Bruten v. Miller, C--718

• Decision Date: 24 November 1953
• Docket Number: No. C--718,C--718
• Citation: 101 A.2d 24,28 N.J.Super. 531
• Parties: BRUTEN v. MILLER et al. . Chancery Division
• Court: New Jersey Superior Court

Page 531

28 N.J.Super. 531

101 A.2d 24

BRUTEN v. MILLER et al.

No. C--718.

Superior Court of New Jersey Chancery Division.

Nov. 24, 1953.

John Henry Reiners, Jr., Camden, for plaintiff.

Herman M. Bell, Jr., Camden, for defendants.

HANEMAN, J.S.C.

Plaintiff herein seeks to establish her interest in a certain fund deposited by the Housing Authority of the City of Camden in this court, pursuant to R.S. 20:1--36, N.J.S.A.

The facts in connection herewith are as follows:

Margaret Bruten is the widow of Lewis Bruten, who died intestate on March 15, 1939. On May 21, 1914, and prior to his marriage to the plaintiff, the said Lewis Bruten had purchased premises known as 773 Central Avenue, Camden, New Jersey, and continued seized with the fee title thereto to the date of his death. At his death he was survived, in addition to his widow, by a nephew, George N. Miller, and a niece, Clara Mae Slaton, who were his sole heirs-at-law and next of kin. On May 15, 1939 the plaintiff paid to the said nephew and niece the sum of $500 each and received from them a general release in the customary form, but containing the following phraseology:

'And more particularly by virtue of any claim or claims, interest or interests which I have or may have in and to the Estate of Lewis Bruten, deceased, who was my uncle, the brother of my deceased mother, Mary Miller.' (Italics supplied).

Plaintiff asserts that she is entitled either to all of the funds on deposit with this court, alleging that by reason of the signing of the above referred to release the said nephew and niece conveyed to her all of their right, title and interest in and to the realty here involved, or, in any event, she is entitled to her dower interest in the funds, together with reimbursement for expenses for taxes, repairs, insurance and improvements to the realty here involved.

In connection with her first contention, it is to be noted that there is no specific reference to or description of the realty here involved, and that the instrument upon which she predicates her title is a release to her individually and as administratrix of the estate of Lewis Bruten. Since the deceased here died intestate, the nephew and niece immediately upon his death became vested with the title to the real estate, which never was vested in the plaintiff, either in her individual capacity or as administratrix of the estate of her deceased husband.

For authority for her first contention, plaintiff refers to R.S. 46:5--3, N.J.S.A., which reads as follows:

'Any conveyance or instrument executed and delivered after July fourth, one thousand nine hundred and thirty-one, which shall purport to remise, release or quitclaim to the grantee therein any claim to or estate or interest in the lands described therein, there being nothing in such conveyance or instrument which indicates an intent on the part of the grantor therein to reserve to himself any part of his claim to or estate or interest therein, shall be effectual to pass all the estate which the grantor could lawfully convey by deed of bargain and sale, and the grantee in such conveyance or instrument shall be presumed to be a bona fide purchaser to the same extent as would be the grantee in a deed of bargain and sale.'

It is plain that this statute refers to a quitclaim deed which, of necessity, must contain some description of the premises so that the lands or the interest in the lands to be conveyed may be ascertained. The instrument fails to indicate any 'lands described therein.'

I am satisfied, in addition, not only from...