McNulty v. Berry

1956 OK 81, 297 P.2d 1094, 1956 Okla. LEXIS 481
CourtSupreme Court of Oklahoma
DecidedMarch 6, 1956
DocketNo. 36983
StatusPublished
Cited by1 cases

This text of 1956 OK 81 (McNulty v. Berry) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Supreme Court of Oklahoma primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
McNulty v. Berry, 1956 OK 81, 297 P.2d 1094, 1956 Okla. LEXIS 481 (Okla. 1956).

Opinion

PER CURIAM.

This appeal involves the construction and interpretation of certain portions of the testatrix’ will and the distribution of property thereunder. In their briefs the parties identify plaintiff in error, as plaintiff, and defendant in error, as defendant.- This opinion will continue such mode of reference to the parties.

The judgment appealed from was entered by the District Court of Pawnee County after trial de novo on- appeal from the' County Court. ' -

The testatrix, Sarah Jane Mulléndote, a widow, was the mother of plaintiff and Bessie M. Johnson (whose interests herein conflict under a specific devise) and another daughter and son, whose interests as bene-flciaries of the estate aré involved-under the residuary clause of the will.

The testatrix was one of four children, all of whom inherited an undivided one-fourth interest each in certain real propértyi ■ It is only testatrix’ interest that is involved in this case.

The issues stem from separate portions of testatrix’ will providing for disposition of certain of her property. One portion relates to a tract of land in Tulsa County. Its pertinent provisions are:

“I give, devise and bequeath to my daughter, Bessie M. Johnson, the following described real and personal property:
“2. My one-fourth (⅛) undivided' interest and improvements thereon, in a tract of land located near the City of Tulsa, Tulsa County, Oklahoma, ’ should I own the same at the date of my demise.” .

The second portion relates to the Youst' Hotel in Stillwater -and other real estate in Payne and Lincoln Counties. Its provisions are: -• =

“I give, devise and beqeuath to my daughter, Patience M. McNulty, the-following described real and personal'"' property: ■'
“1. All of my one-fourth (⅛). undivided interest in and to real estate ■located in Stillwater, Oklahoma, known as Youst Hotel property, should I own , the same at the date of my demise.
“2. All of my rights, title and -interest -in and to all real estate and - improvements thereon which may be-owned by 'me at the date of my demise and located within the County -of Payne, State of Oklahoma. ■’ '
“3. All of my -rights,' title and interest in and to the Northwest Quarter (NW-¼), Section Twenty-eight (28), Township Sixteen North (16N), Range Five East (5E), Lincoln County, Okla-¡ homa, together with -improvements thereon at the time of my demise.” ■ .

There is also ah issue involving the second portion of th'e will relating to the deposition of an 1273/18,455 interest in what [1096]*1096is identified as the Mullendore Trust, and its property.

We are thus concerned in this appeal with three separate apportionments of property, the distribution of which was made by the District and County Courts under the above quoted parts of the will and the residuary clause thereof which reads as follows:

“I give, devise and bequeath all other property, real,, personal and mixed, than .that above described or listed, and wherever located, which may be owned by me at the date of my demise, to my children, Bessie M. Johnson, Eugene C. Mullendore, Mildred M. Adams, and Patience M. McNulty to share and share alike.”

The factual situation relating to each of the three issues will be stated upon consideration of the separate questions pertaining thereto.

At the time testatrix made her will (April, 1941), she owned an undivided one-fourth interest in 120 acres of land near Tulsa. She later (1945) entered into an agreement with her cotenants, all of whom were joint heirs with her (each owning an undivided one-fourth interest by inheritance from their parents) to divide the tract between them. Under this agreement .the parties caused an appraisement and division of the whole tract to be made; then each selected his or her portion by lot. This was followed by an exchange of deeds between them. The tract so partitioned to testatrix originally comprised 35 acres. She later exchanged 5 acres of the 35 for two lots in an adjoining platted area. The two lots so acquired were'a part of one of the partitioned tracts, but, at the time of exchange, were not owned by the cotenant who drew that particular tract. At the date of testatrix’ death, December 28, 1951, she owned the 30 acres so partitioned to her, together with the two lots acquired in the exchange.

Plaintiff alleges error on the part of the trial court in distributing the 30 acres to Bessie M. Johnson under the will’s provision devising to her an undivided one-fourth interest in the 120 acres. Neither party complains of the court’s action in distributing the two lots under the residuary clause.

We think the factual situation which was agreed upon by the parties with respect to the Tulsa County land presents only the question of whether or not a devise of a testator’s undivided interest in a tract of land is adeemed by a subsequent exchange of deeds between the cotenants whereby each became the sole owner of a specified part of said tract.

The question thus presented is neither, new nor novel. We find from an examination of the various decisions and text books that the rule is well established that in situations such as exists here there is no ademption or revocation by voluntary partition. The criterion for ascertaining whether or not revocation of a specific legacy or devise has been effected, is to determine whether such legacy or devise has been extinguished, alienated, or satisfied by the act of the testator with the intention of revoking, and whether some act has been done which interferes with the operation of the will. This court is committed to the general rule that a partition deed does not pass title, but merely adjusts the different rights of the parties to the possession. Perry v. Jones, 48 Okl. 362, 150 P. 168, 169; In re Moran’s Estate, 174 Okl. 507, 51 P.2d 277, 103 A.L.R. 227. In the latter case, we stated that the division of property owned in common by inheritance does not ordinarily change the title from one of inheritence to one by purchase. ■ The effect of partition is to concentrate in a particular portion of land, the title to an undivided interest in said land, and in legal effect, said title remains the same. In re Pryor’s Estate, 199 Okl. 17, 181 P.2d 979.

Defendant relies on the case of Brady v. Paine, 391 Ill. 596, 63 N.E.2d 721, 162 A.L.R. 138, and the annotations thereto as expressive of the rules applied by the courts generally in situations such as here exist. Under the rule of that case, a devise of testator’s undivided interest in a tract of land is not adeemed by a subsequent exchange of deeds between the cotenants, whereby each became the sole owner of a specified part. The rule referred to is supported by reaspn [1097]*1097and logic. In the case of voluntary partition between cotenants, like we have in this case, each holds title — not under the deed of his cotenant — but under his original title. This was the effect of our previous decisions, above cited. We find no error in the judgment of the trial court in ordering the 30 acre tract distributed to Bessie M. Johnson under the devise, of testatrix’ interest in the Tulsa County land.

Free access — add to your briefcase to read the full text and ask questions with AI

Related

In Re Mullendore's Estate
1956 OK 81 (Supreme Court of Oklahoma, 1956)

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
1956 OK 81, 297 P.2d 1094, 1956 Okla. LEXIS 481, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/mcnulty-v-berry-okla-1956.