Opinion ID: 1867201
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: The Statutory Right to a Homestead Allowance

Text: Ala.Code 1975, § 43-8-110 (Supp. 1988), provides for a $6,000 allowance to the surviving spouse or minor children of the decedent; this allowance is in addition to any provision in the decedent's will, or in addition to any share received by intestate succession or by way of elective share. The purpose of § 43-8-110 is to preserve a portion of the decedent's estate from creditors and to protect the surviving spouse and minor children. Cater v. Coxwell, 479 So.2d 1181, 1183 (Ala.1985). The homestead allowance created by § 43-8-110 can be satisfied by any assets within the decedent's estate. It is not confined to real property. Garrard v. Lang, 514 So.2d 933, 934 (Ala.1987). In order for the surviving spouse to receive the homestead allowance provided by § 43-8-110, the decedent must have been domiciled in Alabama at the time of his death. The relevant language is set out below: § 43-8-110. Homestead allowance. (a) A surviving spouse of a decedent who was domiciled in this state is entitled to a homestead allowance.... There is no dispute that Clyde was domiciled in Georgia at the time of his death. Therefore, his surviving spouse, Beatrice, is not entitled to a homestead allowance under Alabama law. For the reasons discussed above, the signature requirements found in Article X, § 205, of the Alabama Constitution and § 6-10-3 are not applicable to Clyde's conveyance to Gowens, and Beatrice has no homestead interest in the property. We affirm the judgment insofar as it holds that that conveyance was valid, but we reverse the judgment insofar as it holds that Gowens's interest in the property is subject to a homestead exemption or allowance in favor of Beatrice. AFFIRMED IN PART, REVERSED IN PART, AND REMANDED. HORNSBY, C.J., and MADDOX, ADAMS and STEAGALL, JJ., concur.