45 S.E. 465 | N.C. | 1903
This is a proceeding for year's provision, begun 1 January, 1902, by the plaintiff, widow of W. M. Perkins, who died 2 January, 1901, leaving a will which was probated 11 January, 1901. *103 The plaintiff did not dissent from the will till 11 January, 1902, being after this proceeding was instituted.
The allowance of year's provision is in derogation of the disposition of property by a will, when there is one, and therefore can only be granted in such case when the will has been set aside as to the widow by her dissent. The Code, sec. 2116, allows a year's support only to the "widow of an intestate, or of a testator from whose will she has dissented." This action, therefore, cannot be maintained, because (87) at the time it was begun the plaintiff had not filed her dissent, and for the further reason that she had no right to dissent after the lapse of "six months after the probate" of the will. The Code, sec. 2108. By acquiescing six months in the disposition of the property by the will, the widow loses any right to disturb it by having any part appropriated for her benefit, and the executor is authorized absolutely to proceed to execute it, free from any claim from her. In Cook v. Sexton,
Even if the right to assert this claim had not been barred by the plaintiff's failure to dissent from her husband's will within the period allowed by law, she is barred by the following provision in a contract, entered into between her and her future husband, 25 January, 1893, in contemplation of marriage. In that contract W. M. Perkins conveyed to a trustee for the plaintiff's benefit 500 acres of land, and she agreed that she would not "claim for herself or through any other person any right, title, or interest in any property now owned or which may hereafter be owned or become in possession of, by the said party of the first part, and hereby relinquishes all right of dower by virtue of said marriage to or in the estate of the said W. M. Perkins."
In Murphy v. Avery,
The use of the words in the second clause in the contract in this case, "hereby relinquishes all right of dower," only emphasizes that matter, and does not narrow the broad words already used, "will not claim any right, title, or interest in any property," by restricting them to embrace only the dower right. A case almost exactly on all-fours is Hooks v. Lee,
Affirmed.
MONTGOMERY, J., did not sit on the hearing of this case.
Cited: Lee v. Giles,
(89)