James v. . James , 76 N.C. 331 ( 1877 )

PeahsoN, C. J.

On the argument it was agreed that the decision of two points of law will dispose of the case.

1. Father makes a deed of gift to son of several slaves, setting out in the deed that it was “ an absolute gift and was intended as an advancement and was not to be accounted for in the distribution of his estate.” The father dies intestate. Is the value of the slaves to be accounted for among the children as an advancement ?

“ A man has the right to do with his own property as he chooses,” is a proposition agreed to on all hands. The restriction is he shall not interfere with the rights of other persons which are recognized either at law or in equity ; hence he is not at liberty either by sale or gift to dispose of property to which another person is 'entitled by mortgage or deed of trust, nor is he at liberty to dispose of his property by gift in respect to his creditors unless he retains property amply sufficient to pay his debts.

A child is not a creditor of his father and has no right to object either in law or in equity to the father’s right of disposition. The child" has a mere “ expectancy.” He cannot assign it or dispose of it by testament nor does it devolve upon bis representative.

Ilis Honor was led into error by looking at children as creditors whereas they have never been so recognized either at law or in equity except to the extent that the parent is bound to give his children maintenance and an education according to his .own notions in regard to the fitness of things, and as a corresponding right is entitled to the services of the child until coming to the age of 21 years. But the idea that a child is the creditor of his parent and has a right to restrict the jus disponendi in any manner or to any extent is a novel one.

A child says to his father, “ You shan’t give brother that slave or that horse; if you do I will make him account for the value in the settlement of the estate.” The father replies quietly (supposing him to be a man of even temper,) “My son, this is a matter in which you have no right to control me. I will do as I please with my own property; and to punish you for undutiful behavior I shall make a will cutting you off with a sixpence.”

The father can do so without at all interfering with the legad or equitable rights of the child. That is clear. If he can do so by wfill why has he not a right to do so by deed of gift ?

The doctrine of advancements is based on the idea that parents are presumed to intend, in the absence of a will, an “ equality of partition” among the children ; hence a gift of property or money to a child is prima facie an advancement, that is property or money paid in anticipation of distribu tion of his estate, but surely this presumption may be rebutted by an express declaration in the deed of gift that it is not intended to be an advancement but is intended to be an absolute gift; otherwise what becomes of the proposition, “ a man may do with his own property as-he chooses?”

2. Is the value of the slaves to be accounted for as against the widow?

In regard to dower the statute which cuts it down to suchi lauds as the husband dies seized of contains an express provision making void, deeds made with intent to defeat the dower; so it is provided by statute that in case a husband dies leaving a will, the wife may dissent, but there is no statutory provision that in case a husband dies intestate, any deeds of gift made by him with intent to defeat the wife’s right to a distributive share of his personal estate shall be^ void.

This may be “ casus omissus” on the part of the law makers, but the Courts have no power to help the deficiency.

The judgment below is reversed and modified.

The report of the referee will be reformed according to-this opinion by the Clerk of this Court and a decree will be entered accordingly.

Pee, Cukiam. Judgment accordingly.