Court Opinion

ID: 4412849
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2019-07-01 08:49:43.291554+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:51:53.241723
License: Public Domain

NO. 12-18-00253-CV

                             IN THE COURT OF APPEALS

                 TWELFTH COURT OF APPEALS DISTRICT

                                          TYLER, TEXAS

 CAROLYN NEILL JENNINGS,                                 §       APPEAL FROM THE 123RD
 APPELLANT

 V.                                                      §       JUDICIAL DISTRICT COURT

 ANTHONY JOSEPH PIAZZA, JR.,
 APPELLEE                                                §       SHELBY COUNTY, TEXAS

                                      MEMORANDUM OPINION
        Carolyn Neill Jennings appeals the trial court’s declaratory judgment and judgment
quieting title rendered in favor of Appellee Anthony Joseph Piazza, Jr. In two issues, Jennings
argues that the evidence is insufficient to support the trial court’s judgment. We affirm.

                                               BACKGROUND
        This case involves a dispute over the ownership of a 59 acre tract of real property in Shelby
County, Texas. The tract originally was part of a 200 acre tract, which was the community property
of E.M. Rhodes and his wife, Mary Mathis Rhodes. The two had eight children together––Able,
Tommy, Julia, Annie, Minnie, Lela, Susie, and Lizzie. E.M. Rhodes died intestate in 1915. As a
result, Mary retained her undivided one-half community property interest and a partial life estate
in the 200 acre tract, and each child received a one-sixteenth interest in the tract. 1
        By deed dated September 16, 1916, Able, Tommy, Lizzie, and Julia sold their undivided
interests in the 200 acre tract to Lela, Susi, Annie, and Minnie for $7,500.00, resulting in a one-
eighth interest in the tract for each of the buyers. The deed set forth, in pertinent part, as follows:

        1
           See TEX. REV. ST. 1911 arts. 2462, 2469, available at https://www.sll.texas.gov/assets/pdf/historical-
statutes/1911/1911-2-revised-civil-statutes-of-the-state-of-texas.pdf, at 522–24.
                   It is also hereby understood that said real estate and personal property is to be held as the
        community property of Mrs. M. M. Rhodes, Annie Rhodes, Minnie Harris, Lela Rhodes and Susie
        Rhodes, till the deceased of Mrs. M. M. Rhodes when this deed shall become valid and absolute in
        its effect and reading.

        On July 26, 1919, Lela married Sidney Carl Neill. The two had two children––Bobby and
James Neill.
        In October 1921, Lela, Susi, Annie, and Minnie executed four deeds resulting in the
partition of their interests in the 200 acre tract. In one of these deeds, Lela acquired title to the 59
acre tract “for and in consideration of the sum of Twenty-one hundred and seventy five ($2,175.00)
DOLLARS . . . paid and secured to be paid, by Lela Neill in real estate values, the receipt of which
is hereby fully acknowledged . . . .” The trial court found that as a result, Lela owned an undivided
one-half interest in the 59 acre tract, subject to Mary’s life estate.
        By deed dated April 28, 1931, Mary, individually and as executrix under the last will and
testament of E.M. Rhodes, for “one dollar and other valuable considerations[,]” conveyed to
Annie, Susie, and Lela, her undivided one-half interest in the 200 acre tract. The deed also set
forth, in pertinent part, as follows:

                  It is also understood and agreed that this deed and conveyance does not become absolute,
        until the death of grantor, and at the death of grantor, Annie Rhodes is to receive 91 acres of the
        hereinbefore described tract of land, Lela Neill is to receive 59 acres of the hereinbefore described
        tract of land, and Susie Wilson is to receive 50 acres of the hereinbefore described tract of land[.]

        Mary died later that decade. Sidney Carl Neill died in 1957. He was predeceased by his
and Lela’s son, Bobby Neill, whose daughter is Appellant Carolyn Neill Jennings (Jennings).
Sidney and Lela’s other son, James, had one child, Bobbie Lynn Carlton. Bobbie Lynn had a son
named Richard Hattaway. In the early 1980s, Lela conveyed the 59 acre tract to Bobbie Lynn.
        James died in 1988. Lela died in 1990. Bobbie Lynn died in 2010 and bequeathed the 59
acre tract to Hattaway. By quitclaim deed dated February 4, 2016, Hattaway conveyed the 59 acre
tract and other real property to Piazza.
        Jennings filed the instant suit to partition the 59 acre tract.                      Piazza answered and
counterclaimed, seeking to quiet title and requesting a declaratory judgment that (1) he is the sole
owner of the 59 acre tract and entitled to exclusive possession thereof and (2) Jennings is not an
owner of any undivided interest in the property and not entitled to possession of any part of it.
Thereafter, the parties entered into a Rule 11 agreement to submit the case to the trial court

