Johnson v. Collins, 53433

• Decision Date: 22 September 1982
• Docket Number: No. 53433,53433
• Citation: 419 So.2d 1029
• Parties: Mary Virginia JOHNSON and Walter E. Collins, Co-Executors of the Estate of Allen E. Collins, Deceased v. Syvilla J. Reeves COLLINS.
• Court: Mississippi Supreme Court

Page 1029

419 So.2d 1029

Mary Virginia JOHNSON and Walter E. Collins, Co-Executors of the Estate of Allen E. Collins, Deceased v. Syvilla J. Reeves COLLINS.

No. 53433.

Supreme Court of Mississippi.

Sept. 22, 1982.

Carr & Goodman, H. R. Goodman, Tupelo, for appellants.

John E. Johnson, Amory, for appellee.

Before WALKER, HAWKINS and DAN M. LEE, JJ.

DAN M. LEE, Justice, for the Court:

This is an appeal from the Chancery Court of Lee County wherein Mary Virginia Johnson and Walter E. Collins, petitioners/appellants, co-executors of the estate of Allen E. Collins, filed a petition to compel Syvilla J. Reeves Collins, respondent/appellee, to deliver certain assets allegedly belonging to the decedent's estate. The items sought in the petition consisted of silverware, furniture and two certificates of deposit totaling $28,000. Syvilla Collins, wife of the decedent, denied that the items sought in the petition belonged to decedent at the time of his death and therefore were not a part of his estate. Mrs. Collins asserted decedent had given the items to her as gifts during his lifetime. At the conclusion of the trial, the co-executors abandoned their claims to the silverware and furniture. The chancellor found that decedent had made a valid inter vivos gift to Mrs. Collins of the certificates of deposit. From a dismissal of their petition, the co-executors of the estate of Allen E. Collins appeal. We reverse.

Allen E. Collins and appellee were married November 26, 1976. They resided in appellee's home until they separated in September 1980. Collins, in addition to some interest in real property, owned four certificates of deposit jointly with appellee in the following amounts: $15,000; $13,000; $10,000 and $7,000.

In early 1980, Collins became ill and his condition steadily worsened. His attorney testified that Collins met with him on April 3, 1980, seeking advice on obtaining a divorce due to irreconcilable differences. Collins, in the latter part of June, met again with his attorney, advising him that an understanding between the parties had been reached. At this time, Collins asked his attorney to prepare a separation agreement whereby appellee would receive, among other things, certificates of deposit totaling $20,000. The final meeting between Collins and his attorney occurred in the latter part of July. At this time, Collins advised his attorney the separation agreement was acceptable except that appellee wanted $28,000 instead of $20,000. Collins instructed his attorney to make this change, noting he had already transferred the $13,000 and $15,000 certificates of deposit to appellee. Appellee, on the other hand, denied any knowledge of the separation agreement before August 5, 1980, when Collins brought the separation agreement and a new will home. Appellee testified that Collins told her they could use the agreement if they decided to get a divorce. Collins then signed the agreement.

In the early part of September, the parties separated. Collins was subsequently hospitalized. On November 4, 1980, appellee signed the separation agreement to protect her own estate. The remaining two certificates of deposit, which were still in appellee's possession, were forwarded to Collins' attorney. Collins died shortly thereafter on November 9, 1980.

The chancellor found that the transfer of the two certificates of deposit from decedent to appellee was an absolute gift which was not conditioned upon the obtaining of a divorce or any other contingency. The petition was therefore dismissed and a decree entered accordingly.

I. Did the chancellor err in finding that the transfer of the certificates of deposit was a valid inter vivos gift which was not conditioned upon the obtaining of a divorce by decedent?

In Matter of Collier, 381 So.2d 1338 (Miss.1980), this Court reiterated the requirements necessary to constitute a valid inter vivos gift:

Our cases hold that the following requirements are necessary to constitute a gift inter vivos. There must be a donor competent to make a gift, a voluntary act on the part of the donor with intention to make a gift, the gift must be complete with nothing left to be done, the property must be delivered by the donor and accepted by the donee, and the gift must be irrevocable. Thomas v. Eubanks, 358 So.2d 709 (Miss.1978); Longtin v. Witcher, 352 So.2d 808 (Miss.1977); Jenkins v. Jenkins, 278 So.2d 446 (Miss.1973); McLean v. Green, 258 So.2d 247 [Miss.] 1972), and cases cited therein.

(381 So.2d at 1340)

Appellants contend that the transfer of the $28,000 in certificates of deposit was contingent or conditioned upon the obtaining of a divorce by the parties. Appellee argues that the transfer of the certificates of deposit was made to her prior to August 5, 1980, and that when...