Capps v. . Massey

ClaeKSON, J. The county court decided one way, on appeal the Superior Court decided another way, and this Court is now called upon to make the final decision. The original deed was made to husband and wife — an estate by the entireties. The husband attempted to convey his interest to the wife and then the wife attempted to convey back to the husband and herself. "We think, under the peculiar facts and circumstances of this case that the deed from the husband, E. M. Knight, to the wife, L. E. Knight, estopped E. M. Knight, who survived his wife, therefore plaintiffs the heirs of E. M. Knight, from claiming the land. The deed made by the wife L. E. Knight to her husband E. M. Knight and herself is void and no estoppel. The first question involved: E. M. Knight and wife, L. E. Knight, held an estate by the entireties. ¥as a deed from the husband to the wife an estoppel against E. M. Knight, who survived his wife, therefore the heirs at law of E. M. Knight? We think so. There is no question that if an estate is held by the entireties by husband and wife, it is necessary for both husband and wife to join in the conveyance made to a third party. In Thompson on Real Property, 2nd Yol. (1924), p. 953, sec. 1748, in part: “Neither husband nor wife can sever this title so as to defeat or prejudice the right of survivorship in the other. Neither can alone make a valid conveyance to a third person. So an agreement by one alone, affecting a change of the boundaries of the land, is not binding. Neither the husband nor the wife can convey the entire estate without the other joining in the conveyance.” Harrison v. Ray, 108 N. C., 215; Bruce v. Nicholson, 109 N. C., 202; Phillips v. Hodges, 109 N. C., 248; Bynum v. Wicker, 141 N. C., 95; Jones v. Smith, 149 N. C., 318; Bank v. McEwen, 160 N. C., 414; Moore v. Trust Co., 178 N. C., 118; Turlington v. Lucas, 186 N. C., 283; Davis v. Bass, 188 N. C., 200; Johnson v. Leavitt, 188 N. C., 682; Distributing Co. v. Carraway, 189 N. C., 420; Trust Co. v. Broughton, 193 N. C., 320; Bryant v. Bryant, 193 N. C., 372. Without deciding whether the deed from E. M. Knight to his wife, L. E. Knight, was valid as a conveyance, the decisions would seem to give it effect as an estoppel against E. M. Knight, who survived his wife, therefore the heirs at law of E. M. Knight. In Hood v. Mercer, 150 N. C., at p. 700, it is said: “While, to some extent, former decisions of this Court in respect to this estate have been *198 modified, we have field, in recent years, tfiat under a conveyance of land in fee to fiusband and wife tfiey take by entireties, witfi rigfit of survivorship, and tfiat the interest of neither during tfieir joint lives becomes subject to tfie lien of a docketed'judgment. During tfie wife’s life tfie fiusband fias no such, interest as is subject to levy and sale to satisfy a judgment against him. Bruce v. Nicholson, 109 N. C., 202; West v. R. R., 140 N. C., 620. It is true tfiat where tfie husband had conveyéd tfie land by deed witfi warranty without tfie joinder of tfie wife, and survived her, fiis grantee acquired title, but this was by way of estoppel.” F. M. Knight, tfie husband, survived tfie wife L. E. Knight. This deed from F. M. Knight to fiis wife conveyed tfie husband’s usufruct in tfie estate by tfie entireties. Trust Co. v. Broughton, 193 N. C., 320. Tfie warranty estopped E. M. Knight, and therefore fiis heirs at law as to tfie fee. In Crawley v. Stearns, 194 N. C., at p. 17, it is said: “At common law a covenant of warranty was necessary to preclude tfie grantor from asserting an after-acquired title; but there is authority for tfie position tfiat if a deed shows tfiat tfie grantor intended to convey and tfie grantee expected to acquire tfie particular estate the deed may found an estoppel, although it contains no technical covenants.” Bynum v. Wicker, supra. See cases cited in Davis v. Bass, supra, at p. 206; West v. Murphy 197 N. C., 488. Tfie second question involved: Was tfie deed from L. E. Knight to her fiusband, F. M. Knight, void and no estoppel against her or her heirs at law? We think so. Smith v. Ingram, 130 N. C., 100; Wallin v. Rice, 170 N. C., 417; Hardy v. Abdallah, 192 N. C., 45. C. S., 2515, requiring tfie probate officer, as a condition precedent to tfie validity of tfie conveyance to certify in fiis certificate of probate that, at tfie time of its execution and tfie wife’s privy examination, such contract was “not unreasonable or injurious to her.” This having been omitted, in tfie instant ease, tfie deed in question is void as to tfie plaintiff. Singleton v. Cherry, 168 N. C., 402. See, also, Sims v. Ray, 96 N. C., 87; Davis v. Bass, supra, at p. 209; Whitten v. Peace, 188 N. C., at p. 302; Best v. Utley, 189 N. C., at p. 361; Garner v. Horner, 191 N. C., at p. 540; Crocker v. Vann, 192 N. C., at p. 429. See Article X, section 6, Constitution of North. Carolina. In Whitten v. Peace, supra, at p. 302-3, we find: “This Court has field, in Norwood v. Totten, 166 N. C., 649, tfiat a deed executed by a wife conveying land to her fiusband, void for failure of tfie probate officer to comply witfi C. S., 2515, is, nevertheless, color of title, and tfiat adverse possession by tfie fiusband under such deed for seven years will ripen into a perfect title. See, also, Clendenin v. Clendenin, 181 *199 N. C., 465; Elmore v. Byrd, 180 N. C., 120; Aderholt v. Lowman, 179 N. C., 547; Shermer v. Dobbins, 176 N. C., 547; King v. McRacken, 168 N. C., 621.” This principle does not arise on tbe facts in tbis case. Tbe judgment of tbe court below is Affirmed.