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pursuant to Texas Rule of Civil Procedure 263 and filed position statements and supporting
documentary evidence. The trial court initially found for Jennings, but later, reconsidered its ruling
and rendered a judgment in Piazza’s favor along with written findings of fact and conclusions of
law. This appeal followed.

                                      DEED CONSTRUCTION
       In her first and second issues, Jennings argues that the evidence is insufficient to support
the trial court’s judgment.
Standard of Review and Governing Law
       In construing the meaning of a deed, our primary duty is to ascertain the intent of the parties
as provided in the four corners of the document. Luckel v. White, 819 S.W.2d 459, 461 (Tex.
1991); Hausser v. Cuellar, 345 S.W.3d 462, 466–67 (Tex. App.–San Antonio 2011, pet. denied).
To do this, we must examine and consider the entire writing in an effort to harmonize and give
effect to all the provisions of the agreement, even if different parts of the deed appear inconsistent
or contradictory. White, 819 S.W.2d at 462; Coker v. Coker, 650 S.W.2d 391, 393 (Tex. 1983).
We must assume the parties to the instrument intended every clause to have some effect; therefore,
the language of the deed should be interpreted so that no provision is rendered meaningless. See
White, 819 S.W.2d at 461; Coker, 650 S.W.2d at 393. Each word and phrase should be given its
plain, grammatical meaning unless doing so would clearly defeat the parties’ intent. Moon
Royalty, LLC v. Boldrick Partners, 244 S.W.3d 391, 394 (Tex. App.–Eastland 2007, no pet.). No
provision of the deed should be struck unless an irreconcilable conflict exists which causes one
part of the deed to destroy another part. Id.
       A deed may be either ambiguous or unambiguous, and this determination is a question of
law. Friendswood Dev. Co. v. McDade & Co., 926 S.W.2d 280, 282 (Tex. 1996). To make this
determination, the trial court must examine the deed as a whole in light of the circumstances
present at the time of its execution. Columbia Gas Transmission Corp. v. New Ulm Gas, Ltd.,
940 S.W.2d 587, 589 (Tex. 1996); Hausser, 345 S.W.3d at 467. If after applying the pertinent
rules of construction, a deed is subject to two or more reasonable interpretations, then the deed is
ambiguous, and a fact issue exists as to the parties’ intent. Columbia Gas Transmission Corp.,
940 S.W.2d at 589; Hausser, 345 S.W.3d at 467. However, an ambiguity does not arise merely

                                                  3
because the parties advance conflicting interpretations of the deed’s language; instead, for an
ambiguity to exist, both interpretations must be reasonable. Hausser, 345 S.W.3d at 467.
       A deed is unambiguous when it is so worded that it can be given “a certain or definite legal
meaning or interpretation.” Coker, 650 S.W.2d at 393. The interpretation of an unambiguous
deed is a question of law, and we conduct a de novo review of the trial court’s construction.
Altman v. Blake, 712 S.W.2d 117, 118 (Tex. 1986); Range Resources Corp. v. Bradshaw, 266
S.W.3d 490, 493 (Tex. App.–Fort Worth 2008, pet. denied). When conducting a de novo review,
we exercise our own judgment and redetermine each issue according no deference to the trial
court’s decision. Quick v. City of Austin, 7 S.W.3d 109, 116 (Tex. 1998); Bradshaw, 266 S.W.3d
at 493. We perform that review without considering parol evidence. Stewman Ranch, Inc. v.
Double M. Ranch, Ltd., 192 S.W.3d 808, 810 (Tex. App.–Eastland 2006, pet. denied).
Discussion
       In the instant case, neither party contends that the deeds relevant to our analysis are
ambiguous. Yet each party advances conflicting interpretations of some of the language contained
therein. Cf. Columbia Gas Transmission Corp., 940 S.W.2d at 589 (“An ambiguity does not arise
simply because the parties advance conflicting interpretations of the contract”). Based on our
review of the relevant instruments, we agree that they are unambiguous.
       Jennings’s claim to the 59 acre tract is based on her contention that that tract was Sydney
and Lela’s community property. The bases of her argument rest on her interpretation of the
language of the 1916 deed, the 1921 deed, and the 1931 deed.
       1916 Deed
       By virtue of the 1916 deed, Able, Tommy, Lizzie, and Julia sold their undivided interests
in the 200 acre tract to Lela, Susi, Annie, and Minnie for $7,500.00. The deed provided, in
pertinent part, as follows:

