Court Opinion

ID: 2896789
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2015-09-08 00:48:34.710828+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T12:44:45.813034
License: Public Domain

NO. 07-07-0347-CV

                              IN THE COURT OF APPEALS

                       FOR THE SEVENTH DISTRICT OF TEXAS

                                      AT AMARILLO

                                         PANEL E

                                    AUGUST 25, 2008

                          ______________________________

                       IN THE MATTER OF THE MARRIAGE OF

                LEONARDO BENITEZ, SR. AND YOLANDA C. BENITEZ

                        _________________________________

           FROM THE COUNTY COURT AT LAW NO. 3 OF LUBBOCK COUNTY;

              NO. 2006-535-474; HONORABLE PAULA LANEHART, JUDGE

                         _______________________________

Before QUINN, C.J., and CAMPBELL, J., and REAVIS, S.J.1

                                MEMORANDUM OPINION

       Presenting one issue, appellant Yolanda C. Benitez contends the trial court erred

in finding that the former residence was not transferred by a parol gift and subjecting it to

the disposition of the court as community property. We affirm.

       Because the case was tried without a jury and neither party requested the trial court

make findings of fact and conclusions of law, a detailed restatement of the facts and

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       Don H. Reavis, Senior Justice (Ret.), Seventh Court of Appeals, sitting by
assignment.
evidence is not necessary. During their marriage, in August 1976, the parties purchased

a residence at 2712 2nd Place, Lubbock, Texas, and resided therein until they moved to

Houston in 1995. At trial, Yolanda testified that she and Leonardo made a parol gift of the

residence to her son by a former marriage. The parties did not execute a deed or make

any written memoranda of the alleged gift but did permit Yolanda’s son to reside in the

house and pay the monthly installments on the first lien as they accrued. At trial, Leonardo

testified that he did not intend to make a gift of the residence. Although Jason testified as

a witness, he was not a party to the proceeding. Among other things, the decree provided

that Yolanda failed to prove that the property was a gift to her son, Jason. At the time of

trial, Yolanda and Leonardo remained the record owners of the property which the trial

court awarded to Leonardo.

                                    Standard of Review
                            No Findings or Conclusions of Law

       Rule 296 of the Texas Rules of Civil Procedure authorizes requests for findings of

fact and conclusions of law in a nonjury case. Where, as here, neither party requested

findings of fact and conclusions of law and a reporter’s record has been provided, we

presume that the trial court found all fact questions in support of its judgment and must

affirm the judgment on any legal theory supported by the pleadings and evidence. Point

Lookout West, Inc. v. Whorton, 742 S.W.2d 277, 278 (Tex. 1987). When a reporter’s

record has been provided, the implied findings may be challenged for legal and factual

insufficiency “the same as jury findings or a trial court’s findings of fact.” Roberson v.

Robinson, 768 S.W.2d 280, 281 (Tex. 1989).

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       By her sole issue, Yolanda contends the trial court erred in finding that the parties

did not make a parol gift of the property. We disagree.

       A conclusion of law that a gift was made must be supported by findings that (1) the

parties intended to make a gift:; (2) delivery of the property; and (3) acceptance of the

property. However, the intention of the donors is the “principal issue in determining

whether a gift has been made.” In Re Estate of Hamill, 866 S.W.2d 339, 344 (Tex.App.--

Amarillo 1993, no pet.). In her brief, Yolanda does not discuss the testimony of Leonardo

regarding the alleged gift of the house or develop her contention why it did not raise a fact

issue as to the intention of the parties. Considering the testimony of Leonardo that his

wife’s testimony regarding a gift to her son was not true, and because it was the province

of the trial court, as the fact finder, to resolve the conflicts and inconsistencies in the

testimony by judging the credibility of the witnesses and the weight to be given their

testimony, see Jones v. Hutchinson County, 615 S.W.2d 927, 932 (Tex.App.–Amarillo

1981, no pet.), we conclude the trial court did not err in considering the property part of the

community estate and subject to division among the parties. Yolanda’s sole point of error

is overruled.

       Consequently, the trial court’s judgment is affirmed.

                                                     Don H. Reavis
                                                   Senior Justice (Ret)

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