Court Opinion

ID: 2860304
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2015-09-05 20:30:26.523494+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T15:13:57.627528
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Nat'l Un. Ins. v. Olson                                             

TEXAS COURT OF APPEALS, THIRD DISTRICT, AT AUSTIN

NO. 03-95-00438-CV

National Union Fire Insurance Company of Pittsburgh, Pa., Appellant

v.

Judd M. Olson, Individually and Independent Executor of the Estate of 

Steven M. Olson, Deceased, Appellee

FROM THE PROBATE COURT NO. 1 OF TRAVIS COUNTY

NO. 62,757-A, HONORABLE GUY HERMAN, JUDGE PRESIDING

	Appellee Judd M. Olson ("Olson"), in his capacity as independent executor of the
estate of Steven M. Olson ("decedent"), filed this action for declaratory judgment seeking a
declaration that National Union Fire Insurance Company of Pittsburgh, PA ("National Union")
has no rights in the homestead property of the decedent or to any proceeds from its sale.  National
Union appeals the probate court's granting of summary judgment in favor of Olson, including the
award of attorney's fees.  We will affirm the probate court's judgment.

THE CONTROVERSY
	The decedent died testate on March 9, 1994, survived by Olson, his adult son. 
Pursuant to the terms of his father's will, Olson was named the independent executor of his
father's estate and inherited the property that had been his father's homestead, located in Travis
County, Texas.  The decedent also was survived by a minor daughter, Stephanie Olson. 
Stephanie lived with her mother, the decedent's former wife, at the time of her father's death. 
Although Stephanie had not lived with her father since her parents' divorce in 1989, the decedent
contributed to Stephanie's emotional and financial support until his death.
	The decedent's estate is insolvent.  At the time of his death, the decedent was
potentially indebted to National Union for over $750,000.  Specifically, National Union holds two
final judgments against the decedent and his estate which total more than $500,000.  Another
lawsuit seeking more than $250,000 in damages is currently pending.  To secure payment of this
debt, National Union tendered a claim to Olson, as independent executor of the decedent's estate,
in which it requested a judgment lien against all of the decedent's non-exempt real estate located
in Travis County.  National Union contends the decedent's former homestead constitutes such
non-exempt property.  Olson disagrees and maintains instead that, because the decedent had a
minor child at the time of his death, under Texas law, the homestead passed to Olson as devisee
free and clear of National Union's claim.  Olson filed suit for declaratory judgment, seeking to
determine the status of the decedent's former homestead and any right National Union may have
to the proceeds from its sale. (1)  The probate court granted summary judgment in favor of Olson
and awarded attorney's fees.  National Union appeals.