                It is hereby further understood and agreed that we hereby relinquish and transfer all claims
       against both real estate and personal property of E.M. Rhodes deceased, and Mrs. M.M. Rhodes.

                  It is also hereby understood that said real estate and personal property is to be held as the
       community property of Mrs. M.M. Rhodes, Annie Rhodes, Minnie Harris, Lela Rhodes and Susie
       Rhodes, till the deceased of Mrs. M.M. Rhodes when this deed shall become valid and absolute in
       its effect and reading.

                                                          4
The trial court found that this deed resulted in Lela’s acquiring a one-eighth undivided interest in
the 200 acre tract in September 1916. Jennings argues that the above-quoted language indicates
the grantors’ intent that their respective interests in the 200 acre tract not be conveyed until Mary’s
death.
         In general, characterization of property is determined by the time and circumstances of its
acquisition, often referred to as the “inception of title” doctrine. Rivera v. Hernandez, 441 S.W.3d
413, 420 (Tex. App.–El Paso 2014, pet. denied). Inception of title occurs when a party first has a
right of claim to the property by virtue of which title is finally vested. Id.; see also John Hancock
Mut. Life Ins. Co. v. Bennett, 128 S.W.2d 791, 795 (Tex. 1939). In accordance with this doctrine,
if the inception of title predated the marriage, then the property may be characterized as separate
property, but if the inception of title occurred after the marriage began, then the property is
generally considered to be community property. 2 Attaguile v. Attaguile, No. 08-16-00222-CV,
2018 WL 4659580, at *6 (Tex. App.–El Paso Sept. 28, 2018, no pet.) (op.).
         It is apparent from the language of the first paragraph set forth above that the grantors
intended, then and there, to transfer the subject property to the grantees. This present intent to
transfer for valuable consideration of $7,500.00 indicates that inception of title occurred, in Lela’s
case, before she married Sidney. The second paragraph acknowledges Mary’s then existing
community property interest in the property. 3 It further sets forth that Mary’s community property
interest shall continue until she is deceased, whereupon the deed “shall become valid and absolute
in its effect and reading.” We construe this language not as an indication that the deed is a
testamentary instrument, but rather as an acknowledgment of Mary’s life estate in the property.
See, e.g., Chrisman v. Wyatt, 26 S.W. 759, 759 (Tex. Civ. App.–Fort Worth 1894, writ ref’d)
(document was not a will despite statement that “at my death” this property belongs to grantee);
Carpenter v. Hanning, 34 S.W. 774, 775 (Tex. Civ. App.–Austin 1896, writ ref’d) (document
construed as deed rather than will despite language that grantor would remain in possession of

         2
          In Texas, all property acquired by a spouse during the marriage generally belongs to the marital community,
except property acquired by gifts, devises, or descent. In re Knott, 118 S.W.3d 899, 902 (Tex. App.–Texarkana 2003,
no pet.).
          3
            We cannot ignore the list of grantees’ names following the reference to Mary’s community property interest.
However, Jennings has not cited to, nor is this court aware of, any authority permitting a grantor, by deed, to
preemptively characterize the property conveyed as community property when one of the grantees is an unmarried
individual. We instead rely on the inception of title doctrine to determine the proper characterization of the property
at issue.

