Brands v. Dewitt

1. An heir-at-law may, for a sufficient consideration, release to his father the share which he might have at the parent's decease in his estate, either real or personal, so that he will thereby be estopped from establishing any claim thereto as one of his heirs-at-law or next of kin. 2. Such agreements, when they concern land, are like others, subject to the statute of frauds, and unless they are in writing they cannot be enforced.

On appeal from a decree advised by Vice-Chancellor Bird, who filed the following conclusions : David Brands died intestate in January, 1883, leaving seven children him surviving, and seized in fee of about one hundred and seventeen acres of land, and of some personal estate. His son Isaac was made administrator, and soon afterwards sold all the goods and chattels. In the month of November, 1883, the said children, excepting only Jacob X., agreed to sell all said farm, and did sell to one of their own number, Abram. After this sale, but on the same day, as the testimony stands, Isaac, the administrator, discovered three releases, which are the cause of this controversy. He discovered them in an old desk which he had bought at the sale of the personal property some time before. He was looking in this desk for the title deeds of the land, and while thus engaged found three releases and the deeds in one package: one given by Jacob X., one by Abram, and one by James, to their father. The two latter bear date March 30th, 1850. The recitals in them show that he had sold to each certain lands. In the releasing part each one “Releases, discharges, and forever quit claims all right, title, interest or claim whatsoever to him, the said David Brands, and to his other children and heirs-at-law, of all the estate, both real and personal, that may be left at the decease of my father, I being fully satisfied and content, on the reception of the above-mentioned deed, for all legacies that now or ever hereafter might descend to me from the estate of my father, David Brands, * * * and Chat all of the estate of my father, at the time of his decease, may be divided amongst his other children and heirs-at-law or otherwise, without any claim or demand, either by myself, my heirs, executors and administrators/’' &e. The consideration moving Jacob X. to give the release was $2,500 in money. The release given by him was substantially the same as the other two. It was executed October 1st, 1853. The complainants file their bill, setting up these releases, and ask the court to declare them binding and effectual, and to decree that Rachel DeWitt, one of the complainants, is entitled to one fourth of the estate of which her father died seized. Isaac and the other two daughters answer, admitting the principal matters set up in the bill, and ask that the estate may be divided into four parts. James, Abram and Jacob X., by their answer, insist that their father never intended that said releases should be operative. They also insist that all the other children gave releases; that their father did not intend to exclude any of his children from an equal share of his estate with the rest, and that, after these releases were given, he made equal divisions amongst them. There is no proof that releases were executed also by the other children. There is no testimony to warrant any such belief. I am quite free to say that I have looked into this case in the belief that I would find some evidence going to show that these releases had served the purpose for which they were designed, and that now they should not be regarded as binding. And to this end all of the testimony that seemed at all relevant was admitted. It occurred to me that these releases might have been intended to be used by the father to preserve some equality between the children until.the last one should receive his or her portion. But this theory is unavailing, since there is no release produced from any of the daughters who took their portions of the division about the time Isaac and Abram took theirs, and years before Jacob X. executed his release. Nor is there any evidence, as above stated, that they ever executed any release. The father survived the execution of the release by Jacob X. about thirty years, during which long' period' he neither destroyed the said three releases, nor exacted one from any of his other children; and during which period he gave to each, as will be seen, $300, and loaned to Jacob X. $1,000, taking his note therefor. The counsel for James, Abram and Jacob X. insists that, if these releases are sustained as effectual, it will work unequally, and will defeat the intention of the intestate. These considerations are based upon the general treatment of the children by the father. It is said that there is nothing in all his life to warrant the view that he intended to favor one child more than another. I am very much impressed with this consideration. The evidence shows nothing of the father’s dealings with his children prior to 1850; but from that year onward, every important transaction, except the releases, tends to show that the father sought to make nearly equal distribution of his estate. I say nearly, because in the conveyance of the farm to Isaac, he seems to have a somewhat larger portion than any of the rest. This first distribution was made in 1850-1853, and about ten years later, another distribution was made, each child receiving $300. Upon the whole, I am quite clear that nothing follows towards annulling the releases from the distribution of this $300 to each; for it may-well be said that he had fixed the basis of equality of right in his own mind before, by the releases. And beyond doubt, it was all his own, and he could then do what seemed to him good, without undoing what he had caused to be done before. But after all, there are the releases. I am confronted with them. Does anything appear to impeach or destroy them ? Can. I declare them void by the supposition of an intention that was never declared, but which rests alone in other transactions ? Can I say that to give these releases the effect which their language imports would work inequality and injustice? How can I say that? Who is to make distribution of an estate, the owner during his lifetime, if he wishes so to do, or the courts, after his death, according to their views of justice and equality ? And if the courts may do it, as is urged in this case, then when or at what period shall the work begin ? Can the court put itself in a father’s place, and take into the account not only the innumerable items of expenses which, like a mill-race, drain a well-filed purse, but also the thankless conduct of a wayward, reckless-child ? No. There are the releases; the father had a right to take them.. The money paid, and the land conveyed, to his sons were his own. He had the right -of absolute disposition of them, by gift unqualified, or with exacting conditions. And what seems to many like an exacting condition, may have been to him the very limit of generosity. Prom a legal standpoint, above all, it is to-be considered that the sons saw fit to accept the consideration and to execute the releases. Having thus under seal executed a formal release which clearly expresses the consideration, and also-the object of it, and the persons in whose favor it shall operate,, the sons are bound. See Havens v. Bliss, 11 C. E. Gr. 383, and cases cited. But when the father died there was a judgment against Jacob X., and it is claimed that that became a lien on Jacob X.’s interest in the land. His alleged interest was levied on and sold by the sheriff, and James, one of the brothers, purchased. He had-given a release, and he now claims against his own release, and also against this release of Jacob X. I have concluded that Jacob was bound b.y the release to his father, “ and to his other children and heirs-at-law of all the estate, both real and personal, that may be left at the decease of my father,” and I think that none of Jacob’s creditors can enjoy a better or stronger position. If such agreements between a parent and child could be overcome so easily, then an unfortunate or unfaithful child could always thwart the wisest provisions of the parent. Most obviously in such case the loss should fall on the creditor, rather than on the innocent children whose interests, and it may be rights, have been guarded by the wisdom and forethought of the parent. In.my opinion, James took nothing under his purchase from the sheriff. Again, it is urged that the complainant, Rachel, is estopped because her husband advised James to purchase Jacob’s interest at the sale to be made by the sheriff. It is enough to say that the husband could not bind the wife in this behalf, had he known of the existence of the releases; but there is no proof that either of the complainants had any knowledge of them until after the sheriff’s sale. An effort was made at the hearing to establish a compromise or settlement of the controversy; but it was not concluded, so far as the complainants are concerned, and therefore not binding on them. I conclude that Rachel is entitled to one-fourth of the estate •of which her father died seized, after the payment of his debts, •funeral expenses and the expenses of settling h.is estate. I think this same relief should be extended to Isaac, Catharine and Hannah, but I can scarcely think they can have it by answer simply. However, since the ease is so fully presented in all its details, nothing can be gained by delay, and I will therefore ■allow the answer of these three to be so amended, by way of cross-bill, as to give them a right in this suit for the relief which ■they seek. I will not advise costs to either parties.