Case ID: nc_213/html/0805-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "Per Curiam.", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

JOSHUA A. JACKSON v. ADDISON HEWLETT, JR., Administrator of the Estate of ESTELLE WRIGHT.
    (Filed 25 May, 1938.)
    Husband and Wife § 4b—
    A wife’s contract with ber husband to repay him for sums expended by him in the repair and improvement of her real estate is void unless in writing and acknowledged in the manner prescribed by O. S., 2515.
    
      Appeal by plaintiff from Spears, J., at December Term, 1937, of New HaNoveb. Judgment affirmed.
    
      John D. Bellamy & Son for plaintiff, appellant.
    
    
      G. D. Hogue and Addison Hewlett, Jr., for defendant, appellee.
    
   Per Curiam.

Plaintiff instituted bis action against tbe administrator of tbe estate of bis divorced wife for tbe recovery of certain amounts expended by bim for repairs and improvements placed upon tbe bouse of bis said wife. It was alleged that tbe expenditures were made in 1918, shortly before tbe marriage, upon ber oral promise to pay tberefor.

Plaintiff and defendant’s intestate were married in 1918, and were divorced in 1933. Thereupon tbe defendant’s intestate removed to tbe State of Massachusetts, and died in 1935. Defendant pleaded tbe statute of limitations, and also that tbe alleged contract to pay was void for failure to comply with C. S., 2515. Judgment was rendered for defendant and plaintiff appealed.

If tbe contract for repayment to tbe plaintiff was made prior to tbe marriage in 1918, action thereon was barred by tbe statute of limitations, and, if made subsequent to tbe marriage, it was invalid because not in writing and acknowledged in tbe manner prescribed by O. S., 2515. In either event, plaintiff’s action was properly dismissed.

Judgment affirmed.