Jackson v. Jackson

Decision Date14 March 1952
Citation248 S.W.2d 411
PartiesJACKSON v. JACKSON.
CourtUnited States State Supreme Court — District of Kentucky

P. H. Vincent, A. R. Imes, Ashland, for appellant.

Joe R. Massey, Jr., Davis M. Howerton, Ashland, for appellee.

WADDILL, Commissioner.

The trial court, sitting in equity, granted appellee a divorce and custody of her infant daughter. The parties were adjudged to be the joint owners of their home located at 1921 Hilton Avenue. Appellee was awarded the use and occupancy of this property for a period of six years, with the right to impress a lien upon appellant's interest in the property in the event appellee decided to convert the home into a duplex. The Master Commissioner was directed to sell a lot off the rear of the property and use the proceeds of sale to pay past due installments on a mortgage which they had executed on the property and to pay the delinquent taxes and the court costs in this action and to divide the remaining amount equally between them.

Appellant insists that the court erred: (1) In adjudging that appellee was the owner of a one-half undivided interest in the property; (2) in granting appellee the exclusive use and occupancy of it for a period of six years with the right to convert the house into a duplex and to impress a lien upon the property for improvements; (3) in allowing appellee's attorneys a fee of $200 and assessing it as costs against appellant; and (4) in divesting appellant of the fee-simple title to real estate in violation of KRS 403.060.

In support of his first contention appellant relies upon the provision of section 425 of the Civil Code of Practice. It requires that upon the granting of an absolute divorce, each party restore all property acquired 'directly or indirectly, from or through the other, during marriage, in consideration or by reason thereof'. West v. West, 229 Ky. 125, 16 S.W.2d 781; Duke v. Duke, 198 Ky. 173, 248 S.W. 500.

Prior to 1942 the property in question was owned by appellant's mother. During that year she conveyed it to Earl Jackson and his wife. In 1944 the Jacksons conveyed the property to appellant and appellee during their lives with a fee to the survivor. The consideration recited in this deed is 'One ($1.00) Dollar and other good and valuable considerations, receipt of all of which is hereby acknowledged.' It appears from the evidence that appellant and appellee have each contributed from their personal funds to make improvements on the property and to pay the taxes and other recurring expenses. The deed conveying the property to the parties recites a consideration of value having been paid by them, therefore the burden of showing otherwise would be upon appellant in seeking the restoration. Anheier et al. v. De Long, 164 Ky. 694, 176 S.W. 195. Under the evidence the Chancellor was authorized to find that the parties were the joint owners. Latham v. Latham, 305 Ky. 101, 203 S.W.2d 45; Pleasnick v. Pleasnick, 215 Ky. 281, 284 S.W. 1070; Pullins v. Pullins, 208 Ky. 800, 272 S.W. 51.

In considering appellant's second contention it should be pointed out that the Chancellor did not grant appellee a cash amount for alimony, nor did he make an allowance for the support of the infant daughter. The testimony reveals that appellant was physically unable to work and financially unable to pay alimony. Therefore, the Chancellor rendered equity by affording appellee and her...

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5 cases
  • Baker v. Baker
    • United States
    • United States State Supreme Court — District of Kentucky
    • 10 Marzo 1961
    ...870. The practical common sense of the Pleasnick reasoning was followed recently. Cox v. Cox, Ky., 343 S.W.2d 395. See also Jackson v. Jackson, Ky., 248 S.W.2d 411; and Williams v. Williams, Ky., 338 S.W.2d 689. An allotment of property other than cash from the husband's estate as alimony t......
  • Sexton v. Sexton
    • United States
    • United States State Supreme Court — District of Kentucky
    • 25 Octubre 1968
    ...that the wife performed more of the menial tasks necessary to accommodate such patronage than did the husband. Relying on Jackson v. Jackson, Ky., 248 S.W.2d 411, and Roberts v. Roberts, Ky., 268 S.W.2d 423, the wife insists that she should have been adjudged to be an equal owner with her h......
  • Smith v. Smith
    • United States
    • United States State Supreme Court — District of Kentucky
    • 24 Enero 1969
    ...of marriage.' Kivett v. Kivett, Ky., 312 S.W.2d 884; Stratton v. Stratton, 307 Ky. 505, 211 S.W.2d 685. We do not find Jackson v. Jackson, Ky., 248 S.W.2d 411, to be applicable here, for in Jackson it was established that money was paid for the property and that the wife contributed to the ......
  • Martin v. Martin
    • United States
    • United States State Supreme Court — District of Kentucky
    • 10 Octubre 1969
    ...it is properly restorable to the husband under these circumstances, but the value of it must be regarded as his estate. See Jackson v. Jackson, Ky., 248 S.W.2d 411, as considered in Smith v. Smith, Ky., 436 S.W.2d 532. The chancellor neither adjudged that Leon save Carolyn harmless from lia......
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