Smith v. Smith

23 Wis. 176 | Wis. | 1868

Cole, J.

1. What effect must be given to the deed referred to in the complaint ? It is a deed from Cox and wife, as parties of the first part, to the defendant, party of the second part together with the plaintiff, upon the conditions thereinafter mentioned. After the description of the land conveyed, occurs the following clause, which creates the difficulty in determining the nature and quality of the estate granted : “ This indenture is made to the aforesaid Miranda A. Smith on condition that she shall continue to live with the aforesaid Uriel B. Smith, her husband (unless she shall hereafter have good cause for divorce), and further, on condition, if the said Uriel B. Smith shall survive the said Miranda A. Smith, or she shall not continue to live with her said husband, Uriel B. Smith, as aforesaid, then, and in either case, tbe aforesaid described land shall Vest in fee in said Uriel B. Smith, his heirs and assigns forever.”

It is claimed by the plaintiff that this condition in the deed is valid, being what in the books is termed a conditional limitation ; that the grant being to a husband and wife, each separately takes a fee in the land subject to be defeated by the other surviving him or her; and further, in case of the wife, the estate to terminate whenever she should cease to live with her husband, not having good cause for divorce; and that, as it appears, from the allegations of the complaint, that the wife has ceased to live with the plaintiff, not having any cause for a divorce from him, the contingency has happened upon which, by the limitations in the deed, the entire estate vests absolutely in the plaintiff. It appears to us that this is a correct view of the effect of the deed. It is admitted, that, in a conveyance of land to husband and wife, they are both seized, during their joint lives, of the entirety; that neither of them can alien so as to bind the other; and that the survivor takes the whole estate. But in this deed there was another event, besides death, which was to determine the estate of the wife; and that was, if the wife-should cease to live with her husband, not having a good cause for a divorce. The interest granted to her was confined to that period, and this was its limitation, both being alive.

There is much subtle learning in the books in regard to the distinction between conditions and limitations in deeds; so much so, that it is sometimes difficult to determine whether the words used are words of condition, making the estate voidable, or words of limitation, making the estate to cease. In Prof. Greehleae’s edition of Cruise on Real Property, title 13, chapter 2, section 64, the author says: “ Lord Core mentions a distinction between a condition that defeats an estate, but requires a re-entry, and a limitation which -determines the estate ipso faeto, without entry. Of the first sort, it has been shown that a stranger cannot take advantage; bnt of limitations it is otherwise, as if a man makes a lease quousque, that is, until J. S. returns from Eome; the lessor grants over the reversion to a stranger; J. S. returns from Eome; the grantee of the reversion may take advantage of the return of J. S., and enter, because the estate was determined by an express limitation.” In the editor’s note “ 1 ” to this section the different estates are distinguished in the following clear manner:

“A condition is something inserted for the benefit of the grantor; giving him the power, on default of performance, to destroy the estate if he will, and revest the estate in himself or his heirs. As the law does not presume forfeiture, it requires some express act of the grantor, as evidence of his intent to reclaim the estate, viz., an entry.”

“A limitation is conclusive of the time of continuance, and of the extent of the estate granted, and beyond which it is declared at its creation not to be intended to continue. Conditions render the estate voidable, by entry. Limitations render it void, without entry. If, upon failure of that upon which the estate is made to depend, no matter how expressed in the deed, the, land is to go to a third person, this is a limitation over, and not a condition. Eor if a condition, an entry by the grantor would be necessary; and he might defeat the limitation by neglecting to enter. A limitation is imperative, and is determined by the rules of law. A condition not only depends on the option of the grantor, but is also controlled by equity, if the grantor attempts to make an inequitable use of it. The performance of a condition is excused by the act of God, or of the law, or of the party for whose benefit it was made. A limitation determines the estate absolutely, whatever be its nature.”

See also 11 American Jurist, page 42, for an instructive article on this branch of the law.

