Opinion ID: 1148875
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 7

Heading: the chancellor was manifestly wrong in failing to award wife 1/2 interest in lots 250 and 251 of westgate estates.

Text: ¶ 29. Linda claims the chancellor was manifestly wrong in failing to award her a one-half interest in each of two lots contiguous to the marital home. These lots, numbers 250 and 251 of the Westgates Estates Subdivision, were purchased by Ronnie and Linda in June of 1983, along with lot 249, and certain outbuildings located on Lots 253 and 254. [2] ¶ 30. The sales price for the three lots was $18,000, of which nearly $7,000 was supplied as a cash down payment, and the balance of $11,000 was financed at Singing River Credit Union. The down payment was made to the seller by a check drawn upon Ronnie's and Linda's joint account. At Ronnie's request, Linda executed a Deed of Trust to the Singing River Credit Union, making her liable with Ronnie for payment of the $11,000 indebtedness. Subsequently, Ronnie had the Warranty Deed prepared whereby the seller conveyed the lots to Ronnie only as owner in fee simple. ¶ 31. All payments made on the three lots from June 23, 1983, until the time of the divorce in July, 1984, were made from Ronnie and Linda's joint checking account, in which both deposited their paychecks. At the time of the divorce in 1984, Ronnie and Linda agreed to each pay one-half of the monthly note. Ronnie told Linda the deletion of her name from the warranty deed had been a typographical error, and that she and Ronnie co-owned the lots. With knowledge that he had not made Linda a joint owner of the three lots, Ronnie accepted 31 payments from Linda in an average amount of $150 a month, during the period of October 17, 1984 through May 14, 1987. [3] In addition, Linda wrote Ronnie three checks totaling $427 for 1985, 1986, and 1987 taxes on the property. Other taxes were paid by Ronnie. ¶ 32. Linda stopped her payments after learning that she had no ownership interest in the three lots. Through her attorney, Linda requested that she be made a joint owner. Ronnie refused to convey Linda an interest in the property; in her amended complaint, Linda requested that the conveyance be reformed so as to reflect ownership as being one of joint tenancy by Linda and Ronnie with right of survivorship.