Meyer v. Security National Bank of Norman

294 P.2d 572
CourtSupreme Court of Oklahoma
DecidedMarch 12, 1956
Docket36945
StatusPublished
Cited by4 cases

This text of 294 P.2d 572 (Meyer v. Security National Bank of Norman) 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
Meyer v. Security National Bank of Norman, 294 P.2d 572 (Okla. 1956).

Opinion

HUNT, Justice.

In this case it appears that on the 27th day of ’ March, 1953, Patsy Lou Meyer brought an action in the District Court of Cleveland County, Oklahoma, against the Security National Bank of Norman, Oklahoma, McFarlin Memorial Methodist *574 Church of Norman, Oklahoma, and Dixie Meyer, plaintiff’s grandmother, to quiet title to one-half interest in certain lots located in the City of Norman, Oklahoma, of which her father, H. P. Meyer, died possessed. Plaintiff is the child of H. P. Meyer by a former marriage to Dorothy Lou Nash Meyer who divorced him in August, 1938. He again married. His second marriage was to Augusta B. Meyer, who lived with him on the property here involved until his death which was on January 4, 1945. There were no children born of the second marriage.

Upon his death H. P. Meyer left a will by the terms of which a bequest was made to Augusta B. Meyer of all the household goods and furniture and a specific devise of certain farm land was also made to her. The will further provides that the remainder of his property, which includes the property here involved, should be disposed of as follows: one-tenth to defendant Mc-Farlin Memorial Methodist Church; one-tenth to Augusta B. Meyer; three-tenths to Dixie Meyer and the remaining five-tenths in trust for plaintiff. E. H. Stibbe-man was designated executor under the terms of the will with full power to sell such of the estate of deceased as deemed expedient and the proceeds to be distributed as above set forth.

At the time of his death H. P. Meyer owned Lots 9 and 10, Block 12 of the original town of Norman and occupied the same with his wife as his homestead. This is the property subject of this action.

In the divorce decree heretofore mentioned the plaintiff, Patsy Lou Meyer, who was then a minor, was placed in the complete custody of her mother, Dorothy Lou Meyer, and at no time subsequent to the divorce proceeding in 1938 did plaintiff or her mother live upon the property here involved or acquire any homestead right therein nor does either claim such interest. By the terms of the divorce decree H. P. Meyer was required to contribute the sum of $42.50 per month for the support of plaintiff, Patsy Lou Meyer, until she attained the age of eighteen years, which occurred on March 5, 1953, which installments have been fully paid.

It appears that Augusta B. Meyer, surviving widow of deceased, became dissatisfied with the will and was about to renounce the will and elect to take as an heir of deceased under the laws of succession of the State of Oklahoma. All the other legatees and devisees under the will then agreed to make certain concessions to her in order to induce her to elect to take under the will. Thereafter Dorothy Lou Meyer, mother of plaintiff, who had been appointed her legal guardian, and the executor of the estate obtained leave of court to enter into a contract with Augusta B. Meyer to accomplish this purpose and on the 17th day of October, 1945, Dorothy Lou Meyer, guardian of plaintiff, and the executor of the estate of deceased, Dixie Meyer and McFarlin Memorial Methodist Church entered into a written contract with the said Augusta B. Meyer wherein it was agreed in consideration of Augusta B. Meyer electing to take under the terms of the will of H. P. Meyer, deceased, and other consideration, that she, Augusta B. Meyer, should have certain property of deceased not here involved and should also have a life estate in the property comprising the homestead which is involved in this action.

Thereafter Augusta B. Meyer filed her election to take under the will as modified by the contract. The executor under the terms of the will thereafter sold the realty here involved at public sale, subject to the life estate of Augusta B. Meyer, to the highest bidder, Augusta B. Meyer, holder of the life estate.

The sale was confirmed by the county court and the executor executed his deed to Augusta B. Meyer dated March 18, 1946. The consideration paid by Augusta B. Meyer for the remainder interest in the land was included in the assets of the estate of deceased and was distributed to the devisees and legatees mentioned in the will in the proportion therein provided and the full title to the lots in question was distributed to Augusta B. Meyer under *575 final decree of distribution entered May 6, 1946.

On January 15, 1947, Augusta B. Meyer conveyed the lots here involved to the Security National Bank of Norman by warranty deed which was immediately placed of record by the bank. Augusta B. Meyer continued to occupy the lots until February of 1953, at which time she moved therefrom. It further appears from the evidence and stipulation that after the above mentioned contract was executed Augusta B. Meyer claimed homestead tax exemption on the premises involved. This action was thereafter commenced by plaintiff. Augusta B. Meyer intervened as a defendant in the action because of her warranty deed to defendant, Security National Bank, to defend her title to the property.

The above facts are undisputed and are either stipulated or established by documentary evidence.

Upon the above evidence and stipulation the trial court entered judgment in favor of defendant Security National Bank of Norman and adjudged that plaintiff take nothing by her suit. Plaintiff and Dixie Meyer appeal and contend the judgment is not supported by the evidence and is contrary to law.

It is the contention of plaintiff that upon the death of H. P. Meyer his surviving widow, Augusta B. Meyer, acquired a homestead interest in the premises involved and that such interest was not subject to administration or sale by the executor under the terms o-f the will so long as the premises were maintained by Augusta B. Meyer as a homestead; that the homestead does not pass to the executor and does not become part of the estate of deceased. This constitutes a correct statement of the law. 58 O.S.1951 § 311, as far as here material, provides:

“Upon the death of either husband or wife, the survivor may continue to possess and occupy the whole homestead, which shall not in any event be subject to administration proceedings until it is otherwise disposed of according to law; and upon the death of both husband and wife the children may continue to possess and occupy the whole homestead until the youngest child becomes of age. * * * ”

See, also, Kimberlin v. Anthony, 124 Okl. 170, 254 P. 1; In re Gardner’s Estate (Bowers v. Gardner), 122 Okl. 26, 250 P. 490; Ringer v. Byrne, 183 Okl. 46, 80 P.2d 212.

We have also held that the right to occupy the homestead given the surviving spouse by statute requires no order of court to vitalize or give it effect. Moore v. Rick, 186 Okl. 351, 97 P.2d 884; Kimberlin v. Anthony, supra.

We have, however, also held that the surviving spouse may waive and abandon his or her homestead right and that upon such abandonment the homestead becomes subject to administration and the administrator may take possession of the same and administer it as other property of the estate. In re Butler’s Estate (Brooks v. McCroskey), 181 Okl. 301, 73 P.2d 417; Lusk v. Carter Oil Co., 172 Okl. 508, 53 P.2d 656; In re Irwin’s Estate (Irwin v. Irwin), 192 Okl. 334, 136 P.2d 940.

Defendants, Security National Bank of Norman, Oklahoma and Augusta B. Meyer, contend that the act of Augusta B.

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Bluebook (online)
294 P.2d 572, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/meyer-v-security-national-bank-of-norman-okla-1956.