Chancellor Kent says: “ A conditional limitation is of a mixed nature, and partakes of a condition and a limitation; as if an estate be limited to A. for life, provided that wben C. returns from Eome it shall thenceforth remain to the use of B. in fee; it partakes of the nature of a condition, inasmuch as it defeats the estate previously limited; and is so far a limitation, and to be distinguished from a condition; that upon the contingency taking place, the estate passes to the stranger without entry, contrary to the maxim of law, that a stranger cannot take advantage of a condition broken.” 4 Kent, *128.

Now, in the light of these principles, it seems to us clear that the clause in this deed must be regarded as a conditional limitation. The estate was granted to the wife on condition that she should continue to live with her husband, and was to expire and vest in her husband whenever she should cease to live with him, unless she had good cause for a divorce. The vesting of the entire estate in the husband does not depend upon the election of the grantor to enter; but, by force of the condition itself, the land goes to him on the happening of the contingency. Batty v. Hopkins, 6 R. I. 443.

It is said that these conditional limitations were not valid at common law in the old conveyances. “ There appears, however,” says Mr. Butlbe, in his note to Eearne on Eemainders, p. 382, “ some reason to suppose that, though conditional limitations were legally void, they were allowed in the modification of uses while uses remained in their fiduciary state at the common law.” And he adds that “ after the passing of the statute of the 27 of Henry Till, which converted uses from their fiduciary state at the common law into legal estates, it became incumbent on the courts to determine what effect that statute should have in respect to the executory limitations under consideration. When the case was first pressed on the courts, it should seem to have been necessary for them to consider whether the statute executed any modification of property made through the medium of uses which the courts of law would have held illegal, if they had been made of lands themselves in conveyances at common law. So far as respects the modifications of property in question, the courts held them to be executed by the statute, and thus made them a part of the English law of real property.” These conditional limitations in deeds, therefore, are valid, and it is perfectly clear from the language here employed, that the intention was that the estate of the wife should determine and vest in her husband, when she should cease to live with him, unless she had good cause of divorce.

It is said that this condition annexed to the grant was merely nominal, evincing no intention of actual and substantial benefit to the party to whom, or in Whose favor it was to be performed, and should be wholly disregarded, and a failure to perform the same cannot operate as a forfeiture of the lands conveyed subject thereto. Ch. 56, § 46, E. S. 1849. The parties, however, saw fit to insert this condition in the deed, and it is presumably for the advantage of the husband that his wife should continue to live with him. It therefore cannot be disregarded, as suggested.

2. It remains to consider whether the plaintiff was entitled to maintain the action to remove the deed, so far as it may concern the defendant, because it constitutes a cloud upon the plaintiff’s title. Her estate has expired and become vested in the plaintiff. The deed, so far as respects the defendant, though once vesting in her a title, yet, by the happening of the contingency, has become a nullity. Under these circumstances a court of equity will interpose, and decree a cancellation of the instrument. Cases occur, says Mr. Justice Stoby, where a deed or other instrument, originally valid, has, by subsequent events, such as by a satisfaction or payment, or other extinguishment of it, legal or equitable, become functus officio; and yet its existence may be either a cloud upon the title of the other partv or subject him to the danger of somé future litigation when the facts are no longer capable of proof or have become involved in the obscurities of time. Courts interpose in these eases, although the deed or other instrument has become a nullity. Eq. Jur. § 705. That the defendant has deserted her husband, and that she had no just cause for so doing, are extrinsic facts, not appearing upon the face of the deed. And although it is alleged in the complaint that the plaintiff has obtained a divorce from the defendant on the ground of her willful desertion, it is evident that her claim under this deed must embarrass him in the disposition of the land, and really constitutes a cloud upon his title, See Hotchkiss v. Elting, 36 Barb. 38.

Eor these reasons we think the complaint stated a good cause of action, and that the demurrer was improperly sustained.

By the Court. — The judgment of the circuit court dismissing the complaint, is reversed, and the cause remanded for further proceedings.