May v. May

262 Cal. App. 2d 668, 68 Cal. Rptr. 863, 1968 Cal. App. LEXIS 2357
CourtCalifornia Court of Appeal
DecidedJune 3, 1968
DocketCiv. 32128
StatusPublished
Cited by3 cases

This text of 262 Cal. App. 2d 668 (May v. May) 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
May v. May, 262 Cal. App. 2d 668, 68 Cal. Rptr. 863, 1968 Cal. App. LEXIS 2357 (Cal. Ct. App. 1968).

Opinion

FOURT, J.

This is an appeal from that part of an interlocutory judgment of divorce which awarded to the wife as her separate property certain real property previously occupied by the parties as their home.

Plaintiff and respondent, hereafter referred to as the wife, brought an action for divorce, custody of children and their support and maintenance, attorneys’ fees and costs and an award of such of the community property as would be equitable and proper, against the defendant and appellant, hereafter referred to as the husband. The wife alleged that the real property, automobile and household furniture and furnishings were community property.

The husband answered the complaint and denied that the real property was community property and asserted that it was “property held in joint tenancy . . .” He also filed a cross-complaint for divorce and asserted that there was 11 community property of the parties, the nature and extent of which is presently unknown” to him. After a contested hearing, where both parties and others testified, the judge granted an interlocutory decree wherein among other things it was ordered that the wife was entitled to a divorce, that she have the custody of the minor children of the parties, that the husband pay $16.50 per month per child for their support and 'further that the household furniture and furnishings in the possession of the wife and the real property be assigned to the wife as her separate property, subject however to an interest of $1,000 in the husband, payable to the husband at $10 per month plus interest at the rate of 7 percent, that the automobile and the furniture and furnishings in possession of the husband be assigned to him as his separate property. The husband has appealed from that portion of the judgment which awards the real property as community property to his wife.

The testimony or the inferences which can be drawn therefrom disclose that the wife was about nineteen years of age when she was married to the husband in Los Angeles September 21, 1946, and was entirely inexperienced in business- transactions. In 1953 they bought a lot.and paid $3,000 for-it. That .money came from the earnings of each of the- parties. Later, they borrowed' $10,000 from a savings institution and had a house constructed upon the lot. It was intended that the house be occupied as a home by the parties and their children. Pay- *670 merits were made on the loan from the earnings of both of the parties until 1962 when the husband entered a mental hospital. The balance due on the loan at that time was about $8,000. From the time he entered the hospital the husband paid nothing on the indebtedness; in other words, since 1962 the wife has made all payments on the house. Because of a default the property went into foreclosure and the wife refinanced to the end that taxes could be paid and the loan brought up to date. She borrowed $1,060 which with other charges brought the loan to about $11,000. The present value of the home is about $17,500.

When the property was first acquired the wife signed the papers with reference to the title without reading or understanding them; she believed that whatever was bought by a husband and wife was community property. At the time of purchase there was no discussion of the manner of taking title, and until her attorney explained the theory of a joint tenancy to her when she filed for divorce she believed the title to be as community property. The husband testified that the title to the property “was to my wife and I, both of us.” His testimony disclosed that he had no clear understanding of a joint tenancy and its distinguishing features, advantages and disadvantages.

In the argument to the court the husband argued that “he should be given some interest in the property” or that “perhaps some lien for the benefit of Mr. May should be put against the property to protect some of his interest in the property should the plaintiff sell the property at some time in the future. ’ ’

Appellant now asserts that the trial judge failed to make a finding that the property in question was or was not community property and that there is no substantial evidence to support a finding that the real property was community property or that it was not in joint tenancy.

The judgment recites, “findings of fact and conclusions of law having been waived.” Furthermore, the judgment sets forth, following the signature of the judge, “Approved as to form: ...” and then follows the signatures of counsel for the respective parties. The reporter’s transcript does not indicate whether there was or was not a waiver of findings. Under the circumstances, where the judgment indicates there was a waiver, we assume that there was a waiver. (Watson v. Borcovich, 34 Cal.App.2d 585 [94 P.2d 76].) Every intendment is in favor of the judgment and we *671 presume under the circumstances that the court in effect found whatever was necessary to support the judgment. (Gray v. Gray, 185 Cal. 598 [197 P. 945].) It would seem that had findings not been waived, counsel for the husband would not have approved the wording in the proposed judgment, namefythat1 ‘findings . . .waived.”

In Bowman v. Bowman, 149 Cal.App.2d 773, 775-776 [308 P.2d 906], it is stated:

“The deed to the property was taken in joint tenancy. This fact raises a rebuttable presumption that the property was in fact held in joint tenancy, and places on the party claiming it to be community property the burden of overcoming the presumption. [Citations.] The fact that the property was purchased with community funds, standing alone, is insufficient to rebut the presumption created by the form of the deed. [Citation.] Parol evidence of an oral agreement by, or intention of, the parties to hold it as community property is admissible. [Citation.] While the presumption cannot be rebutted by an understanding of one party uncommunicated to the other [citation], an understanding to hold it as community property, in spite of the form of the deed, may be shown by the conduct and declarations of the parties. [Citations.] Here there was admittedly no express agreement that the property was to be held other than as shown by the deed. Defendant claims there was no evidence of any mutual understanding or intention of the parties to hold the property as community property and that, therefore, the presumption was not overcome. ’ ’

Here the lot was purchased with community earnings. The house was built with money borrowed from a lending institution. At first the payments on the loan were made from the earnings of both of the parties and later the payments on the loan and on the new loan were made exclusively from the earnings of the wife. She apparently had no recollection of any arrangement or of statements made at the time the title was placed in joint tenancy. She apparently did not know what the document recited as to how the title was held. She thought it was community property as she thought everything acquired by husband and wife was community property. The judge could well have disbelieved the husband’s statements as to what he said was done and said at the time of taking title.

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Bluebook (online)
262 Cal. App. 2d 668, 68 Cal. Rptr. 863, 1968 Cal. App. LEXIS 2357, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/may-v-may-calctapp-1968.