23 Wis. 164 | Wis. | 1868
The court below found, and the proof sustains the finding, that at the time Frederick B. Miles conveyed his homestead to his wife, he was worth $75,000, over and above his debts, exclusive of the homestead itself. The homestead was worth about $40,000, containing something over the quarter of an acre which by law was exempt from execution, the excess being of the value of from $4,000 to $5,000.
This court has decided, in Dreutzer v. Bell, 11 Wis. 118, that a conveyance of the homestead by the husband to.the wife cannot be held fraudulent as to creditors, for the reason that, being exempt, it was no more beyond their reach after the conveyance than before: It was not liable for their debts at all. And that decision is applicable here, as to so much of the property conveyed as was exempt from execution. See also Legro v. Lord, 10 Maine, 161. It is unnecessary to determine whether the conveyance might have been avoided as to the excess beyond the quarter of an acre, by creditors existing at the time. For the debts of the plaintiffs in this case were contracted subsequent to the conveyance, and the question
The including of the excess over what was exempt, in the conveyance to the wife, cannot be regarded as unreasonable in view of the condition of Frederick B. Miles at that time. And it seems very clear, as the court below found, that there could have been no actual fraudulent intent, either as to existing or subsequent creditors. This being so, applying the rule of law established by the authorities above cited, it follows that the conveyance cannot be impeached by these plaintiffs.
The case of Mullen and Wife v. Wilson, 44 Pa. St. 413, relied on by the appellants’ counsel, is not inconsistent with the doctrine of the cases above cited, for it was based upon the idea of an actual fraudulent intent as against the subsequent creditors.
It appeared by a stipulation in the case, subject to objection for irrelevancy and in competency, that since the commencement
I think the judgment should be affirmed.
By the Court — Judgment affirmed.