Court Opinion

ID: 9453274
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-04 18:08:46.693828+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T17:33:35.667358
License: Public Domain

ON PETITION FOR REHEARING
PER CURIAM:
On petition for rehearing the appellant earnestly insists that this Court erred in its interpretation of Section 43, Title 34 of the Code of Alabama (quoted in footnote 1 of the Court’s opinion), and that when the rights of the widow are governed by that section the ordinary rules governing assignment of dower are not applicable. With deference, we do not agree.
In speaking of that section as it appeared in earlier codes, the Supreme Court of Alabama has said:
“The rule which section 1992 (Code of 1852) adopts, is this: To the separate estate is to be added such an amount from the dower and distributive share as will equal the dower and distributive share upon the hypothesis of there being no separate estate. If the widow receives her dower before the distribution of the personalty, she would be entitled only to so much of the personalty as, with the previously received dower, estimated according to the prescribed rule, would make, when added to her separate estate, a sum equal to dower and a distributive share in the absence of a separate es-
tate.” Dubose v. Dubose, 1862, 38 Ala. 238, 242-243.
“Section 2381 of the Revised Code [Code of 1867] provides that if the separate estate be less than the dower and distributive share, so much shall be allowed as will make it equal. Does this mean that her separate estate shall deprive the widow of her life estate in a portion of the lands of her husband, and compel her to take the equivalent? The statute does not say so, nor is such an interpretation imperative. On the contrary, if she cannot have her life estate in the full proportion of the lands, she may take it in less, and if the heir insists on it, perhaps, must do so. Because she can not have a thousand acres for life, may she not have five hundred ? The common law regards a life estate in lands as superior to an absolute estate in personal property, and favors dower. The statute prescribing an equivalent under certain circumstances is in restraint of dower, and should be strictly construed.” Billingslea v. Glenn, 1871, 45 Ala. 540, 545-546.
We conclude that since no steps were taken to quicken the widow’s right of dower into a tangible asset, the application of section 43 cannot take into consideration the value of dower, and that the widow retains her quarantine rights in lieu of dower. Hale v. Cox, 1941, 240 Ala. 622, 200 So. 772; Reeves v. Brooks, 1885, 80 Ala. 26.
The petition for rehearing is
Denied.