Chapin v. Sears

Nixon, J. The bill of complaint has been demurred to for multifariousness, and the demurrer must he sustained. It appears from the prayer and the allegations of the bill that the complainant has filed it for two objects; (1) to determine and settle a disputed legal title; and (2) for the partition of a tract of real estate. In other words, it asks' the court to ascertain who are the owners of the property and then to divide it according to the interest of the parties as determined. Such a proceeding violates well-settled principles, and is against the practice of a court of chancery, unless the dispute is in regard to an equitable title. A bill for partition will not lie when the legal title is denied, or where it depends on doubtful facts or questions of law. See Dewitt v. Ackerman, 2 C. E. Green, 215; Manners v. Manners, 1 Green, Ch. 384. Where one is filed, and the pleadings or proofs show a dispute about the legal title of the real estate to be divided, the usual course is for a court of equity to retain the bill until the title is settled at law. Hay v. Estell, 3 C. E. Green, 251; Obert v. Obert, 2 Stockt. 98; Wilkin v. Wilkin, 1 Johns. Ch. 111; Coxe v. Smith, 4 Johns. Ch. 271. The counsel for defendant, on the argument, suggested that he was shut up to this course because he was in possession of the premises and hence could not bring an action for ejectment to try the title. But provision is made for such a case by an act of the legislature of the state of New Jersey entitled “An act to compel the determination of claims to real estate in certain cases, and to quiet the title to the same, ” approved March 2, 1870. Rev. St. N. J. 1189. By the terms of that act all persons in the peaceable possession of lands in New Jersey are authorized to bring and maintain a suit in chancery to settle the title to said lands, and to clear up all doubts and disputes concerning the same; the fifth section reserving to either party the right to apply to the court for an issue at law to try the validity of the claims or to settle the facts. My first impression was to allow complainant 815 to amend his hill, conforming it to tho requirements of the statute when such a suit is brought, and to try the title in the pending action. But upon reflection I am of the opinion that the more proper course is to order the present bill to stand as a simple partition bill, and to give leave to tho complainant, if he is in the peaceable possession of the premises, to institute another suit, under the provisions of the state statute, to ascertain and determine the title to the land. And it is so ordered.