Court Opinion

ID: 9678381
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-24 06:18:16.092988+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:17:04.003863
License: Public Domain

BURGESS, Justice,
dissenting.
I respectfully dissent. It is undisputed the trial court awarded Kenneth Rider a lien on Sharon Rider’s separate property, the nine acre tract. A court may not impose equitable liens on one spouse’s separate real property unless it secures a right of reimbursement for community improvements made to the property. Heggen v. Pemelton, 836 S.W.2d 145 (Tex.1992). There is no evidence of any such improvements. The nine acre tract belonged to Mrs. Rider prior to the marriage. The Riders wanted to purchase a twenty-five acre tract adjacent to the nine acre tract and used the nine acre tract as collateral. The majority treats this mortgage transaction as a purchase, thus allowing a purchase money lien. Clearly it was not a purchase, thus no legal basis exists for the equitable lien against the nine acre tract. I would reform the judgment by deleting any reference to a lien against the nine acre tract and affirm the judgment as reformed. Unfortunately, being in the minority, I cannot do so, but can only dissent.