                                                          5
property and enjoy rents and profits arising therefrom during his life and, then, property
immediately would pass into possession of grantee in absolute fee); see also, e.g., Bombarger v.
Morrow, 61 Tex. 417, 418 (1884) (document stating that grantor reserved to himself right to
manage and control land and premises and have, enjoy, and dispose of occupancy, rents, and
profits of land and premises during his natural life was a deed rather than testamentary instrument
effective upon grantor’s death). Thus, we hold that the 1916 deed served as of its execution to
transfer the grantors’ respective interests in the 200 acre tract to the grantees, subject to Mary’s
life estate.
        1921 Partition Deeds
        We next consider the effect of the 1921 handwritten deeds by which Lela, Susi, Annie, and
Minnie partitioned the 200 acre tract. By the time of this agreement, Lela was married to Sidney.
In one of the deeds, Lela acquired what amounted to a one-half undivided interest in the 59 acre
tract “for and in consideration of the sum of Twenty-one hundred and seventy five ($2,175.00)
DOLLARS . . . paid and secured to be paid, by Lela Neill in real estate values, the receipt of which
is hereby fully acknowledged . . . .” While Jennings describes the consideration for this transaction
as “cash,” her characterization ignores the language in the deed that the consideration is to be paid
“in real estate values.” Thus, it is apparent from the plain meaning of the language used that Lela,
Susie, Annie, and Minnie, sought to partition their respective one-eighth undivided interests in the
200 acre tract so that each could have a one-half undivided interest in smaller parcels of that tract.
In Lela’s case, the consideration she paid was her one-eighth undivided interest in the 200 acre
tract, for which a cash value was given. But despite the attribution of a cash value to this
consideration, the consideration itself was her interest in the 200 acre tract, which she acquired
prior to her marriage to Sidney. See Hernandez, 441 S.W.3d at 420. As a result, we conclude that
Lela’s resulting one-half undivided interest in the 59 acre tract was her separate property. See id.;
see also Taylor v. Hollingsworth, 169 S.W.2d 519, 522 (Tex. Civ. App.–Galveston 1943), aff’d,
176 S.W.2d 733 (Tex. 1943) (property acquired in exchange for separate property also is separate
property).
        1931 Deed
        We next consider the effect of the 1931 deed, in which Mary, individually and as executrix
under the last will and testament of E.M. Rhodes, for “one dollar and other valuable
considerations[,]” conveyed to Annie, Susie, and Lela, her undivided one-half interest in the 200

                                                  6
acre tract. As set forth above, the deed also set forth, in pertinent part, that it and the conveyances
were not absolute until Mary’s death, at which time, Lela would receive 59 acres of the tract therein
described. Jennings argues that this transfer from Mary to Lela for valuable consideration, which
occurred during Lela’s marriage to Sidney resulted in Sidney’s obtaining a community property
interest in this one-half undivided interest in the 59 acre tract. The trial court found that the 1931
deed conveyed the land to Lela as a gift.
       A gift is a voluntary transfer of property to another made gratuitously and without
consideration. In re Marriage of Moncey, 404 S.W.3d 701, 710 (Tex. App.–Texarkana 2013, no
pet.). Three elements are required to establish the existence of a gift: (1) intent to make a gift; (2)
delivery of the property, and (3) acceptance of the property. Id.
       As Jennings asserts, the plain language of the 1931 deed unambiguously sets forth that the
property was transferred to Mary’s daughter, Lela, in exchange for a stated consideration of one
dollar. The deed’s plain language further sets forth that Mary sought presently to transfer the
property while reserving a life estate for herself. 4 Thus, we begin with the presumption that the
property acquired by Lela during her marriage to Sidney is community property. See Roberts v.
Roberts, 999 S.W.2d 424, 431 (Tex. App.–El Paso 1999, no pet.).
       However, a presumption of separate property arises where, as here, property is deeded from
a parent to a child or children; it is presumed that a gift was intended. See Richardson v. Laney,
911 S.W.2d 489, 492 (Tex. App–Texarkana 1995, no writ); Kyles v. Kyles, 832 S.W.2d 194, 197
(Tex. App.–Beaumont 1992, no writ); cf. Roberts, 999 S.W.2d at 431. This separate property
presumption is rebuttable, but the person seeking to rebut the presumption must prove a lack of
donative intent by clear and convincing evidence at the trial court level. Kyles, 832 S.W.2d at 197
(citing Somer v. Bogart, 749 S.W.2d 202, 204 (Tex. App.–Dallas), writ denied, 762 S.W.2d 577
(Tex.1988)). The clear and convincing standard does not alter the standard of review to be applied
at the appellate court level for sufficiency of the evidence challenges. Faram v. Gervitz–Faram,
895 S.W.2d 839, 842 (Tex. App.–Fort Worth 1995, no writ); Oadra v. Stegall, 871 S.W.2d 882,
892 (Tex. App.–Houston [14th Dist.] 1994, no writ). The requirement of clear and convincing
evidence merely is another way of stating that a cause of action must be supported by factually
sufficient evidence. Laney, 911 S.W.2d at 492.

