Court Opinion

ID: 9767501
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-29 05:20:34.780377+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T07:30:31.486755
License: Public Domain

PARRISH, Judge,
dissenting.
I respectfully dissent.
“The essential elements of a deed are: (1) Names of the parties thereto, (2) words of grant, (3) description of the property, (4) execution and delivery by the grantor and (5) acceptance by the grantee.” Boatmen’s National Bank of St. Louis v. Dandy, 804 S.W.2d 783, 785 (Mo.App.1990).
The grantors in the disputed deed are Gilbert Spears and Dorothy Spears. “[A] deed takes effect from the date of its delivery, not from the time of its execution.” Sando v. Phillips, 319 S.W.2d 648, 652 (Mo. 1959). Had the deed been delivered during the joint lifetimes of the named grantors, it would have effectively conveyed Gilbert’s and Dorothy’s interests in the real estate described in the deed. This did not occur. The attempt to deliver the deed after Gilbert’s death is, in my opinion, of no consequence because the deed does not name grantors who were capable of conveying real estate at the time of the attempted delivery nor does it name grantees who could accept the deed.
I further believe the evidence was not sufficient for a fact-finder to reasonably conclude that Gilbert and Dorothy delivered the deed prior to Gilbert’s death. I would reverse and remand with directions that judgment enter setting aside the disputed deed.