Opinion ID: 2129921
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: whether the trial court had jurisdiction over the automobiles.

Text: Eugene first asserts that the trial court did not have jurisdiction over the automobiles because the titles were delivered to him prior to the death of decedent and were intended as a gift causa mortis to him. A gift causa mortis is one which is made in contemplation, fear, or peril of death, and with the intent that it shall take effect only in case of the death of the giver. SDCL 43-36-4. In order to make a gift causa mortis, there must be a clear and intelligent manifestation of an intention to make a present gift to another and a delivery of the property to or for the use of the intended donee. See Steffen v. Davis, 52 S.D. 283, 217 N.W. 221 (1927). Eugene asserts that it was decedent's intent that the automobiles not pass through the estate or by the provisions of her will; rather, she expressed specific desires about who was to receive each of the cars. Eugene further asserts that the titles were given to him with the specific instructions to hold them until the final settlement of the estate; if the estate was settled amicably, the automobiles were to be distributed in conformity with decedent's instructions. However, according to Eugene, if a dispute arose in settling the estate, then he was to retain the cars as his own. Sylvia and Sophia correctly assert that the burden is on Eugene to prove that the automobiles were intended as a gift causa mortis, including proof of both donative intent and delivery. Matejka v. Reider, 62 S.D. 335, 252 N.W. 878 (1934); see also O'Gorman v. Jolley, 34 S.D. 26, 147 N.W. 78 (1914). Sophia and Sylvia allege that the cars were never intended to be a gift causa mortis to Eugene, but were to be held by him pending the completion of the probate of the estate and that they were to be liquidated in the event that the estate needed to raise cash. They assert that these instructions from decedent did not manifest her intent to give the cars to Eugene. We note that both Sylvia and Eugene agreed and testified to the fact that decedent wanted the cars to be sold in case the estate was in need of money. We note further that Eugene alone testified that he was to keep the automobiles for himself in the event that the estate could not be settled amicably. This assertion can only be found in his testimony at the hearing and cannot otherwise be corroborated. Viewing the record in its entirety, we do not believe that Eugene has met his burden of proving donative intent. Matejka, supra. Further, because the automobiles were to be retained in case the estate needed an infusion of cash, they obviously had to be included within the estate. We therefore hold that the cars remained the property of estate and thus were within the jurisdiction of the trial court. Further, because of their unique value, we find that the court did not err in ordering that the certificates of title be delivered to the clerk.