Eberhart v. Rath , 89 Kan. 329 ( 1913 )

The opinion of the court was delivered by

Benson, J.:

Defendant John Rath appeals from a judgment excluding him from any interest in land owned by his wife at the time of her death.

John Rath, a resident of Nebraska, and Katherine Eberhart, a resident of Kansas, entered into an oral agreement in this state in contemplation of marriage that he, in case she died first, should take nothing of her estate; and that she, in case he died first, should, receive $1000 only of his estate. They were married in Kansas and made their home in Nebraska soon after-wards, where they resided for seventeen years, when Mrs. Rath died. Shortly after establishing their home in Nebraska they entered into a written contract which provided, as stated in the findings:

. “That in the event he should survive her that he should not receive any of her property, by reason of marital relations, but that if she survived him she should receive $1,000.00 in lieu of all her rights and interests, given her by law and reason of marital relations. Said instrument was written up with the understanding that it was part of the original antenuptial agreement and in view of that agreement a part of the marriage contract.”

The plaintiffs are children of the- deceased, Mrs. Rath, by a former marriage. In this action for partition they allege that they and defendant Henry Rath, who was born of her last marriage, are the owners of the land, as the sole heirs of their mother whose surviving husband is barred by the agreements referred to. Defendant John Rath denied the validity of the oral agreement, alleged that a written agreement was made in Nebraska after the marriage, substantially as stated in the petition, but that it was without consideration and void, and that it had been renounced and destroyed by his wife with his consent. The answer also set out several sections of the Nebraska statutes relating to wills, dower and jointure.

An examination of the pleadings shows that there is no dispute concerning the "oral agreement before marriage nor the execution of the written instrument after-wards, but their validity is challenged.

The plaintiffs contend that the oral agreement has been fully executed and should be enforced notwithstanding the statute which provides that no action shall be brought “to charge any person upon any agreement made upon consideration of marriage.” (Gen. Stat. 1909, § 3838.) Weld v. Weld, 71 Kan. 622, 81 Pac. 183, and Knights of Pythias v. Ferrell, 83 Kan. 491, 112 Pac. 155, are cited in support of this claim. They also rely upon the written instrument executed afterwards confirming the verbal agreement. The exact terms of the instrument are not contained in the abstract. The court found that it was made with the understanding that it was a part of the marriage contract, but it does not affirmatively appear that it contained any recital of or reference to the oral agreement. In such a situation it has been said that the authorities are in hopeless conflict. (Frazer v. Andrews, 134 Iowa, 621, 112 N. W. 92, 13 A. & E. Ann. Cas. 556.) In that case it was held that an oral antenuptial agreement by which each party relinquishes rights of property to the other may be given effect by a written postnuptial contract if the written instrument contains a recital that it is made in consideration or as evidence of the previous agreement. The opinion cites Moore, Adm., v. Harrison, Adm., 26 Ind. App. 408, 59 N. E. 1077; Buffington v. Buffington, Executor, 151 Ind. 200, 51 N. E. 328, and other cases holding that the postnuptial contract may be enforced although it does not refer to the previous agreement, and McAnnulty v. McAnnulty, 120 Ill. 26, 11 N. E. 397, 60 Am. Rep. 552; Powell’s Adm’r v. Myers, 23 Ky. Law, 795, 64 S. W. 429, and other cases holding that without such reference it is invalid. Other cases discussing this question will be found in a note in 13 A. & E. Ann. Cas. 559. (See, also, Browne on the Statute of Frauds, 5th ed., § 224 and notes.) In the Frazer case it was said that a statute of Iowa- forbade a contract of this nature between the parties after marriage, and therefore a postnuptial contract could be made available only as a ratification of the former oral agreement. As the instrument in that case contained no reference to any former agreement it was held thát it was invalid. Referring to Indiana cases holding to the contrary, the court observed:

“In passing, it may be remarked as worthy of consideration that in Indiana they have no statute similar to our section 3154, which may perhaps account for the rule in that state.” (134 Iowa, 628.)

