Grace v. Kezar

12 S.E. 1067, 86 Ga. 697, 1891 Ga. LEXIS 46

• Court: Supreme Court of Georgia
• Decided: February 23, 1891
• Status: Published

Opinion

Simmons, Justice.

Under the facts of this case, the court did not err in finding the property not subject. The land was levied on and advertised for sale by the sheriff before Smith made application for a homestead. It was sold by the sheriff, subject to this homestead, after the application was made, but before it was approved by the ordinary. The deed made by the sheriff" to Kezar, the purchaser, recited that the land was “levied on and sold as the property of Patrick Smith, subject to the homestead of said Patrick Smith then pending, of which notice was given at the time and place and before the sale.” The fee and the use of the land were still in Smith at the time of the sale. There was no law to prevent the sheriff from selling the land before the application for homestead was approved, and the sale was not, therefore, void, as contended by counsel .for the plaintiff in error. When the application was approved, the fee would have remained in Smith had not the land been sold prior thereto, but the law would have takeu from him the use of the land and vested it in his family. Kezar having purchased the fee before the application of Smith was approved, and having purchased subject to the encumbrance of the homestead, was deprived of the use of the land so long as the homestead existed. When the homestead expired by the death of the beneficiaries, however, Kezar wa.s then entitled, not only to the fee, but to the possession of the land, and the court was therefore right in holding that it could not be again sold under an execution against Smith in favor of the plaintiff" in error. Judgment affirmed.