Opinion ID: 708180
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: the effect of the disclaimer

Text: 9 On the issue of a homestead disclaimer, Texas law is clear and well established: [A] homestead claimant is not estopped to assert his homestead rights in property on the basis of declarations made to the contrary if, at the time of the declarations, the claimant was in actual use and possession of the property. 9 In only two situations will a disclaimer bar the debtor from claiming homestead rights: When, at the time of the disclaimer, (1) the debtor owned two or more noncontiguous pieces of property, any of which--but not more than one--could constitute a homestead; or (2) the property described in the disclaimer was not being used for homestead purposes. 10 Border contends that McDaniel owned property in New Mexico at the time he executed the disclaimer and thus is estopped from claiming homestead rights in the Grapeland property. We disagree. 10 The bankruptcy court found that McDaniel sold the property in New Mexico in 1986. The disclaimer was executed in 1987. At the time of the disclaimer, McDaniel did not own two non-contiguous pieces of property. The bankruptcy court found further that McDaniel has occupied and used the Grapeland property as a homestead continually since 1986 at the latest. Thus, neither of the two above described exceptions apply. As did the bankruptcy court and the district court before us, we conclude that the disclaimer does not estop McDaniel from asserting his homestead exemption in the Grapeland property. 11