Cook v. HigLey , 10 Utah 228 ( 1894 )

Bartoh, J.

The court below sustained a demurrer to the complaint in tbis case on the ground that it does not state facts ■sufficient to constitute a cause of action. The plaintiff elected to stand by her complaint, which was thereupon •dismissed, and the costs taxed against her. The only material question raised in the record by this appeal is whether, in a case where the husband conveys, by deed, premises occupied by himself and family as a homestead, without being joined in the conveyance by the wife, — the same being against her will, — the wife is entitled to the possession of, and to occupy as a home for herself and family, the premises thus conveyed, during the term of her life, as against the rights of the grantee of the husband.

'There are no homestead estates at common law. Such ■estates are created, and can exist only by statute. In this ■territory there is no separate and independent homestead law. The only statutory provision creating homestead .rights, and which is decisive of the rights of the plaintiff, is found in section 3429, subd. 11, Comp. Laws Utah 1888, and reads as follows: “If the debtor be the head -of a family, there shall be a further exemption of a home.stead, to be selected by the debtor, consisting of lands, together with the appurtenances and improvements thereon, not exceeding in value the sum of one thousand dollars, for the judgment debtor, and the further sum of five hundred dollars for’ his wife, and two hundred and fifty •dollars for each other member of his family. If the homestead selected by the debtor, is of greater value than is •exempted under this section, it shall be optional with the judgment debtor to permit the same to be partitioned or to be sold, and to receive in money the value of the homestead, as provided in this section. If the debtor so elect, the homestead may he sold, as other lands are sold, on ■execution, and, after paying the debtor the value of the homestead, the balance of the money shall be applied upon tbe judgment,” — and tben provides bow tbe sale may be effected under tbe execution, and ior tbe disposition of tbe money, etc.

An examination of tbis statute reveals no intent on tbe part of tbe legislature to restrain tbe debtor from alienating tbe homestead. It merely provides that if be be the bead of a family this homestead shall be protected by exemption from execution, to tbe extent therein set forth. This right of tbe debtor thus to preserve a home for bis family is inviolate and absolute! If, however, be chooses to sell and abandon it, there appears to be no provision of law which will prevent him from so doing, even if tbe wife refuse to join him in the conveyance. Tbe statute law of tbis territory expressly provides that all property acquired and owned by either husband or wife may be held, managed, controlled, and in any manner disposed of by tbe one so owning or acquiring, without any limitation or restriction by reason of marriage. Comp. Laws Utah 1888, § 2528. Tbe general purpose of ibe statute does-not appear to be tbe creation of an estate which cannot be conveyed without tbe concurrence of those who are entitled to enjoy its benefits, but to preserve it for occupation by tbe debtor and bis family, as against his creditors. Therefore, independently of tbe husband, who is tbe head of tbe family, tbe wife has no claim upon tbe homestead, so long as be is living, except her right of dower, unless it be her separate property. Whatever claim she has arises because of the marital relation, and can only be enforced with the concurrence of the husband. The law affords the protection to him, and, through him, to the wife and family. It does not interfere with the natural dependence of the wife upon the husband. As she is bound to live with him, under her marital obligations, so she is bound to accompany him when he abandons the homestead, and selects another place of residence. His home is her home, and there is no obligation which compels him to reside permanently in one place; nor should there be such an obligation, for the best interests of himself and family may require an abandonment of the homestead to promote the health and comfort of his family, or the education oi his children.

Doubtless, the privilege thus conferred upon the husband may in some cases become the subject of abuse; but. the wife takes that risk when she enters into the marriage' relation, and assumes her dependent position, which is-, essential to the peace and happiness of the family, and to the well-being of society. The law protects the actual, not the former, homestead; and therefore, when the husband abandons it, and permanently changes his place of residence, the wife has no claim for possession which she can enforce against the grantee of the husband, in the absence of any statute restraining its alienation. Such restraint is in derogation of the general policy of the law, which encourages rather than abridges the right of alienation, and will operate and have effect so far only as is determined by the legislature. Tied. Real Prop. § 158; Wap. Homest. & Ex. p. 43, § 9; Thomp. Homest. & Ex. § 2; Finley v. McConnell, 60 Ill. 259; Guiod v. Guiod, 14 Cal. 506; Knudsen v. Hannberg, 8 Utah, 203, 30 Pac. 749.

In this case it appears from the record that the title to the premises in controversy was in Thomas Cook, the husband of the plaintiff. He sold the land to the defendant Higley without the knowledge or consent of his wife. Higley then went into possession, and, so far as appears, from the record, without objection on the part of the vendor, who, it appears, quit the premises. While, under these circumstances, the plaintiff still retains her right of' dower in the land, which will accrue at his death, yet we are of the opinion that she has no right of possession therein which will entitle her to recover in this action-The demurrer, therefore, was properly sustained, her husband being still living. There appears to be no error in the record. The judgment is affirmed.

Merritt, O. J., and Smith, J., concur.