Case Name: CHAPMAN v. CHAPMAN
Court: Michigan Supreme Court
Jurisdiction: Michigan
Decision Date: 1897-09-14
Citations: 114 Mich. 144
Docket Number: 
Parties: CHAPMAN v. CHAPMAN
Judges: The other Justices concurred.
Reporter: Michigan Reports
Volume: 114
Pages: 144–149

Head Matter:
CHAPMAN v. CHAPMAN
Parol Trusts — Conveyance to Wife — Agreement as to Husband’s Interest.
No enforceable interest vests in a husband who furnishes the consideration for a conveyance made to his wife under a parol understanding that the property conveyed shall be occupied as a homestead by the family, and that the husband shall have a home there as long as he lives, since 2 How. Stat. § 6179 (chapter 233, § 6), provides that no estate or trust in land shall be created unless by operation of law or by conveyance in writing.
ON REHEARING.
Same — Speoipio Performance — Resulting Trust.
Section 6183, 2 How. Stat. (chapter 233, § 10 )■, providing that nothing in that chapter shall be construed to abridge the powers of the court of chancery to compel the specific performance of agreements in cases of part performance, will not aid the husband in an attempt to enforce such parol trust against the devisees of the wife, although he lives in the home so purchased for many years, and expends large sums of money in beautifying and improving it; particularly, in view of section 5569, providing that no use or trust shall result in favor of the person furnishing the consideration for a conveyance to another person.
Appeal from Wayne; Hosmer, J.
Submitted November 8, 1895; original opinion, December 10, 1895. Rehearing granted March 3, 1896;
final opinion, in affirmance of the earlier one, September 14, 1897.
Bill by Albert J. Chapman against Grace A. Chapman and Amanda L. Chapman to establish in complainant a life estate in certain lands. From a decree dismissing the bill on demurrer, complainant appeals.
Affirmed.
John Galloway and James II. Pound (Albert J. Chapman, in pro. per., on rehearing), for complainant.
Ed. E. Kane, for defendant Grace A. Chapman.

Opinion:
Long, J.
The bill in this case was filed to have a life estate declared in complainant to lot G, block 14, Crane & Wesson's section of Forsyth's farm, in the city of Detroit. The bill, in substance, sets out that, in August, 1879, complainant borrowed from one Samuel F. Hopkins the sum of $1,000 for the purpose of purchasing a home for himself and family; that the same was borrowed upon the understanding with Hopkins that it was to be used for such purpose; that complainant's wife, at that time, was informed of the purpose for which it was borrowed; and that the home so purchased was to he used and occupied by complainant and wife, as such, so long as each should live. The title was taken in complainant's wife. They had two children at the time of the purchase. A mortgage was executed to Hopkins to secure the payment of the moneys. The parties entered into possession, and .continued to reside there together until the spring of 1891, when complainant's wife and daughters left the home, and went to reside elsewhere, the complainant continuing to occupy the premises and making improvements thereon. In November following, complainant's wife died, leaving a last will and testament devising the property to her two daughters. The bill was demurred to in the court below, and the demurrer sustained. The claim here is that the property was held in trust by complainant's wife for him and his family.
It does not appear, by the bill, that any writing ever existed between the complainant and Hopkins in reference to these lands, or between complainant and his wife. The moneys were borrowed from Hopkins to make the purchase, and the title taken directly to the wife, and all the claim which the bill sets up to establish the life estate in complainant is shown to rest in the declarations of com plainant to Hopkins, and the claimed understanding between complainant and his wife, that the premises should be kept as a home for complainant and his wife during each of their lives.
Section 6179, 2 How. Stat., provides:
"No estate or interest in lands, other than leases for a term not exceeding one year, nor any trust or power over or concerning lands, or in any manner relating thereto, shall hereafter be created, granted, assigned, surrendered, or declared, unless by act or operation of law, or by a deed or conveyance in writing, subscribed by the party creating, granting, assigning, surrendering, or declaring the same, or by some person thereunto by him lawfully authorized by writing."
We think there is nothing set up in the bill which would bring the case out of this statute. A resulting trust cannot be created, except by act or operation of law, or by one of the other methods pointed out by this section of the statute. All that can be said is that, under the allegations in the bill, the complainant's wife knew how the land was purchased, and agreed with her husband that it should be a home for the family and for themselves so long as they lived. The title vested absolutely in the wife, and under the statute she could devise or convey it at will, without interference of her husband.
In Shafter v. Huntington, 53 Mich. 315, Mr. Justice Champlin, speaking of this statute, said:
"Since the passage of the foregoing enactments (section 6179, 2 How. Stat.) in.1846, no express trust has ever been allowed to be ingrafted by parol on a conveyance, but has uniformly been held to be void."
One of the daughters consented to release to her father, but the other refused to do so. The circumstances stated in the bill show that the situation of the complainant is peculiarly unfortunate. He has spent many years in this homestead, expending large sums of money in beautifying and improving it, and his two daughters, defendants in this case, now claim to hold the legal title and right to immediate possession; but, whatever the hardship may be, it is not for the courts to set aside the statute, or be guided by any other rule than that which the statute so plainly lays down.
The decree of the court below, sustaining the demurrer, must be affirmed.
The other Justices concurred.