DISCUSSION
	In its first point of error, National Union asserts that the probate court erred in
declaring that the former homestead of the decedent retained its exempt character from debt upon
his death due to the mere existence of his minor daughter, Stephanie, absent any use or occupancy
of the property by her and absent any assertion by her guardian of the child's right to use and
occupy the property. (2)
	The standards for reviewing a motion for summary judgment are well established: 
(1) the movant for summary judgment has the burden of showing that no genuine issue of material
fact exists and that it is entitled to judgment as a matter of law; (2) in deciding whether there is
a disputed material fact issue precluding summary judgment, evidence most favorable to the
nonmovant will be taken as true; and (3) every reasonable inference must be indulged in favor of
the nonmovant and any doubts resolved in its favor.  Nixon v. Mr. Property Management Co., 690
S.W.2d 546, 548-49 (Tex. 1985).
	Based on the Constitution, statutes, and case law of this state, it is well established
that title to the homestead in an insolvent estate, where a constituent member of the family
survives, descends to those entitled to inherit free from claims of creditors.  Tex. Const. art. XVI,
§ 52; Tex. Prob. Code Ann. § 279 (West 1980); Milner v. McDaniel, 36 S.W.2d 992, 993 (Tex.
1931); Childers v. Henderson, 13 S.W. 481, 482-483 (Tex. 1890); see also Ward v. Hinkle, 8
S.W.2d 641, 642 (Tex. 1928) (whether decedent dies testate or intestate has no effect on exempt
status of homestead).  The touchstone for determining whether the homestead property is exempt
from satisfaction of the decedent's debts turns upon whether the decedent is survived by a spouse,
minor child, or unmarried adult child residing with the family.  Tex. Prob. Code Ann. § 279
(West 1980); Thompson v. Kay, 77 S.W.2d 201, 203 (Tex. 1934); Milner, 36 S.W.2d at 993;
Cline v. Niblo, 8 S.W.2d 633, 634 (Tex. 1928); Ward, 8 S.W.2d at 642; Zwerneman v.
Rosenberg, 13 S.W. 485, 488 (Tex. 1890).  If any such constituent member of the family
survives, the heirs of the deceased owner take title to the homestead property unburdened by the
claims of creditors of the decedent's estate except those specified by the Constitution and statute, (3)
and subject only to the right of occupancy of a surviving constituent.  Thompson, 77 S.W.2d at
203; Milner, 36 S.W.2d at 993; Cline, 8 S.W.2d at 634; Ward, 8 S.W.2d at 642; Zwerneman,
13 S.W. at 488.  In contrast, where the decedent leaves no surviving spouse, minor child, or
unmarried adult child residing with the family, the homestead property descends charged with the
debts of the decedent. Milner, 36 S.W.2d at 993; Givens v. Hudson, 64 Tex. 471, 474 (1885).
	In the instant cause, National Union argues that this well settled rule does not apply
to the facts at hand, because the minor child, Stephanie, did not reside in the decedent's
homestead at the time of his death and her guardian has not since asserted any claim to occupy
the homestead on the child's behalf.  Specifically, National Union urges this Court to condition
the exempt nature of the decedent's former homestead upon Stephanie's actual occupancy of the
homestead.
	As a preliminary matter, there is no requirement that the minor child resided with
the decedent in order to be considered a constituent family member for purposes of asserting a
homestead claim.  Scripture v. Scripture, 231 S.W. 826, 827 (Tex. Civ. App.--Dallas 1921, no
writ).  Nonetheless, Stephanie's right to assert a homestead claim should not be confused with
Olson's right to receive the homestead free from the debts of his father.  See 18 M.K. Woodward
& Ernest F. Smith, III, Probate and Decedents' Estates §§ 862-867 (Texas Practice 1971 & Supp.
1995); Leo Brewer, Relative Rights of Heirs and Unsecured Creditors To A Decedent's
Homestead in Texas, 13 Tex. L. Rev. 423, 435 (1935).
	The right to occupy the homestead upon the death of the decedent is distinct from
the right to have the property descend free and clear of the debts of the decedent.  With respect
to the latter, the mere existence of a surviving spouse, minor child, or unmarried adult child
remaining with the family is sufficient to cause the homestead to descend free of debt.  See
Milner, 36 S.W.2d at 993; Woodward, supra § 863; Leo Brewer, supra at 435.  Thus, one who
inherits the decedent's homestead property receives the property free from debts of the decedent
even though the heir may have no immediate right of occupancy.  Woodward, supra § 862.
	In the instant cause, the continued exempt nature of the homestead is ensured by
the mere existence of the minor child Stephanie.  Regardless of whether Stephanie's guardian
chooses to assert Stephanie's right to occupy the homestead, or whether such application, if made,
were granted, the homestead passes exempt from creditors like National Union. See American
Bonding Co. v. Logan, 166 S.W. 1132, 1137-38 (Tex. 1914) (holding that even though probate
court had not set homestead aside for use of surviving constituent family members, proceeds from
voluntary sale of properties remained free from any and all claims of decedent's creditors).
	Because the existence of a surviving constituent family member is the determining
factor, the status of the homestead is immediately ascertainable upon the death of the decedent. 
Thus, by definition, post-mortem events can have no effect on the exempt status of the property. 
See Galloway v. Galloway, 236 S.W.2d 832, 834 (Tex. Civ. App.--Dallas 1951, no writ).  While
the case law has not specifically addressed how the surviving family member's post-death
occupancy of the homestead affects the exempt status of the property, courts have considered the
effects of post-death voluntary sale and abandonment.  In Hoefling v. Hoefling, 167 S.W. 210

