Estate of White, Matter of, 84-164

• Decision Date: 30 August 1984
• Docket Number: No. 84-164,84-164
• Citation: 686 P.2d 915,212 Mont. 228
• Parties: In the Matter of the ESTATE OF Irene M. WHITE, Deceased.
• Court: Montana Supreme Court

Page 915

686 P.2d 915

212 Mont. 228

In the Matter of the ESTATE OF Irene M. WHITE, Deceased.

No. 84-164.

Supreme Court of Montana.

Submitted on Briefs July 19, 1984.

Decided Aug. 30, 1984.

Frisbee, Moore, & Stufft; David F. Stufft, Cut Bank, for appellant.

Werner, Nelson & Epstein; Larry D. Epstein, Cut Bank, for respondent.

WEBER, Justice.

Irene White died intestate October 7, 1981. Virgil White was appointed personal representative of her estate. Joseph Rattler, Sr., brother of Irene White, sought removal of Virgil White as personal representative and his own appointment in the Ninth Judicial District Court for Glacier County. The District Court found that no common law marriage existed between Virgil White and the decedent and appointed Rattler as personal representative. Virgil White appeals. We affirm.

The issue is: Was there a common law marriage between Virgil White and Irene White at the time of her death?

Irene White died a resident of Glacier County, Montana, with an estate consisting of trust property located on the Blackfeet Indian Reservation, which is not the subject of this probate, a mobile home located in Cut Bank and a savings account at the First National Bank of Cut Bank.

In 1952 the decedent married Harry White, father of Virgil White. Harry White and decedent remained husband and wife until Harry White's death in 1967. Virgil White moved in with Harry White and Irene White around 1966 and the three of them lived together for approximately two years. It is undisputed that after Harry White's death, Virgil White continued to live with decedent until her death in 1981.

The evidence regarding the alleged common law marriage of Virgil White and decedent is conflicting. A number of witnesses testified in behalf of Virgil White to the effect that Virgil White and Irene White had a reputation in the community of being husband and wife and on occasion represented themselves as husband and wife. These witnesses included the long-time sheriff of Glacier County who testified to their reputation as husband and wife in the community.

On the other hand, the evidence submitted by Rattler, decedent's brother, indicated that the decedent conducted her banking transactions and maintained bank accounts exclusively in her own name. Virgil White maintained bank accounts exclusively in his own name. With one exception on various applications for welfare assistance, Virgil White was listed as a "stepson" or as a "boarder." The decedent received Social Security benefits as an unmarried widow during the period in question. On her frequent visits to the hospital, the decedent listed herself as unmarried and referred to Virgil White as a "stepson." Admission forms at the hospital showing such a designation were signed by Virgil White.

The District Court in its findings of fact stated that the decedent solely owned the mobile home she and Virgil lived in; that decedent held a savings account in her own name and conducted all banking transactions as an unmarried woman in her own name; that Virgil White had a bank account in his own name; that the decedent in her frequent visits to Glacier County Memorial Hospital referred to Virgil White as "stepson"; and that on all applications for welfare and assistance, with one exception, decedent listed Virgil White as "stepson" and as "boarder." The District Court also found that on applications for insurance, Social Security and other public assistance benefits, Virgil White listed himself as unmarried or...