Shea v. Helling

826 S.W.2d 419, 1992 Mo. App. LEXIS 519, 1992 WL 54407
CourtMissouri Court of Appeals
DecidedMarch 24, 1992
DocketNo. 59788
StatusPublished
Cited by3 cases

This text of 826 S.W.2d 419 (Shea v. Helling) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Missouri Court of Appeals primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Shea v. Helling, 826 S.W.2d 419, 1992 Mo. App. LEXIS 519, 1992 WL 54407 (Mo. Ct. App. 1992).

Opinion

AHRENS, Judge.

In this discovery of assets action against Rollin Helling, personal representative for the estate of Raymond H. Helling, plaintiff, Patricia Shea, personal representative for the estate of Jeannette A. Helling, appeals from the trial court’s judgment determining the distribution of assets owned by Jeannette Helling and Raymond Helling. We affirm.

Raymond and Jeannette Helling were married in 1963. Each had children from previous marriages, and one child was born of their marriage. On November 29, 1988, Raymond and Jeannette Helling were found dead from gunshot wounds. There was no evidence that decedents died other than simultaneously. Neither decedent had executed a will.

At decedents’ deaths, four tracts of land were titled to Raymond Helling; six tracts were titled in the names of both decedents. The trial court found that after decedents’ deaths, the Franklin County Sheriff’s Department removed approximately 287 firearms from decedents’ residence, as well as other items of personal property. Further, the trial court found Mr. Helling apparently acquired twenty-four vehicles and one mobile home “as pledges for loans or outright purchase.” The trial court determined that decedents maintained separate bank accounts, savings accounts, and Certificates of Deposit; and that Mr. Helling “utilized his individual bank accounts to purchase the firearms and the vehicles or to make loans....”

Following a hearing, the trial court entered findings of fact, conclusions of law, and a judgment declaring the ownership of and distributing decedents’ property. The trial court concluded: (1) there was no evidence decedents died other than simultaneously; (2) “decedents were not engaged in a partnership or joint business venture as to any of the assets in question”; and (3) “resulting trust equitable principles are not applicable to distribution of the decedents' property, as distribution is governed by Chapter 474 RSMo and the rules of intestate succession.” The trial court’s judgment distributed: individually titled assets to the estate of the title owner, jointly titled assets equally to each estate, the firearms to Mr. Helling’s estate, and all household furnishings, clothing, kitchen items, tractors, tools and equipment equally to each estate.

Under Murphy v. Carrón, 536 S.W.2d 30 (Mo. banc 1976), we must affirm the trial court’s judgment if it is supported by substantial evidence, not against the weight of the evidence and the court correctly declared and applied the law. Id. at 32.

In her first point, appellant asserts the trial court erroneously denied appellant’s claim to impose an equitable remedy, and “the judgment erroneously declares the law because Missouri public policy and stare decisis vest the circuit court’s probate division with equitable jurisdiction.”

This court has held that “In equitable actions the probate court has the inherent power to adjust equity between the parties without rigid adherence to any determined form and may shape the remedy to meet the demands of justice.” Estate of Cantonia v. Sindel, 684 S.W.2d 592, 595 (Mo.App.1985). Contrary to appellant’s contention, nothing in the record demonstrates the trial court “misunderstood its jurisdiction” in determining that equitable principles did not apply to the distribution of decedents’ property. Rather, it appears that in light of the facts regarding decedents’ maintenance of separate bank accounts, individual ownership of some assets, and the absence of a joint business venture or partnership, the trial court determined there was no justification for imposing a resulting trust. Point one is denied.

In her second point, appellant alleges the trial court’s judgment denying her “claim of a marital or family partnership should be reversed in that the judgment was against the weight of the evidence because shared profits, joint payment of expenses and assumption of liabilities, and [421]*421the parties’ conduct were prima facie evidence of a marital or family partnership.”

Section 358.060.1 RSMo 1986 defines a partnership as “an association of two or more persons to carry on as co-owners a business for profit.” Courts have defined the term as “ ‘a contract of two or more competent persons to place their money, effects, labor and skill, or some or all of them, in lawful commerce or business and to divide the profits and bear the loss in certain proportions.’ ” Brotherton v. Kissinger, 550 S.W.2d 904, 907 (Mo.App.1977) (quoting Stuart v. Overland Med. Center, 510 S.W.2d 494, 497 (Mo.App. 1974)). “ ‘The contract creating the partnership need not be written, but may be expressed orally or implied from the acts and conduct of the parties.’ ” Brotherton, 550 S.W.2d at 907 (quoting Stuart, 510 S.W.2d at 497)). However, “the purported partners must have made a definite and specific agreement proved by cogent, clear and convincing evidence, or at least by a preponderance of the credible evidence[.]” Brotherton, 550 S.W.2d at 907.

The trial court’s conclusion that decedents were not engaged in a partnership is not against the weight of the evidence. Appellant contends there was prima facie evidence of a marital or family partnership, in that decedents: (1) declared shared income on their joint tax returns; (2) shared liabilities to creditors as evidenced by the repeated joint obligations and use of marital assets as security; and (3) accumulated assets free and clear only after the sale of entirety property.

With regard to the declaration of “shared income,” we note that § 358.070(4) RSMo 1986 provides: “The receipt by a person of a share of the profits of a business is prima facie evidence that he is a partner in the business ...”; however, “the sharing of profits is not conclusive of the existence of a partnership unless there be a corresponding right of management in each partner.” Brotherton, 550 S.W.2d at 907. There was no evidence adduced that Mrs. Helling had any right of management in Mr. Helling’s business or trading activities with respect to the purchase and sale of guns and automobiles. There was evidence that Mrs. Helling was present during some of Mr. Helling’s transactions; her involvement, however, was limited to filing the title and writing the check for Mr. Helling who had previously had his right hand amputated. “[Mjerely ‘helping out’ in a business is not sufficient proof of a partnership.” Id. Moreover, decedents’ tax returns reflected no partnership income from the sale of real estate, firearms, or automobiles. The federal firearms dealer application and license were in Mr. Hell-ing’s name.

Appellant asserts decedents had shared liabilities to creditors as evidenced by repeated joint obligations and use of marital assets as security. Appellant does not challenge the trial court’s findings that the property on which decedents resided was acquired by Mr. Helling in 1944, had been titled solely in Mr. Helling’s name since decedents’ marriage in 1963, and was not subject to any deed of trust at decedents’ deaths. Appellant has not made the exhibits part of the record on appeal. See Rule 81.12.

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

Related

Toobaroo, LLC v. Western Robidoux, Inc
Missouri Court of Appeals, 2020
H2O'C LTD. v. Brazos
114 S.W.3d 397 (Missouri Court of Appeals, 2003)
Morrison v. Labor & Industrial Relations Commission
23 S.W.3d 902 (Missouri Court of Appeals, 2000)

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
826 S.W.2d 419, 1992 Mo. App. LEXIS 519, 1992 WL 54407, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/shea-v-helling-moctapp-1992.