There is no statute in this state that makes a post-nuptial contract of this nature void. Apart from the previous agreement it is true that the written instrument was not made upon consideration of marriage, for that had already occurred, but a reciprocal relinquishment by each in the property of the other is sufficient. Reciprocal agreements varying marital property rights are referred to as among the considerations for ante-nuptial agreements in Hafer v. Hafer, 33 Kan. 449, 460, 6 Pac. 537. Mr. Bishop says:

“For the principle is well settled, that, though parties marrying must take the status of marriage as the law has established it, and can not vary It by ante-nuptial contract, yet, within certain legal limits, and proceeding by legal rule, they may by such contract vary any or all of those property-rights which the status super-induces.” (1 Bishop on the Law of Married Women, § 427.)

While these citations refer to antenuptial agreements the principle applies to those made after marriage unless the marriage disqualifies the parties from contracting with each other. Under the statute relating to married women the property of a woman at the time of her marriage remains her own, and she may after marriage sell and convey it in the same manner and with like effect as a married man. (Gen. Stat. 1909, §§ 4872-4877.) A wife may purchase property from her husband. (Going v. Orns, 8 Kan. 85; Dickson v. Randal, 19 Kan. 212.) A conveyance by husband to wife and contracts between them will be upheld as valid so far as they are just and equitable. (Sproul v. Atchison National Bank, 22 Kan. 336; Horder v. Horder, 23 Kan. 391; Miller v. Krueger, 36 Kan. 344, 13 Pac. 641; Munger v. Baldridge, 41 Kan. 236, 21 Pac. 159.) The fiction of the unity of husband and wife which under the common law made contracts between them impossible is no longer a ground of disability, and venerable rules' and precedents based upon that fiction must yield to modern legislation liberally interpreted* in the light of present conditions. (Harrington v. Lowe, 73 Kan. 1, 18, 84 Pac. 570; Nagle v. Tieperman, 74 Kan. 32, 85 Pac. 944.) The legal identity of the wife with respect to her separate property is as complete as that of the husband. It is not necessary, however, to resort to our statutes to uphold the conveyance of property by one spouse directly to the other. While void at the common law they have long been upheld in equity when just, fair and reasonable. (2 Kent’s Commentaries, 10th ed., pp. 161, 178; 2 Story’s Equity Jurisprudence, 13th ed., § 1395.) The author last named at the section cited says:

“The doctrine is now firmly established in equity, that she [a wife] may bestow her separate property, by appointment or otherwise, upon her husband as well as upon a stranger.”

Direct conveyances between husband and wife, when not prejudicial to creditors, have been upheld in many jurisdictions. (Jones v. Clifton, 101 U. S. 225; Shepard v. Shepard, 7 N. Y. Ch. 56; Hunt v. Johnson, 44 N. Y. 27; Sims and Others v. Rickets, 35 Ind. 181, 9 Am. Rep. 679; Wilder et al. v. Brooks et al., 10 Minn. 50, 88 Am. Dec. 49 and note; Carrier v. Teske, 84 Neb. 60, 120 N. W. 1015.) The intervention of a trustee, although once common, is not now essential. (2 Story’s Equity Jurisprudence, 13th ed., § 1380.)

Postnuptial as well as antenuptial agreements are upheld when consistent with the principles of equity. In King v. Mollohan, 61 Kan. 683, 60 Pac. 731, it was held that postnuptial settlements controlling the division and affecting the descent of property, freely and intelligently made, a,nd which are just and equitable in their provisions, are not invalid. The court, applying the principles governing antenuptial agreements, held:

“Marriage settlements controlling the division and affecting the descent of property, freely and intelligently made, and which are just and equitable in their provisions, are not invalid.” (Syl. ¶ 1.)

In that case the contract had been made in view of a separation, but that fact only aíforded a reason for making the contract. Mutual relinquishments of property rights and the payment of money in addition by one to the other afforded sufficient consideration. In Dennis v. Perkins, 88 Kan. 428, 129 Pac. 165, a post-nuptial contract embracing a conveyance of land by the husband to the wife was upheld, and although the settlement had been made in contemplation of separation it was held that the resumption of marital relations did not rescind the agreement, which it was said will remain in force unless the parties intend that it shall be abrogated. The validity of such agreements depends upon the equities arising out of the circumstances, which may be just as strong when the parties are living happily together as exist after domestic tranquillity has been destroyed.

