Case ID: neb_104/html/0577-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "Rose, J.", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

In re Estate of Freda S. Costello. Roy J. Cusack, appellant, v. Estate of Freda S. Costello, appellee.
    Filed May 15, 1920.
    No. 20954.
    Homestead. Homestead interests of the husband become vested in him upon the death of the wife, and are not changed by subsequent legislation.
    ■ Appeal from the district court for Dodge county: Frederick W. Button, Judge.
    
      Reversed, with directions.
    
    
      R. E. Weaverling and N. H. Mapes, for appellant.
    
      Henry- M. Kidder, contra.
    
   Rose, J.

This is a controversy over the distribution of a fund in the hands of the administrator of the estate of Freda S. Costello, who died November 24, 1915, while occupying her homestead in Fremont with her six minor children and her husband. At the time of the wife’s death the homestead was incumbered by a mortgage for $1,800. By quitclaim deed executed May 9, 1917, the husband conveyed his homestead interests to Roy J. Cusack. The mortgage was foreclosed and the homestead sold. The fund for distribution in the hands of the administrator, after the payment of the mortgage debt and of the'claims against the wife’s estate, is $662.77. The minor heirs and Cusack are" the claimants. By order of the county court the administrator was directed to distribute to Cusack one-third of the fund and .to each of the six heirs one-ninth of it. From this distribution Cusack appealed to the district court, where the order of the county court was affirmed. This is an appeal from the judgment of the district court. ■

There is an obvious error on the face of the proceedings. The order of distribution was made under a statute providing that, where the surviving spouse elects to partition the homestead premises, the homestead right of the survivor shall then terminate and the homestead premises shall then descend as other real property of which the deceased died seised.” This act was passed in 1917. Laws 1917, ch. 68. The homestead interests acquired by the husband and transferred to Cusack had become vested under the statutes in force when the wife died November 24, 1915. The act of 1917 did not affect these interests. The judgment of the district court is therefore reversed, with directions to order a distribution under the statutes in force November 24, 1915.

Reversed.

Flansbtjrg, J., not sitting;