(Tex. 1914), the Texas Supreme Court was asked to decide whether the subsequent abandonment
of the homestead by the decedent's widow entitled the creditors to attach the homestead for
payment of the decedent's debts.  The court held that the exempt status of the homestead is not
affected by subsequent voluntary sale or abandonment of the homestead property.  Id. at 212. 
Once the homestead passes free of debt, it never becomes subject to the debt.  We see no reason
to distinguish the rule under these facts.
	In support of its position, National Union cites Cline v. Niblo, wherein the court
stated that the homestead was not subject to partition or division among the heirs so long as the
occupancy rights of the unmarried daughter and the minor children were asserted. 8 S.W.2d at
634 (emphasis added).  However, Cline and the instant cause address two different rights
associated with homestead property:  (1) the right to partition (restricted by the right to occupy)
versus (2) the right to receive the property free and clear of the decedent's debts.  The right to
partition the homestead is dependent on the actual occupancy of the homestead by the surviving
family member.  So long as someone entitled to occupy the property asserts that right, the heirs
cannot force a partition.  However, the right to partition the homestead is not determinative of the
right to have the homestead descend free of the debts of the decedent.  Again, the former is
dependent on occupancy by the surviving constituent family member while the latter is dependent
entirely upon the existence of a surviving constituent family member.
	In sum, there is no authority to support the conditioning of the exempt nature of
the homestead on the surviving constituent family member's actual use of the property.  The two
rights are wholly independent.  Therefore, in the instant cause, we conclude that Stephanie's mere
existence, distinct and separate from any right of occupancy, caused the homestead to pass to
Olson free of any claims by the creditors of his father's estate, including National Union.  We
overrule appellant's first point of error.
	In its second point of error, National Union claims the probate court abused its
discretion in awarding Olson attorney's fees. Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code Ann. § 37.009 (West
1986).  The award of attorney's fees rests in the sound discretion of the trial court and will not
be reversed on appeal without a clear showing of abuse of discretion.  Oake v. Collin County, 692
S.W.2d 454, 455 (Tex. 1985); West Texas Rehabilitation Ctr. v. Allen, 810 S.W.2d 870, 874
(Tex. App.--Austin 1991, no writ).  A trial court abuses its discretion only when it acts in an
unreasonable and arbitrary manner, or when it acts without reference to any guiding principles. 
Beaumont Bank, N.A. v. Buller, 806 S.W.2d 223, 236 (Tex. 1991); Downer v. Aquamarine
Operators, Inc., 701 S.W.2d 238, 241-42 (Tex. 1985), cert. denied, 476 U.S. 1159 (1986).
	Here, National Union argues that it was the only creditor of the decedent's estate
Olson chose to sue.  Therefore, because National Union was singled out in this action, it was
arbitrary and unreasonable to award Olson attorney's fees.  Admittedly, National Union was the
only party named by Olson in this action.  However, there was no summary judgment evidence
presented to show that any other creditor had made a claim against the decedent's estate
demanding a right to the decedent's former homestead or to any proceeds from its sale.  From the
record before this court, appellant is the only known creditor to have made a claim against the
estate and the only creditor with whom a justiciable controversy existed.  See Southwest Airlines
Co. v. Texas High Speed Rail Auth., 863 S.W.2d 123, 125 (Tex. App.--Austin 1993, writ denied)
(stating that actions for declaratory relief require existence of real controversy between parties that
will be actually determined by judicial declaration).  Based on these facts, we cannot say the
probate court abused its discretion in awarding reasonable attorney's fees to Olson.  We overrule
appellant's second point of error.

CONCLUSION
	Having overruled both of appellant's points of error, we affirm the probate court's
judgment.

  
					Marilyn Aboussie, Justice
Before Chief Justice Carroll, Justices Aboussie and Kidd
Affirmed
Filed:   April 3, 1996
Publish
1.      1  Olson filed this lawsuit on October 11, 1994.  Olson subsequently sold the homestead on
February 24, 1995 for approximately $208,000.
2.      2  In its brief, National Union concedes that if Stephanie, through her guardian, had
asserted her right to occupy the decedent's former homestead and had been allowed to occupy
the same, the property would have remained exempt from the claims of the decedent's
creditors, including National Union. 
3.      3  Under the Texas Constitution and statutes, the homestead property is exempt from all
creditor claims except purchase money liens, taxes due on the property, and mechanic's and
materialman's liens.  Tex. Const. art. XVI, § 50; Tex. Prob. Code Ann. § 270 (West 1980).