Court Opinion

ID: 9792117
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-31 02:23:19.485928+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T07:37:40.609981
License: Public Domain

Schroeder, J.,
dissenting: I fully concur in the dissenting opinion of Price, J., but make this additional observation.
The proposition of law is undisputed in this jurisdiction that before a deed can operate as a valid transfer of title there must be a delivery of the instrument which becomes effective during the life of the grantor. Delivery, however, is largely a matter of intention. But it is the intention of the grantor that is material, and not the intention of the grantee or recipient of the deed. The intention of the grantor in such case is a question of fact, unless the evidence giving rise to the facts in the case is uncontroverted, in which case it is said to be a question of law to be determined by the court.
In my opinion the crux of the whole case rests upon the following uncontroverted evidence, which is the testimony of Laverna E. Holcombe, the daughter of the decedent:
“Q. Now at the time in 1947 when your mother delivered these seven deeds to you, or gave them to you, did she give you any instructions?
“A. The answer is no.
“Q. Were these deeds subsequently returned to your mother?
“A. They were returned to my mother in 1951 or ’52.
“Q. All of them?
“A. All of them.
“Q. With the exception of the Oklahoma property?
“A. Yes.
“Q. Why did your mother deliver those deeds to you in 1947?
“Mr. Shell: I think she should state whether she knows first.
“Q. Do you know why she delivered them to you?
“A. Yes.
“Q. Why?

“A. Because she wanted them put in my safety box since she didn’t have a safety box.

“Q. She did not have a safety box herself?
“A. Not at that time.
*74“Q. Now you retained these deeds until 1951? Is that correct?
“A. Yes.
“Q. And what happened then that caused you to part with them?
“A. My mother asked for them.
“Q. And did you deliver them back to her?
“A. I delivered them back immediately when she asked for them. She had already sold the five lots and said she thought she would sell some other property and wanted the deeds back in her possession.
“Q. And you gave them back to her?
“A. I gave them back to her.
“Q. Now are you talking about the Oklahoma property, too?
“A. No, not the Oklahoma property because she never had any idea of selling it and it was in my box.” (Emphasis added.)
The only logical inference to be drawn from the foregoing evidence is that the decedent had no intention to make a valid delivery (used in the legal sense) conveying the property at the time she gave the deeds to her daughter for safe keeping in 1947.
In my opinion the decision of the trial court should be affirmed.