       4
           See, e.g., Chrisman, 26 S.W. at 759; Carpenter, 34 S.W. at 775; see also, e.g., Morrow, 61 Tex. at 418.

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       In the instant case, Jennings argues that “[t]here should be no question that the 1931 deed
. . . was for a paid consideration at the time when Lela . . . was married to Sidney[.]” However, as
discussed above, the fact that the transfer was made from parent to child creates a presumption of
separate property and shifts the burden of proof to Jennings. See id.; Kyles, 832 S.W.2d at 197.
       Based on our review of the record, there is no evidence that this stated consideration, was,
in fact, paid. See Bently v. Andrewartha, 565 S.W.2d 590, 592 (Tex. Civ. App.–Austin 1978, no
writ) (holding parol evidence admissible to prove amount of consideration to be paid where deed
recited ten dollars and other valuable consideration); Latham v. Dement, 409 S.W.2d 429, 433
(Tex. Civ. App.–Dallas 1966, writ ref’d n.r.e.) (same); see, e.g., Hall v. Barrett, 126 S.W.2d 1045,
1047 (Tex. Civ. App.–Fort Worth 1939, no writ) (despite ten dollar recital of consideration’s being
customary in deeds of gift, argument against finding that gift made unfounded where no attempt
made to prove that grantees actually paid grantor such sum); but see Johnson v. Driver, 198
S.W.3d 359, 361 (Tex. App.–Tyler 2006, no pet.) (in case where deed was not a transfer from
parent to child and, thus, no presumption of gift, unambiguous deeds reciting consideration proved
conveyances were bargained-for-exchanges and parol evidence inadmissible to establish
transaction actually intended to be gifts). Jennings has not cited to, nor has our review of the
record revealed, any evidence tending to rebut the presumption that, in the 1931 deed, Mary
intended to make a gift of the 59 acre tract to Lela.
       We, therefore, conclude that the gift made by Mary to Lela in 1931 resulted in Lela’s
obtaining an undivided interest in the 59 acre tract, subject to Mary’s life estate, which ended upon
Mary’s death in the late 1930s. As a result, Sidney had no community property interest in the 59
acre tract, to which Jennings would be entitled upon his death.
       Because the deeds relevant to our inquiry are unambiguous, we have conducted a de novo
review of the trial court’s construction thereof. See Blake, 712 S.W.2d at 118. Having done so,
we hold that the trial court properly construed the deeds and that its constructions supports its
findings of fact and conclusions of law. As to the 1931 deed, because the transfer was from a
parent to a child, it is presumed that Mary intended to make a gift to Lela, and we have considered
the record to determine if any clear and convincing parol evidence exists to rebut that presumption.
Having found none, we further hold that the evidence of record is insufficient to rebut the
presumption that her intention was to make a gift. Jennings’s first and second issues are overruled.

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                                                  DISPOSITION
         Having overruled Jennings’s first and second issues, we affirm the trial court’s judgment.

                                                                 BRIAN HOYLE
                                                                    Justice

Opinion delivered June 28, 2019.
Panel consisted of Worthen, C.J., Hoyle, J., and Neeley, J.

                                                   (PUBLISH)

                                                          9
                                   COURT OF APPEALS

      TWELFTH COURT OF APPEALS DISTRICT OF TEXAS

                                           JUDGMENT

                                             JUNE 28, 2019

                                         NO. 12-18-00253-CV

                                CAROLYN NEILL JENNINGS,
                                        Appellant
                                           V.
                               ANTHONY JOSEPH PIAZZA, JR.,
                                        Appellee

                                Appeal from the 123rd District Court
                         of Shelby County, Texas (Tr.Ct.No. 16CV33571)

                       THIS CAUSE came to be heard on the appellate record and briefs filed
herein, and the same being considered, it is the opinion of this court that there was no error in the
judgment.
                       It is therefore ORDERED, ADJUDGED and DECREED that the judgment
of the court below be in all things affirmed, and that all costs of this appeal are hereby adjudged
against the Appellant, CAROLYN NEILL JENNINGS, for which execution may issue, and that
this decision be certified to the court below for observance.
                    Brian Hoyle, Justice.
                    Panel consisted of Worthen, C.J., Hoyle, J., and Neeley, J.