Recognizing the equality of men and women in respect to their property and contractual rights, emphasized in Kansas and other states by the privilege of the ballot and their participation in government as well as in business, no good reason is perceived for any practical distinction between antenuptial and post-nuptial agreements with respect to their validity. The marriage ceremony and living together work no magical change in the understanding or capacity of either to make contracts. The equitable principles upon which one class of agreements is upheld apply with equal force to the other. They both tend to settle questions of property succession and promote peace and good will, especially where there are, as in this case, children by a former marriage.

We are constrained to hold that the written contract in this case, although it did not refer to the prior agreement, is valid and effectual. The instrument would also have been valid had no prior agreement been made.

It is contended by the appellant that ás the written instrument was made at the matrimonial domicile in Nebraska the' law of that state governs, and that by that law the agreement is void. In considering this contention it is not deemed necessary to discuss the subject of the law of place generally. Only a few general principles need be stated. The transmission of title to real estate is governed by the laws of the state where it is situated. In the absence of an express contract, thé effect of marriage upon real property is determined by the law of the place where the property is situated. This rule is stated as a summary from authorities reviewed in 57 L. R. A. 353, 373. The controversy here is over land in this state. The agreement provides for a relinquishment of the prospective rights of inheritance of the husband in' that land. The effect of the instrument purporting to relinquish such rights, as well as the nature of the rights relinquished, must be determined by the laws of this state. (Watson v. Holden, 58 Kan. 657, 50 Pac. 883; Richardson v. De Giverville, 107 Mo. 422, 17 S. W. 974, 28 Am. St. Rep. 426; Estate of J. B. Baubichon, 49 Cal. 18.)

The opinions of. witnesses, lawyers practicing in Nebraska, that the agreement is void by the laws of that state, read in evidence, while entitled to proper respect, do not convince this court that such is the fact in the absence of any controlling decision of the supreme court of that state. (Hutchings v. Railway Co., 84 Kan. 479. 114 Pac. 1079; Eastern Building &c. Assn. v. Williamson, 189 U. S. 122.) Neither do the statutes pleaded and read in evidence prove that fact. In many other states there are statutes concerning jointure and prescribing the method by which dower may be barred, but they are not generally held to prevent the bar in equity by agreement. (Hafer v. Hafer, 33 Kan. 449, 6 Pac. 537; 1 Bishop on the Law of Married Women, §§ 363, 418-425.)

The judicial rule in Nebraska appears to be the same. Thus it was held, in Rieger v. Schaible, 81 Neb. 33, 115 N. W. 560, that the provisions of the statutes of that state that a j ointure is a bar to dower do not ordinarily prevent an equitable bar, and further, that:

“The provisions of the statute that a jointure is a bar of dower do not ordinarily deprive the intended wife of the power to bar her dower by any other form of antenuptial contract.” (Syl. ¶ 3.)

Another decision in that state, upon facts quite similar to the facts of this case, should be referred to. An oral antenuptial contract was entered into between parties intending to marry. After the marriage the agreement was reduced to writing and signed. By the agreement the husband was to have $1000 from the wife’s estate upon her death, and he was to release all further claims. He received part of the money before she died, and she made a will by which he was to have the remainder. The surviving husband contended that the agreement was invalid and claimed an interest in her real estate. The court said.

“Even if the contract were wholly invalid, which we do not decide, under these circumstances the plaintiff is estopped to allege its invalidity.” (Erb v. McMaster, 88 Neb. 817, 820, 130 N. W. 576.)

The same principle of estoppel was also applied by this court in the King case on rehearing (61 Kan. 692), although the grounds stated in the opinion were adhered to. From these decisions it is concluded that nuptial contracts are regarded in Nebraska in about the same favorable light in which they are viewed here. Even if it should be held that the law of that state governs this controversy, the result would be the same.

The surviving husband was incompetent to testify to a conversation with his wife, since deceased, by which he claimed that the postnuptial contract between them had been abrogated. His offer to give such testimony was properly excluded. (Civ. Code, § 320; Dennis v. Perkins, 88 Kan. 428, 437, 129 Pac. 165.)

The finding and conclusion of the district court are approved and the judgment is affirmed.