Case ID: iowa_103/html/0738-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "Deemee, J.", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

In the Matter of the Estate of W. P. Gardner, Deceased.
    Homesteads: Debt of decedent. A homestead is not subject to the debts of the deceased owner, unless they were incurred prior to the acquisition of the homestead.
    
      Appeal from Carroll District Court. — Hon. Z A. Church, Judge.
    Friday, October 22, 1897.
    This is an application by the administrator of the estate of W. r,' Gardner, deceased, to sell certain real estate belonging to the deceased in order to pay debts. The widow of deceased claimed certain of the real estate as exempt to her as a homestead. One of the creditors, to-wit, J. W. Gardner, opposed this claim on the ground that his debt antedated the acquisition of the ‘ homestead. The trial court found that the property was a homestead, and denied the application to sell. The creditor appeals.—
    
      Affirmed,
    
    
      Geo. W. Paine for appellant.
    
      B. 1. Salinger for appellee.
   Deemee, J.

That the property was and is a homestead is conceded. It was acquired in the year 1882, and is not subject to the debts of the deceased unless these debts were contracted prior to the acquisition thereof. The claim of J. W. Gardner is based upon two promissory notes in the sum of three hundred dollars each, which are dated April 15, 1883, and April 15, 1887, respectively. He contends, however, that these notes were given in renewal of a debt contracted in the fall of 1873. To establish this contention he introduced the evidence of a former wife and of a grandson of the deceased. It is not important that we set out this evidence. It is sufficient to say that we do not think it establishes the appellant’s contention. Certainly it does not so clearly establish it that we are justified in holding that the order of the trial court lacks support in the evidence. The notes are not sufficiently connected with any previous loan of money as to justify us in saying they are renewals. The judgment and order of the district court are affirmed.