8 P.2d 779 | Or. | 1932
In Banc.
This is a suit for specific performance of a contract to purchase real property. It appears from the complaint that plaintiff and his wife, Marie Banfield, occupied and lived on lot 9, block 5, in Howe's Addition to the city of Portland, as their homestead, continuously until her death on February 2, 1928. On March 26, 1930, the probate department of the circuit court for Multnomah county entered an order whereby this real property was set aside as homestead for the plaintiff, and such order was thereafter affirmed by this court (In re Banfield's Estate,
The sole question for decision is as to what estate a surviving spouse has in a homestead which is set aside under section 11-402, Oregon Code 1930. Whether it is a fee simple or merely a life estate depends entirely upon the construction of the statute: 29 C.J. 1015. Before the enactment of sections 5 and 6, chapter 112, G.L.O. 1919 (sections 225 and 226, Or. L.), relating to the descent and devise of homesteads, it was held in Wycoffv. Snapp,
"* * * that nothing herein contained shall be construed as preventing or limiting the court or judge from setting apart for the widow, widower or minor children of the deceased the homestead as provided in section 11-402, Oregon Code." *136
Clearly the effect of these amendments made in 1927 is to reinstate the rule as announced in Wycoff v. Snapp, supra, in which it was held that, under the provisions of section 1234, L.O.L., now section 11-402, Oregon Code 1930, the surviving spouse acquires a fee simple estate. In Wycoff v. Snapp, supra, it is said:
"As this section provides that the property so set apart to the widow `is her property,' it follows naturally that she takes a fee-simple estate therein capable of alienation as well as of possession and enjoyment * * *."
We conclude that plaintiff has a fee simple estate.
The judgment of the lower court is affirmed.
Plaintiff is entitled to costs and disbursements. *137