Faust v. Faust

204 P.2d 906, 91 Cal. App. 2d 304, 1949 Cal. App. LEXIS 1221
CourtCalifornia Court of Appeal
DecidedApril 18, 1949
DocketCiv. 16613
StatusPublished
Cited by24 cases

This text of 204 P.2d 906 (Faust v. Faust) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering California Court of Appeal primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Faust v. Faust, 204 P.2d 906, 91 Cal. App. 2d 304, 1949 Cal. App. LEXIS 1221 (Cal. Ct. App. 1949).

Opinion

VALLÉE, J.

Defendant, Geraldine L. Faust, appeals from that portion of an interlocutory decree of divorce granted to plaintiff, Don D. Faust, decreeing a portion of monies on deposit in an escrow, received from the sale of real estate in Arcadia, California, title to which stood in the name of defendant as her sole and separate property, to be community property and disposing of it as such.

On March 29, 1946, respondent instituted a suit for divorce against appellant on the ground of extreme cruelty and for a division of the community property, which he alleged consisted of a house and lot in Arcadia of the approximate value of $16,000. Appellant answered and cross-complained. Respond *306 ent’s allegation with respect to the community property was denied by appellant, and in her cross-complaint she alleged the community property consisted of cash in an undeterminable sum, a 1936 Dodge coupé valued at $800, United States war bonds of the face value of $900, and household furnishings of an undeterminable value. An interlocutory decree was awarded respondent. No complaint is made by appellant as to the disposition made by the trial court of property other than the money on deposit in an escrow derived from a sale by appellant of property located in Arcadia (referred to as the “Arcadia property”), for a total sum of $16,900. With respect to this latter sum, the court found that $8,388 thereof was community property and concluded that respondent was entitled to $4,194, half thereof.

Appellant contends that this finding is unsupported by the evidence. She also contends that, in the event the court determines the evidence is sufficient to establish a community interest, the amount found to be of a community character is not supported by the record.

Disregarding conflicts, and giving the evidence and the inferences therefrom their fullest effect in support of the findings (Andrews v. Andrews, 82 Cal.App.2d 521, 525 [186 P.2d 744]), we cannot say that the disputed finding is without support.

The parties were married in Las Vegas on November 22, 1941 and separated in the month of March, 1946. One month after the marriage, they purchased a parcel of improved real property in Fontana, California (referred to as the “Fontana property”), consisting of 2 ½ acres, for $3,850, payable $900 down and the balance in monthly installments of $35. Because of an outstanding indebtedness which respondent owed a former wife, it was agreed between the parties that title should be taken in the name of appellant as her separate property, and the real estate agent who sold the property was so instructed. Respondent testified that the property “was supposed to be put in both our names as community property” after his account with his former wife was settled, but “we never got around to it.” The down payment was made from funds acquired by appellant prior to her marriage with respondent.

Respondent moved onto the property in January of 1942. Meanwhile, because of the war, appellant remained in Long Beach where she was employed as a telephone operator but she spent each week end with respondent on the ranch. The *307 parties considered the “Fontana property” as their home. Respondent immediately began to make extensive and substantial repairs and improvements on the property, the money for which came partly from respondent’s separate property, partly from proceeds received “off the property,” and partly from unemployment insurance money respondent had been drawing. He estimated that, exclusive of his labor, the total improvements made by him on the premises amounted to “around $900.” In the month of January, the parties purchased 600 baby chickens for $200 with money borrowed from Bank of America, which appellant paid off. Subsequently, from profits of the ranch, 4,100 additional chickens were purchased. Respondent devoted his entire time to the management and operation of the property and, as appellant testified, “had complete financing of the farm.” The parties raised chickens in commercial quantities, sold the eggs, and likewise sold grapefruit crops. The money that came from the sale of the crops was turned over to appellant, and the money from the chickens was retained by respondent. Appellant assisted respondent in selling eggs and received therefor a small stipend. Joint income tax returns were filed by the parties showing the income of each to be community property. These reflected that in 1942 the property returned a net profit of $158.56, in 1943 a net profit of $1,605.64, and in 1944 a net profit of $1,718.31.

The monthly installments upon the balance of the purchase price of the “Fontana property” were paid partly out of separate funds belonging to appellant and partly out of community income, being appellant’s salary and profits and proceeds received by respondent from the operation of the ranch. The property was completely paid for by April of 1944. In November, 1944, the property, including the furniture, was sold for $6,460. Respondent testified: “Q. Did you have any discussions relative to trading this property for another property, as to how the deed was to be made out? A. After that time the deeds were to be made in both our names, be community property. Q. What did she say ? A. She said it would be all right. Q. When did that conversation take place? A. It taken place just about the time the place was sold. Q. Then what happened? A. After we sold the place she wanted to keep the money in her bank and buy another place, which I agreed to, which we never bought another place. The last time we looked was in San Fernando Valley. We went *308 with a man by the name of Fred Senter and spent a whole day there but didn’t find anything suitable. Q. What year? A. January, 1945.” Appellant retained the proceeds from the sale of the “Fontana property” in her bank account.

In June of 1945, appellant, without the knowledge or consent of respondent, purchased the “Arcadia property” for $12,500, title to which was taken in her name as her separate property. She made a down payment of $7,500, which payment included the funds received from the sale of the “Fontana property.” The balance of the purchase price was paid from proceeds received by appellant from the sale of real property owned by her prior to her marriage to respondent. Thereafter, and without the knowledge or consent of the respondent she sold the “Arcadia property” for $16,900. This is the sum of which $8,388 was found to be community property and $4,194 thereof awarded to respondent.

In determining whether property is community or separate property of the spouses, a trial judge is not bound by the form of the deed alone. (Tomaier v. Tomaier, 23 Cal.2d 754, 757 [146 P.2d 905]; Estate of Watkins, 16 Cal.2d 793, 797 [108 P.2d 417, 109 P.2d 1]; Kenney v. Kenney, 220 Cal. 134, 136 [30 P.2d 398]; Rogers v. Rogers,

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Bluebook (online)
204 P.2d 906, 91 Cal. App. 2d 304, 1949 Cal. App. LEXIS 1221, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/faust-v-faust-calctapp-1949.