Whitley v. Stephenson

HARRIS, J., delivered the opinion of the court. Three questions are presented by the respective parties, in this assignment of error, for our determination. The first we shall notice, is whether it is the duty of commissioners appointed to divide an estate, to allow the widow on her application, the property exempted by law (Art. 172, p. 469, and Art. 280, 281, p. 529, Code), from seizure under executions, &c., before proceeding to division; and whether on failure to allow the widow “ to retain and hold to her own use” such property, it is error in the Probate Court to confirm the report of the commissioners depriving her of this right, notwithstanding her exceptions to such report and division? In Coleman v. Brooks, 37 Miss. R., we have held that the widow, under the statute, is entitled to this exempt estate, over and above' her distributive share. The act declares that she shall be “ allowed to retain and hold it.” It Nno part of the estate of the decedent subject to administration or division. It descends directly to and vests by operation of law in the widow, absolutely discharged from the debts or liabilities of the husband, or the claims of the heirs, just in the same manner that the real estate vests in the heir. The only difference is, that in the case of the exempt property, it vests absolutely, and at all events, and in the case of real estate it vests sub modo only. There can be therefore no"1 greater propriety in subjecting exempt property to the course of administration, than real estate, not necessary for the payment of debts. The Probate Court has no jurisdiction of either, as against the claims of those in whom the law, directly and immediately vests the title, on the death of the husband or ancestor. The commissioners had no right, therefore, to divide this property, and the court erred in sanctioning such a proceeding against the claim of the widow “ to retain and hold” it, as allowed by law. [116] The second question presented is, Whether the commissioners, in making division among the children (some of whom have received advancements in the lifetime of the decedent), and the widow, should allow the widow a child’s part of the husband’s personalty not disposed of at his death, after paying debts, &c., or whether they should first deduct therefrom enough to establish equality among the children, and then divide the balance between the widow and children, giving to the widow thereby, a child’s part of such balance, instead of a child’s part of the whole estate not disposed of at the death of decedent ? To this question, the statute furnishes a full and perfect answer. (Art. 163, p. 467, Code.) “ She is entitled to share in the personal estate a child’s part, out of the residue left after paying the debts of the deceased.” This is the only deduction to be made before the widow’s rights attach. The last question for our decision in this case is, whether in case of intestacy, the widow of the decedent is excluded from both dower and a distributive share, to the extent of the value of her separate estate, as in case of testacy and renunciation by her ? This question involves a construction of Art. 30, p. 337, § 5, and §§ 22 and 23 of the Code, p. 467-470. By Art. 30, § 5, treating “ of the separate property of married women“ In case the wife should have a separate property at the time of the death of her husband, equal in value to what would be her lawful portion of her husband’s real and personal estate, and he should have made a will, she shall not be at liberty to signify her dissent to such will, or renounce any provision or bequest therein in her favor, and elect to take her dower in the real estate and her distributive share in the personalty. But, if her separate property be not equivalent in value, to what would be the value of her dower and distributive share of her husband’s estate, then she may signify her dissent to the will, as in other cases now provided by law', and claim to have the deficiency made up to her, notwithstanding the will,” &c. This article taken by itself has reference only to the rights of the widow', when there is a will making provision for her, and she desires to renounce the will of her husband, she having a separate estate. [117] Section 22, p. 467, treats “ of .the widow’s dower and distributive share,” when she has no separate estate. Art. 162, p. 467, provides, in such case, “ when any person shall die intestate, or shall make a last will and testament, and not make therein an express provision for his wife, by giving and devising unto her such part or parcel of his real and personal estate, as shall be fully satisfactory to her, such widow may signify her dissent thereto,” &c., . . . “and then either in case of intestacy, or of unsatisfactory devise or bequest, the widow shall be entitled to dower in the following manner, to wit: one-third part of the real estate for life, or in case of no child, &c., one-half of the real estate in fee simple, &c., and she shall be entitled to share in the personal estate, if there be no children, or but one child, out of the residue left after paying the debts of the deceased, one-half; but if there be more than one child, in that case she shall be entitled to a child’s part, in either case in fee simple, or in lieu of her child’s part, one-third of the personalty for life at her election.” This section designs to fix the rights of the widow, when she has no separate estate. Sect. 28, p. 469, treats “ of the widow’s remedy for dower.” This.section, as indeed does the whole Code, distinguishes clearly between “ dower” of real estate, and “ distributive share” in personal estate; and it will be remembered that the section now under consideration treats alone of “dower” technically, and of “the remedy" for its allotment. It has no relation to personal estate whatever. By the law relating to the “ separate estate of married women,” provision is made as to the rights of the wife having a sepafate estate, in case of the death of her husband leaving a will. By the act treating “ of the widow’s dower and distributive share,” provision is made for all cases of testacy or intestacy, when the wife has no separate estate. By Art. 176 of the section, treating “ of the widow’s remedy for dower” (which we have seen includes only real estate), it is provided that “ nothing herein contained shall give to any widow, who had whilst married, a separate property, any right of dower, beyond what is provided in the law in regard to the separate property of-married women, but the two acts shall be construed together, in this respect, as one law.” [118] In all oases, therefore, whether of testacy or intestacy, where a husband dies leaving a widow with separate estate, her right to “ dower” (in the real estate) is controverted by the provisions of Article 80, p. 887, Code, “ concerning marriages,” &e. But her distributive share” of the personal estate, in cases of intestacy, whether she has separate property or not, is secured to her absolutely and independently by Section 22, Art. 162,163, p. 467, Code, already quoted. Under the views here expressed, the ruling and decree of the court below was erroneous. The decree is therefore reversed, and cause remanded for further proceedings, in accordance with this opinion.