98 Neb. 111 | Neb. | 1915
This appeal involves the right of Isabella R. Warner, the widow of John Warner, who died testate at his home in Clinton, Illinois, to a dower interest in certain real estate situated in Lancaster county, Nebraska. At the time of the death of John Warner he was the owner of a large estate, consisting of land and personal property situated in Dewitt county, Illinois, where he then resided, and where he had resided during all of his life. He was also the owner of real estate in Iowa, Ohio, California and Nebraska. The deceased left surviving him two children
In Hawley & King v. James, 5 Paige Ch. (N. Y.) 318, 446, the court said: “The object of the legislature undoubtedly was to compel the widow to make her election to take her dower, instead of the jointure or other provi
The trial court found, among other things, that an antenuptial agreement was made between the widow and her husband at the time of their marriage, but the decision was not based on that agreement. It appears that the agreement had been disregarded by the parties to it for more than 30 years of their married life, and the courts of the state of their domicile had disregarded it. As a matter of comity, the courts of this state should take the same view of that agreement. The appellees have cited Apperson v. Bolton, 29 Ark. 418, and seem to rely upon that decision. By the statutes of that state the widow, in order to claim dower, is required, first, to make an entry upon the land situated in that state; and, second, to commence proceedings for the recovery of assignment of her dower therein. It was said in the opinion that she would not be permitted to claim against a will and accept its provisions at the same time, and that an acceptance of the provisions of the will in Tennessee, the state of the domicile, would bind her everywhere. The statutes of Arkansas are so different from ours that we think the decision is not in point.
It follows that the judgment of the district court should be reversed and the cause remanded for further proceed
Judgment accordingly.