make good business sense for spouses to create joint title that have nothing to do with any intent to create community property. Guye, 63 Wash. at 353. Allowing a presumption to arise from a change in the form of title inappropriately shifts attention away from the relevant question of whether a gift of separate property to the community is intended and asks instead the irrelevant question of whether there was an intent to make a conveyance into joint title. Morgan & Snyder, supra, at 356 (concluding that “[community property law and equitable distribution law should adhere to the stated principle that ‘title is irrelevant’ and analyze the conveyance in terms of a gift, without any legal presumptions of transmutation”).

¶16 Further, to apply a presumption based on a change in the name or names in which title is held would create a situation in which a court is asked to resolve an evidentiary question based on nothing more than conflicting presumptions. This case illustrates the conundrum. A court starts with the presumption that the property is Jeanette Borghi’s separate property because it was acquired with her own funds before her marriage to Robert Borghi. The parties in this case agree it was initially her separate property. Then, the court must rely on the inclusion of both Robert and Jeanette Borghi’s names on the 1975 deed to support a presumption that the property is community property. Applying these presumptions simultaneously, the court reaches an impasse. If we somehow reason that the community property presumption must prevail because it is later in time, then what became of the rule that clear and convincing evidence of actual intent is needed to overcome the original separate property presumption? In sum, applying a gift presumption to counter the separate property presumption in these circumstances would reduce community property principles to a game of King’s X. See 19 Weber, supra, § 10.7 n.4, at 142. We refuse to do so and instead adhere to the well-settled rule that no presumption arises from the names on a deed or title. To the extent Hurd and Olivares suggest a gift presumption arising when one spouse places the name of the other spouse on title to separate property, we disapprove these cases.

¶17 The remaining question is whether, once the erroneous joint title gift presumption is set aside, the Estate presented clear and convincing evidence that Jeanette Borghi’s separate property converted to community property prior to her death. While the Court of Appeals surmised that someone must have apprised the vendor on the real estate contract of the desire to have both names included on the fulfillment deed, the Estate concedes this is not evidence of Jeanette Borghi’s intent. Moreover, because the property at issue is real property, an acknowledged writing evidencing Jeanette Borghi’s intent to transfer her property to the community was required, and no such writing is in evidence.⁷ In the absence of clear and convincing evidence to the contrary, the issue must be resolved on the weight of the presumption that the property was Jeanette Borghi’s separate property.

CONCLUSION

¶18 We hold that the property acquired by Jeanette Borghi prior to her marriage to Robert Borghi was presumptively her separate property. No contrary presumption arose from the fact that a deed was later issued in the names of both spouses, and to the extent Hurd and Olivares endorse a joint title gift presumption, we disapprove these cases. Because the Estate did not present clear and convincing evidence to overcome the separate property presumption, we hold that the property in question remained Jeanette Borghi’s separate property at the time of her death. We affirm the Court of Appeals.

Alexander, C.J., and Sanders and Chambers, JJ, concur.

1 We use “Robert” throughout our opinion as that is the way his name appears in the dissolution proceedings and other legal documents that we reference.

2 Robert Borghi passed away in October 2006, and Jeanette Borghi’s sister now serves as the personal representative of the Estate. In re Estate of Borghi, 141 Wn. App. 294, 297, 169 P.3d 847 (2007).

3 Whether the property was at some point the community property of Jeanette Borghi and her prior husband is not relevant in this case.

4 The court in Guye used the phrase “direct and positive evidence” to describe the quantum of evidence necessary to overcome the applicable presumption. 63 Wash. at 352. This should be understood as reflecting a “clear and convincing evidence” standard, consistent with, the phrasing in more modem cases involving the presumption in favor of community property. See, e.g., Estate of Madsen v. Comm’r, 97 Wn.2d 792, 650 P.2d 196 (1982). We recognize that various phrasings have been used in our cases throughout the years. Weber notes this has created some uncertainty. 19 Weber, supra, § 10.5, at 138 n.2, § 10.6, at 140. Today we make clear that, once a presumption in favor of either community or separate property is established, the burden to overcome the presumption is by clear and convincing evidence. There is no reason to differentiate between the evidence needed to overcome the presumption in these two situations given our recognition that the right of a party in her separate property is “as sacred” as the right of spouses in their community property. Guye, 63 Wash. at 352.

5 Though the Court of Appeals discussed only Hurd, the same language also appears in Olivares, 69 Wn. App. at 336, a Court of Appeals case decided at about the same time as Hurd. See 19 Scott J. Horenstein et al., Washington Practice: Family and Community Property Law § 11.24 n.4, at 66 (1997 Supp. 2009-10).

6 Similarly Olivares states, “When one spouse uses separate property to acquire an asset, but takes title to that asset in the name of the other spouse, under Washington law there is a rebuttable presumption of a gift to the spouse in whose name title is taken.” Id. at 336. The court in Olivares applied this presumption to determine that a car purchased by the husband using his separate credit and titled in the wife’s name was presumptively community property. Id.

7 To the extent the Estate relies on Robert and Jeanette Borghi’s subsequent use of the property to secure a mortgage under which they were jointly obligated, this fact is immaterial to the determination of the character of the property. Under the date of acquisition rule noted above, the separate property character of the property was established at the time Jeanette Borghi contracted to purchase the property. Later community property contributions to the payment of obligations, improvements upon the property, or any subsequent mortgage of the property may in some instances give rise to a community right of reimbursement protected by an equitable lien, but such later actions do not result in a transmutation of the property from separate to community property. See Guye, 63 Wash. at 352-53 (noting that the spouses’joinder in encumbrances upon property does not support claim of community property); Merkel v. Merkel, 39 Wn.2d 102, 113-15, 234 P.2d 857 (1951) (recognizing community right to equitable reimbursement for payments on mortgage taken on husband’s separate property. See generally Cross, supra, at 67-75 (discussing right to reimbursement and equitable lien).